President Barack Obama placed the Medal of Honor around the neck of former Army Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha during a ceremony Feb. 11 in the East Room of the White House.Romesha is the fourth living service member to receive the medal for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.The former soldier earned the Medal of Honor for actions Oct. 3, 2009, at Combat Outpost Keating, Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan.On that morning, Combat Outpost, or COP, Keating, manned by only 53 soldiers and situated at the bottom of a steep valley, came under attack by as...
I am privileged to have this opportunity to introduce myself as the new co-chair of the House Army Caucus, which includes more than 100 members from both political parties and is one of the most active and important caucuses in Congress.The Caucus’ goal is to educate our colleagues on Army needs and advocate for them in the legislative and appropriations processes.I’ve been on the Caucus since 2007, and this year was honored to be asked to serve as its Democratic co-chair along with Congressman John Carter, a Republican from Texas.It’s a perfect fit for me because my district is home to two...
Gen. Glenn K. Otis, USA, Ret., soldier, warrior, scholar, war hero and acclaimed military innovator, died Feb. 21 at the Carlisle, Pa., Regional Medical Center. He was 83.Prior to his retirement in 1988 after 42 years of service, Otis commanded U.S. Army Europe from 1983 to 1988, and commanded U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command from 1981 to 1983."General Glenn Otis was a soldier’s soldier who served his country and his Army with distinction and dedication for over four decades," Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., president of the Association of the United States Army, said.Adding, "As...
Dr. Robert M. Gates, a former secretary of defense and director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and the current chancellor of the College of William and Mary, will receive the 2013 George Catlett Marshall Medal, the highest award presented by the Association of the United States Army.Awarded annually to an individual who has exhibited selfless service to the United States of America, the medal will be presented to Gates by the Association’s Council of Trustees to recognize his contributions to the United States as a cabinet member, educator, presidential adviser and a strong supporter of...
Changes coming to TRICARE prime services areas. Defense Department health officials announced that effective Oct. 1, TRICARE Prime will no longer be available to beneficiaries living in certain areas in the United States.Prime service areas were created to ensure medical readiness of the active duty force by augmenting the capability and capacity of military hospitals and clinics.The affected locations are not close to existing military hospitals or clinics and have never augmented care around military hospitals or clinics or Base Realignment and Closure locations.The plan to reduce prime...
Under Secretary of the Army Joseph Westphal visited Fort Shafter, Hawaii, Jan. 13-14, to meet with members of Headquarters, U.S. Army Pacific to discuss recent Army developments in the Pacific region.Westphal met with Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), and other leaders to reinforce the Army’s role and the strategic importance of partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region.During the Hawaii visit, Westphal also spoke about the current rebalance of troops and resources in the Pacific region."We’re focused on transitioning to a defense strategy that places...
The U.S. Army chief of staff said American soldiers will play a major role in the U.S. military’s shift to the Pacific, during a recent visit to the region in early January.Gen. Raymond T. Odierno championed the U.S. Army’s commitment to the Asia-Pacific region during stops in Hawaii and South Korea.Odierno met with the Republic of Korea Army chief of staff, Gen. Cho Jung-Hwan; Gen. James D. Thurman, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea; and Eighth Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson at the Yongsan Garrison in South Korea.According to...
Avoid, fix or delay. There will be no rest for the 113th Congress which convened on Jan 3.In their last-minute fiscal cliff deal, Congress not only failed to resolve the sequestration dilemma, they delayed it until March 1, just in time to take up the continuing resolution that expires on March 27, the bump against the debt ceiling limit and the release of the president’s budget request for fiscal 2014.The early months of 2013 are going to be rocky.Here is a breakdown:Sequestration – Automatic spending cuts (sequestration) to defense and domestic programs which were scheduled to take effect on...
Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Army chief of staff, and his wife, Linda, visited 2nd Infantry Division soldiers and their families at Camp Casey and Camp Hovey, Jan. 11.This two-day visit to the Korean peninsula allowed the Army’s top general to strategize on President Barack Obama's policy to rebalance the U.S. focus to the Asia-Pacific region."The [Republic of Korea-U.S.] Alliance has been going on now for over 60 years and the strong relationship with the Republic of Korea continues to be and will always be a very important relationship for us," Odierno said at a press conference.Adding, "As we...
The current fiscal environment poses significant challenges for Army aviation, as well as the rest of the Army and the Defense Department, Lt. Gen. James O. Barclay III, deputy chief of staff, G-8, said.Looming budget battles, likelihood of more continuing resolutions, the coming debt ceiling debate, a possibility of sequestration, lack of a 2013 budget and an already tight budget were some of the challenges Barclay described during panel discussion titled "View from the E-Ring."Also speaking at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Institute of Land Warfare Army Aviation Symposium and Exposition...
Nominations to serve on the Association of the United States Army’s Council of Trustees were submitted by the national nominating committee to the council for consideration at its meeting at AUSA headquarters in late January.Three serving council members, Rudy deLeon, John D. Harris II, and David K. Heebner, were nominated to serve as trustees for a three-year term each.Rick Edwards was nominated and elected to complete the unexpired term of Marillyn Hewson, whose term expires on June 30, 2015.In addition, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. Tilley, USA, Ret., vice chairman for noncommissioned...
The Association of the United States Army is the Army’s professional association and has, for over 63 years, provided support for soldiers and family members.I believe that every soldier – active, guard, reserve, retired, veteran – should be an AUSA member.Members are AUSA’s lifeblood.Members give us clout and credibility on Capitol Hill.AUSA is the voice for America’s Army, and the more members we have, the more effective we are.With every new member, AUSA’s voice – your voice – becomes stronger.Every year at this time, AUSA’s 124 worldwide chapters begin working on their annual membership...
A new program, developed last year by the Association of the United States Army’s Institute of Land Warfare, that affords industry members with the opportunity to make brief presentations at AUSA symposia, was a "dynamic and exciting addition to the program" at the recent Army Aviation Symposium and Exposition held in early January at National Harbor, Md.According to AUSA officials, four Tech Ten presentations were part of the two-day symposium titled "Future of Army Aviation," a professional development forum featuring presentations and panel discussions by military and industry leaders.Lt...
One year ago, I published "Marching Orders" to outline my intent and priorities for sustaining our high-quality, All-Volunteer Army.
Thank you, again, to each and every one of you for being here [at the 2012 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition], for all that you do each and every day on behalf of our entire Army: our soldiers, their families, our civilian employees."I can’t tell you how much the effort that you bring and the support of that great Army is deeply appreciated."AUSA provides a critically important forum for the Army."A forum to share ideas, discuss critical issues that impact our future, and it gives us an important chance to spend some time listening – listening and learning...