AUSA releases two ILW Torchbearers
AUSA releases two ILW Torchbearers
AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare recently published two Torchbearer Issue Papers: "New Educational Opportunities for Soldiers and Families" (Torchbearer Issue Paper, October 2010) and "Army Strong Community Centers: Serving Army Families" (Torchbearer Issue Paper, October 2010), that discuss the resources available to Army service members and their families.In addition, a new Defense Report titled "Capability Portfolio Reviews" (Defense Report 10-3, September 2010) examines the Army’s new program and resource evaluation process."New Educational Opportunities for Soldiers and Families" discusses the Tutor.com for Military Families program. The Department of Defense has contracted with Tutor.com to connect service members and families seeking educational and professional guidance to certified, professional tutors or career specialists for one-on-one assistance free of charge whenever they need it.Tutoring is available in over 20 subjects and at all skill levels, and sessions are anonymous and one-on-one. With approximately 2 million military children having experienced a parental deployment since 2001, the support provided by Tutor.com helps to relieve the concerns and stress on families during parental deployment.Repeated deployment of Army Reserve soldiers over the past years has required differing approaches to supporting geographically dispersed families. To ensure that these families are able to access Army services despite living a distance from the nearest installation, Army Strong Community Centers (ASCCs) have been opened to bridge the gap between distance and accessibility to information.Through providing assistance to servicemembers and their families on a wide range of topics, the positive, tangible results garnered from the first three ASCCs have demonstrated the need for such facilities. Currently, the Army Reserve is planning to increase the number of centers to a total of eight.The Capability Portfolio Review (CPR) is the newest Army tool geared toward evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of Army programs. Begun in December 2009, the CPR is an Army wide effort to examine, validate and modify requirements, acquisitions and development across a broad swath of Army portfolios. Although inspired by the secretary of defense’s efforts to gain more fiscal efficiency from the services, the CPR is not designed to save a certain dollar amount or terminate specific programs; rather it is to ensure that resources allocated align with validated requirements and informed alternatives.The CPR process has concluded in two of eleven areas: Aviation and Precision Fires. The CPR has already generated results and is likely to be a long-term addition to the Army planning process. The Department of Defense is examining the CPR as a possible model for a department wide process as it seeks to provide the soldier with maximum capability and the tax payer with maximum value.These and other ILW publications are available online at http://www.ausa.org/ilw and can also be obtained by calling (800) 336-4570, Ext. 630, or by e-mailing a request to ilwpublications@ausa.org.