1775

The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association Summer 2009

Year of the NCO AROUND THE CORPS AND HR COMMUNITY… 1 2

3

5 4

Front Inside Cover: 1. The Aloha Chapter AG Car Wash Team takes a break in Hawaii. 2. SGT Trend D. Fate, 81st MMT, receiving the AG School Commandant's Coin for her support at the Joint Military Mail Terminal in Iraq. 3. 81st MMT Soldiers, Airmen, Civilians & Contractors supporting the Joint Military Mail Terminal at Baghdad International Airport with the AG School Commandant. 4. AG Branch Team at the 2008 Maude Golf Tournament. From left to right - MAJ Washington, COL Bennett, CPT Watson, and MAJ Raymond. 5. CPT Dena M. De Lucia and SPC Stacey Byrd assigned to US Forces Afghanistan, J1, greet Toby Keith‘s Band at Bagram Airfield.

1775, The Journal of the Summer Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Association, (ISSN 1775 1551-8205) is published by the 2009 Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Association, a The Journal of the Adjutant General‟s Corps Regimental Association non-profit organization, CONTENTS headquartered at Fort The Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Association Officers 2 Jackson, South Carolina, and SECTION I: REGIMENTAL LEADERSHIP is devoted to the advancement and professionalism of the Notes from the Chief of the Corps 3 Adjutant General‘s Corps Notes from the Chief Warrant Officer of the Corps 5 Regiment members. Articles Biography of CW5 Scott B. Hagar 7 appearing in the journal do Notes from the Regimental CSM 8 not necessarily reflect the SECTION II: AG AND HR PROFESSIONAL READING opinion of the officers and AG Officer Branch Update 10 members of the Regimental AG Corps Warrant Officer Branch Update 13 Association, nor the Army‘s HR leadership. Articles AG Corps Enlisted Branch Update 15 submitted by members or HR NCO During a Period of Persistent Conflict 17 Garrison CSM Jobs offer Great Opportunity for AG NCOs civilian employees of the U.S. 19 military services are Our NCO Promotion System 21 expressions of personal Women Serving as HR NCOs in Today‘s Army 23 opinion, unless otherwise Training the HR NCO 24 stated, and should not be NCO Spends Last Moments with US Combat Casualties 27 interpreted as reflecting the Why a Human Capital Strategy 29 official opinion of the Silver Scimitar 33 Department of Defense. Theater HR Operations 35 1775 is scheduled to be rd published three times a year. 3 Sustainment Brigade Strength Management Lessons Learned 39 Articles for submission are Leader Development for Army Civilians 41 Notes from the Equal Opportunity Training Proponent welcomed and should be sent 44 to the address below. The SECTION III: ARMY BANDS editor and publisher of 1775 West Point Band Celebrates Year of the NCO 45 also invites the submission of Great Musicians – Outstanding NCOs and Soldiers 47 photographs and illustrations th Army Reserve NCOs Lead the 100 Army Band 48 to accompany articles. AMC Band Plays Special Tribute to NCOs 50 The editor reserves the th Historic Deployed 4 of July Tour 51 right to reject any articles US Army Bands NCO and Soldier of the Year 53 and/or to modify articles for SECTION IV: AROUND THE CORPS clarity or space limitations. Requests for authorization to 2009 National Regimental AG Ball 54 2009 National Regimental AG Ball Address reprint 1775 articles should be 58 sent to the address below. AG Regimental of the Year Award Winners for 2009 62 Potomac Chapter Celebrates AG Corps Birthday 63 Contact Information: AG Corps Birthday at Camp Taji, Iraq 65 VP, Publications, AGCRA Reactivation of the Rio Grande Chapter 66 PO Box 10026 Spotlight Retirement – COL Joe Pedone 67 Fort Jackson, SC 29207 In Remembrance – Dr. James Ard 67 SECTION V: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Email: Time to Rename the AG Corps 68 [email protected] SECTION VI: AGCRA AGCRA Awards Program 70-73 Visit us on the web at: AGCRA Membership Program 74-75 www.agcra.com New Items in the Sutler Store 76 1775 Summer 2009 1 The Adjutant General‟s Corps Regimental Association Officers www.agcra.com

