Sometimes, events do not go as foreseen.However unexpected change may be, the mission must still be fulfilled and obligations met.Despite having an earlier mission cancelled, the Indiana Army National Guard’s 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team used this as an opportunity to prepare for any mission the country would ask of them. Chance favors the prepared mind. Those missions have come.The brigade’s headquarters company will be providing command and control for coalition forces in Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan, Col. Jerry Hadley, of Noblesville, Ind., commander of the 76th IBCT, said."We will...
At this writing, the 2013 defense budget proposal is just days away from publication.However, as is always the case in Washington, much of what it contains is already on the street. Unfortunately, most of the information already available is not good. (See Page 19.)While the presumed pay raise for next year will equal inflation, the Defense Department has said that in 2015 it will propose below inflation raises as a way to save money.Below private sector inflation rate military raises in the 80s and 90s are what led to the 13.5 percent pay gap that it has taken more than a decade of above...
Within the last two years, Arlington National Cemetery has seen much progress in correcting gravesite deficiencies, increasing customer service and instituting effective computer recordkeeping, said the Army’s inspector general.Lt. Gen. Peter Vangjel testified Feb. 3 at a joint hearing of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations about accountability at Arlington National Cemetery."The IG reported 61 deficiencies in 2010, among them: a deplorable organizational climate, archaic record keeping and automation systems...
As a Theater Gateway, the 633rd is one of three Army National Guard units with the mission of processing troops into and out of theater.
William O. WooldridgeAug. 12, 1922 - March 5, 2012"Sgt. Maj. Wooldridge was a one of a kind noncommissioned officer, selected to be the first Sergeant Major of the Army because of his initiative, intelligence, experience and drive to excel."His lasting impression lives on in the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, the centralized NCO promotion system, and our professional NCO Corps."He was an innovator, a true inspiration to soldiers, and the epitome of a professional warrior. Our hearts and prayers go out to Patty and the rest of the Wooldridge family during this difficult time."-Sgt...
It’s not stuff. It’s people. It’s men and women of courage, who are willing to get up each and every day; put on their gear; get out and climb into trucks, helicopters, airplanes; get into amphibious vehicles; jump out of airplanes; and that takes men and women of character and courage and it takes good noncommissioned officers and well-trained officers to make all of that happen.’ Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret.U.S. Army Sergeants Major AcademyFort Bliss, Texas Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., AUSA president, as he has done for the past 13 years, shared his experiences as an Army leader...
It’s not stuff. It’s people. It’s men and women of courage, who are willing to get up each and every day; put on their gear; get out and climb into trucks, helicopters, airplanes; get into amphibious vehicles; jump out of airplanes; and that takes men and women of character and courage and it takes good noncommissioned officers and well-trained officers to make all of that happen.’ Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret.U.S. Army Sergeants Major AcademyFort Bliss, Texas Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., AUSA president, as he has done for the past 13 years, shared his experiences as an Army leader...
New ILW Torchbearer Alert: Administration’s FY2013 Budget Proposals for TRICARE, Military RetirementAUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare has recently released a new publication."Breaking the Faith" (Torchbearer Alert, February 2012) summarizes the administration’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposals to increase health care fees and reconsider the structure of the military retirement system.The administration’s proposed fee hikes for all retirees’ TRICARE access are unprecedented. For many military retirees under age 65, annual fees for TRICARE Prime would triple or quadruple by 2017; TRICARE...
The Army announced its intent today to open six occupational specialties and more than 13,000 positions to women.These six military occupational specialties, or MOSs, were previously closed to women because they were normally co-located with direct combat units.They are:13M Multiple Launch Rocket System crewmember13P MLRS Operations/Fire Detection Specialist13R Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator Specialist91A M1 Abrams Tank System Maintainer91M Bradley Fighting Vehicle System Maintainer91P Artillery MechanicDoD officials said at a Pentagon press conference Feb. 9 that they have notified...
President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2013 released. At least we now know where we stand.After weeks of speculation, President Obama formally released the details of his budget request for fiscal 2013. The budget would provide $525 billion for the Defense Department’s base budget which is a 1.1 percent reduction from what Congress approved for Fiscal Year 2012. It would also provide $88.5 billion for overseas operations.After reading the details of the budget request, there are several things we like, but unfortunately, even more to dislike. The President’s Budget proposes to:The GoodProvide a...
The Army chief of staff said the Army will attempt to provide better support to combatant commanders – the Department of Defense-level commands responsible for U.S. military interests across large areas of the globe.Now, the Army may assign units, within the Army Force Generation Model’s reset, train and available phases, to specific combatant commanders, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said Feb. 24 during the Association of the U.S. Army’s Institute of Land Warfare Winter Symposium and Exposition."We will adjust the process where active duty and reserve component units advance through a reset phase...
Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III was sworn in as the Army’s 33rd vice chief of staff during a ceremony at Joint Base Myer – Henderson Hall, Jan. 31.Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh administered the oath of office and then thanked Austin for his outstanding service and dedication to the Army."I expect Lloyd to continue his leadership and advocacy on behalf of soldiers and their families, just as he has in virtually every other assignment he’s held," said McHugh.Adding, "Lloyd Austin has always led from the front, led by example – not just telling soldiers, but showing soldiers the right way – the...
Following the active Army component, the Missouri National Guard is pushing its soldiers to be more all-around physically fit as opposed to simply being able to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test."The Army found that after 10 years of war, soldiers are getting broken," Capt. Ken Huenink, the Missouri National Guard’s state fitness coordinator, said.Adding, "The injury rate for backs and knees was through the roof."The guard’s most recent Unit Fitness Coordinator Course focuses on this type of training to help get this new information back to its units."A lot of it is about functional fitness...
Ground forces will remain important to the U.S. defense strategy, but the employment of the forces will change, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Jan 12.In an interview on his way to Fort Bliss, Texas, aboard a military aircraft, Panetta said that the Army will withdraw two brigade combat teams from Europe, while retaining a strong presence in the region via rotational units.The change is part of a new, 10-year defense strategy announced by President Barack Obama last that emphasizes air-sea doctrine to better allow the United States to confront more than one threat at a time, Panetta...
The Chief of Staff of the Army’s Retiree Council was established Nov. 10, 1971, as an Intra-Army Departmental committee in accordance with Army Regulations which also provide guidance for the council’s responsibilities and activities.The Army chief of staff appoints retired soldiers to serve one four-year term, but may extend terms as necessary.Retired soldiers appointed to serve on the council are recalled to active duty in accordance with U.S. Code, Title 10 to attend the annual meeting that will be held this year on April 23 to 27 in the Pentagon.The council meets at least annually at the...