The Army’s People First Task Force originated in 2020 following the disappearance and death of Fort Hood, Texas, soldier Spc. Vanessa Guillen and the resulting creation of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee. 

But as the committee winds down its work after generating 70 recommendations for more effective unit leadership and better care of soldiers, task force commander Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie said he still has work ahead of him. 

At a forum Oct. 10 during the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition, Norrie pointed out that 28% of American youth last year reported experiencing some form of sexual trauma before the age of 18, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared the state of youth and adolescent mental health a public health emergency.

“The thinking in this space is that, as difficult as all of those things are today, that this gets a lot harder over the next few years,” Norrie said.

Norrie emphasized that the Army needs to “get upstream” of harmful behaviors, like sexual assault and harassment, and of factors that hurt physical and mental health, by proactively working to secure safe communities, ensure easy access to support services and foster effective leadership and connectedness.

“And so, kind of the essential task for us right now is, how do we set conditions to ensure there’s not a need for a future task force,” he said.

Others on the panel with Norrie said putting soldiers and their families first is not just an Army responsibility; it was a way the service could sustain a healthy force and promote recruiting amid historic shortfalls.

Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, deputy Army chief of staff for installations, G-9, said that ensuring safe and healthy family housing and supporting military spouse employment had a direct effect on readiness. In the wake of media reports about dangerous mold in Army barracks, the service this month ordered a 100% inspection of all housing. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth also announced in a keynote address at the Annual Meeting that the service planned to invest $1.5 billion to renovate and build Army-owned housing and $3.1 billion to improve privatized housing.

“Not being able to focus on the task at hand, but focusing on a spouse back home, or a kid back home, it does erode readiness,” Vereen said.

Yvette Bourcicot, acting assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, said the Army also is trying to address the hardships rising inflation is inflicting on military families. In addition to a “basic needs allowance” set to start in January, she cited an increased dislocation allowance for soldiers E-1 to E-4. She added that a similar increase was being considered for those in the E-5 and E-6 ranks.

For the 9% of Army families who have a dependent enrolled in the service's Exceptional Family Member Program, providing care to those with special needs, Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle said he created a policy where lower-level commanders could not turn down a soldier’s request for accommodation. That decision has to be made by the first commanding general in the chain of command.

“We are trying to do everything that we can to get to yes,” Dingle said.

The Army's treatment of its troops and families, Bourcicot pointed out, affects the way they discuss the service with nonmilitary friends and the overall appeal of the Army lifestyle to outsiders.

“The idea of people and readiness being the same thing … this is existential for our Army,” Norrie said.

— Hope Hodge Seck