Officers President: COL Robert L. Manning Senior VP: COL (Ret) Michael R. Molosso Senior VP: CW5 Scott B. Hagar Senior VP: CSM Darlene C. Hagood VP, Awards: CW5 (Ret) David A. Ratliff VP, Publications: COL (Ret) Robert Ortiz-Abreu, Jr. VP, Membership: SFC (Ret) Kenneth M. Fidler, Jr. VP, Sales and Sutler Store: CSM (Ret) Teresa Meagher Treasurer: CW5 Jeanne Pace Adjutant: COL (Ret) Robert Ortiz-Abreu, Jr. Secretary: CSM (Ret) William W. Austin AGCRA Webmaster: SFC (Ret) Paul C. Hessert VP, Community and Corporate Affairs: Vacant VP, Plans and Programs: Vacant

Honorary Officers Honorary Colonel: MG (Ret) Patricia P. Hickerson Honorary Warrant Officer: CW5 (Ret) Daniel J. Logan Honorary Sergeant Major: CSM (Ret) Michael L. Armstead

1775 Staff and Support: Editor, Layout and Graphics Design: COL (Ret) Robert Ortiz-Abreu, Jr. Assistant Editor & Proofing: Selected AGCRA Officers Printing Services provided by American Printing, Columbia, SC 1775 is prepared with PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat 9 Professional Software

From the Editorial Staff: This edition of 1775 is dedicated to the ―Year of the NCO‖. The US Army‘s NCO Corps distinguished itself as the worlds most accomplished group of military professionals. Historical and daily accounts of life as an NCO are exemplified by acts of courage, and a dedication and willingness to do whatever it takes to complete the mission. HR NCOs have also been celebrated for decorated service throughout the Army‘s long and distinguished history, to current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. In recognition of their commitment to service and willingness to make great sacrifices on behalf of our Nation, our Army, Commanders, Soldiers and their Families, we dedicate this edition of 1775 to the ―Year of the NCO‖. We hope you enjoy this edition of 1775 and solicit your comments and feedback at [email protected].

Bob Ortiz, VP Pubs & Editor, 1775 Colonel (Ret), US Army [email protected] 2 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com SECTION I: REGIMENTAL LEADERSHIP

Notes from the Chief of the Corps By COL Robert L. Manning, Commandant, AG School, Chief of the AG Corps, and Chief, Army Bands the keynote speaker for the fall 2009 Maude Lecture Series on Fort Jackson. This issue of 1775 reintroduces us to AG Corps Regimental Association awards. I would ask you to pay special attention to this section because some of the awards have changed over the years. One award in particular is often overlooked and that is the Association‘s Achievement award. It is an award that local chapter president‘s have the authority to award. This award allows chapter presidents to recognize outstanding members of their respective chapters with a distinctive award that can be worn in the same manner as a Horatio Gates Medal. Chapter presidents and BACKBONE OF THE ARMY! other leaders, I ask and encourage you to learn Soldiers and Civilians of the Corps, what a more about this award and hopefully we will see great year 2009 became when the Army‘s more of our junior leaders proudly wearing them senior leadership designated this the ―Year of at AG Balls and other formal events or even the NCO!‖ This recognition is long overdue for displaying them in their work places. these hardworking and dedicated professional The Corps is hard at work. AG Troopers leaders. In keeping with this spirit, we continue to flow in and out of the various dedicate this issue of 1775 to our very own AG theaters of operations performing their AG/HR NCOs who have in the past and continue to missions with great passion and proficiency. AG this day to provide the strength that makes us Soldiers and HR professionals in both the Army Strong. operational and generating forces continue to The AG School actively supported the Year support an Army at war from the recruiting of the NCO by designating the theme of this stations, to the MEPS, training in IET, to year‘s National AG Ball as the Adjutant‘s arrival at the first unit of assignment, to the E Corps NCO Past, Present and Future. The Ring of the Pentagon, communities in Germany, ball was an enormous success with a record different areas of Korea, and all points in- attendance of over 540 attendees that came to between. The 310th HRSC is in the process of listen to the Army‘s Strolling Strings perform making history as the first USAR HRSC to and hear a dynamic, energizing and deploy into theater. The 310th HRSC will inspirational keynote address from the III replace the 14th HRSC after a successful Corps and Fort Hood Command Sergeant RIP/TOA. The 14th HRSC performed Major, CSM Neil Ciotola. Additionally, the magnificently this past year as part of the 1st Sergeant Major of the Army, SMA Kenneth TSC at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Preston provided a personalized greeting to The initial draft of FM 1-0 is complete and attendees honoring our NCOs. The written ready for staffing to the rest of the Army with text of CSM Ciotola‘s speech is in this issue of an anticipated delivery date to the field of 1775. The months ahead are promising as January 2010. Our Force Design Update (FDU), well since SMA Preston accepted to serve as which establishes a multi-functional platoon 1775 Summer 2009 3 from smaller organizations such as CLTs and R5s, is cleared for approval through DA. The AG Museum recently underwent a major renovation and has many more displays that capture the full essence of our Corps which includes, but is not limited to Band and Recruiting, Operations, LTG Maude and SGM Strickland displays and much more. Hopefully by now you have received at least one copy of an AGCRA Newsletter. The intent of the newsletter is to keep you informed of ongoing Association actions and or activities during the periods in-between 1775 publications. One newsletter in particular addresses our AGCRA Membership Drive. We need your help and I am asking you to ask an AG Soldier or HR professional that you know who is not a member of the Association to join. We will be more than happy to provide you supporting and reinforcing fires from Fort Jackson, but the bottom line is that we need your help. There are 49,400 of us from all COMPOs that call the AG Corps or HR Community our home, but only 2,000 are members of the Association. Let‘s open our doors and invite others in so that we can share information and knowledge. I hope you enjoy this issue of 1775 that highlights our dynamic NCO Corps and I appreciate your support of our Association, our Corps, and our community. I look forward to seeing and hearing from you soon.

