a. Family Programs – “The Zen of the PCS.”
Megan Zemke, a veteran, military brat, and current Army spouse discusses the transient nature of life in an Army Family.
Read the Full Blog Post
b. AUSA Five Things - “Warrior Transition Units consolidated.”
AUSA Five Things: A Weekly Tip Sheet for AUSA Members, dated August 1, 2016: “Shrinking Warrior Transition Units.”
In 2008, the Army had 45 geographically dispersed Warrior Transition Units to help care for soldiers facing serious physical or mental problems. As combat in Iraq and Afghanistan has been winding down, transition units have been consolidated. Where there were more than 12,000 soldiers entering the program in 2008, there were 2,600 in the units in 2015.
What to watch: The Army expects to be down to just 14 units this month but has plans in place so the process could be reversed if required. Part of this calls for annual inspections of inactivated units so they could be reopened with as little as 180 days’ notice.
c. Industry Affairs – “Will you be attending the Medical Hot Topic Forum on September 22nd?”
Throughout the year, AUSA hosts a variety of one day, Hot Topic Events at AUSA Headquarters that focus on specific subject-matters relevant to the Army’s goals and their current obstacles. AUSA’s Medical Hot Topic is one that has consistently sold out each year. There is little wonder why this particular topic has been so well attended: for many years, AUSA held a Medical Symposium and Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas. The last Medical Meeting took place in 2011 due to the Army re-evaluating its participation at conferences sponsored by non-governmental organizations in a time of reduced financial resources and increased oversight. The next Medical Hot Topic is due to take place 22 September and is once again expected to sell-out. This year, the some of the forums and panels will focus on the future of Army Medicine and how to better support Total Global Operations.
AUSA’s Hot Topic Series was created to help move and support the Total Army message in a time where military funding for attending conferences has been reduced and under scrutiny. When a Hot Topic is consistently over-performing the way that AUSA’s Medical Hot Topic is, does that mean there are grounds for promoting that event to its own symposium?
By Lauren Hensley
d. Book Program - “ The Army value of duty is a lifestyle of dedication.”
The Soldier’s Creed tells us that soldiers are professionals that live the Army values. Loyalty, we already noted has to go up and down the chain of command, but the second value duty, seems more complex. It encompasses basic discipline, but it also means you live a lifestyle of dedication. Your purpose becomes part of your personality, and that personality is that of a professional soldier. Soldiering is not a job. If you bought that line, you have settled for less. More money, safety, less heartache, and a significant amount of stress can be saved in a lot of worthwhile occupations. Few occupations demand you put your life on the line if necessary. Many soldiers have sacrificed their futures and their families their loved ones who have done their duty. The next time someone says “you have the duty,” well, it’s a bit more profound that a one-time affair in your off hours. Think of those whose final time at duty ended in taps and the passing of a folded flag.
Roger Cirillo, PhD
Lieutenant Colonel, US Army, Retired
Book Program Director
THIS WEEK'S POLL QUESTION:
(1) Should retired generals speak at political conventions?
o Yes
o No
o Not sure