Nine Tales That Sing the Songs of Unsung Heroes By Col. Kevin C.M. Benson, U.S. Army retired
Nine Tales That Sing the Songs of Unsung Heroes By Col. Kevin C.M. Benson, U.S. Army retired
Nine Tales That Sing the Songs of Unsung Heroes By Col. Kevin C.M. Benson, U.S. Army retired
Forty-two years after the U.S. Army ended conscription, it should consider the natural sequel: the end of compulsory service contracts.Imagine taking a job with almost no required education or experience and with paid, on-the-job training. The employer promises not to fire any applicant for anything short of a felony conviction. The caveat? Anyone who takes the job and then quits commits a federal offense.This is a dream offer for any underqualified slouch able to meet minimal requirements and show up more or less on time, most of the time. On the other hand, for people who could excel...
The Army’s senior noncommissioned officer announced a new initiative to rid the ranks of sexual assault and harassment by giving responsibility for zero tolerance to first-line squad leaders."‘Not In My Squad’ is not a bumper sticker; it’s an anthem, a call to duty," said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey during a Pentagon courtyard observance that kicked off Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month."‘Not In My Squad’ is a promise that each leader must take in order to care for those in his or her charge," Dailey said.Adding, "‘Not In My Squad’ is about junior leaders taking...
Two Rangers, assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, were awarded the nation’s third highest honor for their heroic actions at a battalion awards ceremony at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.Staff Sgt. James Jones, a Ranger squad leader, and Sgt. Derek Anderson, a Ranger team leader, both with Bravo Company, were awarded the Silver Star Medal for their actions during an assault against an armed enemy in Nangahar Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 2, 2014."Today we celebrate [the Warrior Ethos], along with the values of courage and valor," said Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, Army vice chief of staff.Adding,...
We may not be able to predict the future, but Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey will do his best to guarantee the American soldier is ready for whatever that future brings."In four years, we can pretty much expect the world is still going to be a dangerous and unpredictable place," Dailey said.Adding, "And there is still going to be a significant amount of uncertainty that the Army and soldiers, along with their families, must be prepared to face."One way to prevent war, which is always the most desirable course, is to ensure our adversaries know that we are an Army of preparation – the...
In his first visit to the Pacific since his appointment, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey addressed U.S. Army Pacific soldiers during a town hall meeting at Schofield Barracks May 11.During the 90-minute meeting, Dailey discussed the Army chief of staff’s priorities, outlined his initiatives, and took questions from an audience of more than 1,000 soldiers in the rank of sergeant, staff sergeant and sergeant first class.Dailey talked passionately about the importance of knowing how to lead and motivate soldiers and of honoring the traditions of service to country.He reminded the audience...
The Army must be more selective and careful when choosing soldiers to serve in key positions, such as recruiters or drill sergeants, said noncommissioned officers at the first-ever NCO Solarium.Master Sgt. Danny Ibarra, 21st Theater Sustainment Command (Operations and Support), said the Army needs to do a better job of identifying and selecting soldiers for key assignments.He said the Army has been embarrassed by recruiters having improper relationships with recruits, and even by an enlisted coordinator of a Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention program on Fort Hood, Texas, who...
Soldiers at the first-ever NCO Solarium said they felt the Army has gone soft on those who have failed their Army Physical Fitness Tests, or APFT, too many times – and called for more discipline in enforcing standards.Sgt. 1st Class Jason Ruiz, Headquarters Services Company, U.S. Army North, said allowing soldiers who have repeatedly failed their APFT to stay in the Army is inconsistent with the idea that physical fitness is important."When soldiers end up being retained, we feel it is a detriment to the unit and other units, who see that soldier being retained," Ruiz said.Adding, "One of our...
The Noncommissioned Officer Solarium 2015, a sergeant major of the Army (SMA) initiative, is an effort to inform and shape the future direction of the U.S. Army.This effort brings together over 80 sergeants first class and master sergeants, including first sergeants, to U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.Through this initiative, NCOs will identify issues that will have an impact on the Army into the foreseeable future, and provide recommendations to the SMA.NCO Solarium 2015 consists of two phases: online and onsite.The first phase included a...
The role of noncommissioned officers in mission command could be more clearly defined in Army doctrine and in the field, said soldiers who participated during the first-ever NCO Solarium.Sgt. 1st Class Robert Rosales III, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, said the terms "NCO" and "noncommissioned officer" do not appear in Army Doctrine Reference Publication 6.0 or Army Doctrine Publication 6.0 – both of which define mission command.Rosales said NCOs might have a better idea of their place in mission command if their roles in the process were more clearly defined...
Army Ten-Miler and GEICO officials announced that runners attending the Army Ten-Miler’s Pre-Race GEICO Pasta Dinner are in for a special event and experience.Highlighting the dinner, attendees will meet the senior enlisted leadership of the Army.Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey; Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk Conley, command sergeant major of the Army National Guard; and Command Sgt. Maj. Luther Thomas Jr., command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Reserve, will speak Oct. 10 at the race’s dinner.The dinner also features an "all-you-can-eat" pasta buffet and an energizing musical performance by The...
Legislation recently approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) would, if it became law, fundamentally change the current military retirement system.The Defense Authorization Bill for fiscal 2016 includes a provision that reflects the recommendations made earlier this year by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) and largely mirrors language included in the authorization bill passed May 15 by the House of Representatives.Instead of the current 20-year, cliff-vested retirement benefit, service members who serve at least 20 years would get...
When the Army’s chief of staff retires this August, he said one thing he will be leaving for his successor is the unfinished business of how big the Army will be and how it will be appropriated."I thought by now we would have had that resolved," said Odierno, adding that uncertainty about the final size of the Army has brought "angst to our soldiers."Odierno spoke during a media roundtable with the Defense Writers Group in Washington, D.C.The final end strength of the Army –the total number of soldiers that will be allowed to serve – is still "up in the air," Odierno said. It is "based on what...