Defend and Serve!

COL Manning addresses 310th HRSC Soldiers during COL Manning presents SSG Slater, assigned to RTC- predeployment training at Fort McCoy, WI North, Fort McCoy, with a Commandant‟s Coin in support of the 310th HRSC‟s convoy exercise

COL Manning presents Chief, Army Band coins COL Manning receives an initial issue for new Soldiers to Soldiers from the 77th Army Band, Fort Sill, OK briefing from 95th AG (Reception) Battalion NCOs 4 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Notes from the Chief Warrant Officer of the Corps By CW5 Scott B. Hagar, Chief Warrant Officer of the Adjutant General’s Corps program of instruction to meet the educational needs of the HR warrant officer. One of my primary concerns as I look at the state of the AG warrant officer is professional military education (PME). The operational tempo is incredibly fast and the operational environment is complex, which means commanders rely heavily on the continuity and expertise that warrant officers bring to their formations and the fight. That notwithstanding, warrant officers must carve out time to attend WOAC, WOSC, or WOSSC at the earliest opportunity and not wait until you pin on your next rank. Greetings Adjutant General Corps Warrant I encourage you to coordinate with your Officers! CW5 Ron Galloway and I passed the leaders and attend your respective course. saber signifying the change of responsibility on Even though PME is not linked to promotion 18 June 2009. I would like to thank Ron for active duty WOs you still need to attend to Galloway for his tireless efforts, service, and develop into the leader and technician the unparalleled dedication to the AG Corps and Army requires in the future. the Regimental Association. In over 29 years Accession Board: The September 2009 of service, I have served with many great accessions board will select another 15 Soldiers, but few can match Ron‘s intensity outstanding candidates to become 420As. and passion for taking care of Soldiers and Please bear in mind as you coach and assist Families. your outstanding NCOs that there are During our transition we had the adjustments to the WO accession board opportunity to visit with many great HR prerequisites. The grade prerequisite has professionals at Fort Hood and Camp Mabry, changed from SGT to SSG and each NCO must TX, Fort Lee, VA, and the National Capitol have a minimum of eight years time in service. Region. I can report that warrant officers I applaud your efforts and support in throughout the Army‘s HR Community, at recommending only the best qualified NCOs to every level of responsibility, are making a become WOs. I also encourage you to make the tremendous difference and are leading from tough calls and guide our NCOs down the right the front. It never ceases to amaze me that the path if they lack the required HR operational Army entrusts warrant officers with so much and leadership time to ensure they will be able responsibility and they always deliver beyond to pursue their goal of becoming a WO. The expectations. As the Chief Warrant of Officer Army continues to select only the very best of AG Corps my goal is to visit all installations NCOs and AG Corps WO continues to be the that have AG warrant officers assigned and to most competitive of all WO branches. support the outstanding contributions you 420A and 420C Strengths: The active duty make and then tell your story as I travel WO strength continues to increase and both throughout the Army‘s footprint. 420A and 420C will be over 100 percent by the The Warrant Officer Basic and Advanced end of FY 09. This provides HRC with a Courses for 420As have been updated measure of flexibility to ensure they have the significantly over the past year and this right WOs filling the right positions after process will continue so that the Adjutant factoring in assignment considerations. The General School provides the most relevant ARNG strengths are at 89 percent. This 1775 Summer 2009 5 percentage represents all ARNG 420As, but is not broken out by state. We continue to experience shortages in some states while other states may be over 100 percent. My goal is to work with the state Command Chief Warrant Officers and strength managers and access based on their needs. The National Guard represents over 55% of our total 420A population and with the ARNG transformation, it is critical they have 420As in their formations. The Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Association (AGCRA) membership is increasing for our WO population. AGCRA is our professional HR forum and provides opportunities for recognition and professional networking that exceeds most other associations. Please continue to renew or sign up for membership and most importantly, encourage other members of the AG Corps to join. Go to http://agcra.com/ to sign up. I also encourage you to share your experiences and submit articles for publication to 1775. In closing, I express my gratitude for all you are doing for the AG Corps and the Army. The dedication, enthusiasm, professionalism, and sacrifice you exhibit daily are inspiring to the entire Army. Leaders at every level realize what an integral part of the team WOs are to the Army‘s formations. As our structure continues to transform, the WO presence will continue to be critical to mission success. I am humbled and honored to be your voice and Chief WO of the AG Corps. Always remember, it‘s the little things that count.

Defend and Serve!

WOAC 01-09 Dining In with COL Fuller-Friel (Center) WO1 McCray (Right) cheers on CW2 Henry at Fort Jackson during WOBC 03-09 AG Warrior Challenge

WOBC 03-09 AG Warrior Challenge - WO1 Thomas (Left) WOBC 03-09 students compete in the canoe event on & WO1 Griffith (Right) finish the run event 28 Aug 09 at the AG Warrior Challenge on Fort Jackson 6 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Biography of CW5 Scott B. Hagar CW5 Scott B. Hagar was born in Springfield, Inspector General‘s Office, Heidelberg, Germany; Missouri, and was raised in Irving, Texas. He Warrant Officer Basic Course Director, Soldier graduated in 1980 from MacArthur High School, Support Institute and Adjutant General School, Fort Irving, Texas. In 1988 he graduated from Park Jackson, South Carolina; Assistant Executive College, Parkville, Missouri, with a Bachelor‘s Officer to the Commanding General, United States Degree in Business Management. In 1999, CW5 Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia; Hagar earned a Master‘s Degree in Human Assistant Executive Officer to the Commander, Relations from the University of Oklahoma. CW5 International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Hagar‘s military education includes Warrant Afghanistan; FORSCOM Strength Manager for I Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Warrant and III Corps, Fort McPherson, Georgia; and as the Officer Staff Course, Warrant Officer Senior Staff Deputy Chief, Personnel Services Assistance and Course, Army Systems Approach to Training Training Team, Fort McPherson, Georgia. CW5 Course, and the Department of the Army Inspector Hagar now serves as the 4th Chief Warrant Officer General Course. of the Adjutant General Corps, Adjutant General CW5 Hagar enlisted in the Army on active School, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. duty in June 1980. He was appointed to the CW5 Hagar‘s awards include the Bronze Star Warrant Officer Corps in 1993. His assignments as Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Army a Warrant Officer includes: Chief of Personnel Commendation Medal (6 awards), Army Automation Branch and Personnel Actions Branch, Achievement Medal (5 awards), Army Good Conduct 4th Personnel Services Company/4th Personnel Medal (4 awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Services Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado; Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal Detachment Commander, Detachment A, 4th (with star device), Overseas Ribbon (with numeral Personnel Services Battalion, Fort Carson, 3), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Colorado; Chief, Personnel Services Support Parachute Badge, and various other service medals Division, 5th Signal Command, Worms/Mannheim, and ribbons. Germany; Chief, Personnel Inspector, USAREUR CW5 Hagar is married to his wife Kathryn, and they have a son, Justin.

Former Chief Warrant Officers (CWO) of the AG Corps attend the CWO Change of Responsibility Ceremony on 18 June 2009, at Fort Jackson. From L to R: CW5 Charles Wigglesworth, CW5 (Ret) Gerald Sims, CW5 Ron Galloway (outgoing CWO of the Corps), and CW5 Scott Hagar (incoming CWO of the Corps). 1775 Summer 2009 7 Notes from the Regimental CSM By CSM Darlene C. Hagood, AG School & Regimental CSM 3rd CSM Michael L. Armstead served 2001- 2004 4th CSM J. Kelly Fain served 2004-2006 5th CSM Billy J. Blackmon served 2006-2008

Although, we are paying tribute to our AG NCO Corps, I want to thank every member of our Corps, Soldiers and Civilians, for your continued support and for what you are doing around the world for the organizations that you support. Leading and training is what NCOs do. Give us the mission and let us get it done. The Commander has the vision for the organization Greetings to all, what an honor it is to have and the NCO brings the vision to fruition. our professional association, the Adjutant However, the Commander should not be the General‘s Corps Regimental Association, only one with a vision for the Soldiers in the (AGCRA), pay tribute to our NCO Corps. In organization. support of the ―Year of the NCO‖ this edition is We, as NCOs, should have a vision for dedicated to us. This is only possible because ourselves and our Soldiers. Soldiers today are our Corps has a leader with vision that truly contributing a lot to the success of their units‘ supports the NCO Corps. So, COL Manning, missions. They are faced with different thank you for your support and the honor to our challenges than we were ten years ago. AG Corps NCOs. Deployments, PTSD, divorce, and sexual In this article I will discuss leadership, assault are all realities that leaders are faced community service and the AGCRA. I would with. The old phrase ―Suck it up and drive on‖ ask every NCO that reads this 1775 edition to does not always work. Leaders must be ask themselves, ―What am I doing to make a educated on the resources available in order to difference?‖ NCOs are charged to lead and to provide the help their Soldiers need to ensure give back. To whom much is given, much is they get back into the fight. ―All Soldiers are required. entitled to outstanding leadership. I will First, I would like to pay special tribute and provide that leadership.‖ These are words to say thank you to the five outstanding Command live by. Soldiers are seeking role models and Sergeants Majors that preceded me with the mentors. Is anyone seeking you out? honor of leading our Corps as the Regimental NCO leadership is not just limited to the Command Sergeant Major. I am honored to Soldiers in our units. It also extends to our share this ultimate level of service to our Corps communities. Many of you are logging many with you. Your committed and dedicated volunteer hours doing great things in your service paved the way for me. Your strong communities. You are out in the schools, backbone allows me to stand upon your youth centers, senior centers, hospitals and shoulders. I thank each of you for your service many other places, giving back and making a to the Corps and your continued service to the positive difference. I want to say thank you! Corps in your current positions. Previous Thank you for giving of yourself and your time Adjutant General Corps Command Sergeants to make life better for someone else. The time Major are: you spend with our youth could be the 1st CSM Stanley Ashford served 1997-1998 influence that keeps them on the right track as 2nd CSM Freddie Lash served 1998-2001 they will be our future Army. 8 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com As I am out and about visiting our HR professionals in the field, leaders are always telling me about the great Soldiers that they have. It makes me very proud. But I would like to see more of our outstanding performers receive our AGCRA Achievement Medal. So often we say thank you to our high achievers with a lunch or dinner. That is good but when the meal is consumed, the gift is gone. Consider purchasing them a one year membership to our professional association to show your appreciation. For the same 20 dollars you would spend on a meal you could give them 3 copies of 1775, quarterly newsletters, a source of HR networking, and keep them informed on updates throughout our Corps. I want to close the article with a special prayer for our NCOs: Father, I lift up our NCO Corps to you and I ask that you endow us with your wisdom, knowledge, strength, peace and joy to carry out the tasks that you have put before us. Father, we can only see what is in front of us, but you know what is ahead and around the corner. We seek your wisdom and guidance in every situation. Father, we ask a special blessing for those serving in harm‘s way and we thank you for covering them with your protection. Father, bless the leaders of our Nation, our Army and our Corps. We ask and believe it is done, in Jesus‘ name, Amen. I want to give a special thank you to all the NCOs that took the time to contribute to this edition of 1775. Everyone reading your articles will be educated, informed and inspired.

Defend and Serve!

Congratulations to USASMA Class #59. Thank you CSM Brown and SFC Harrington for all of It‟s time to go to work! your hard work on the 2009 National AG Ball.

CSM Hagood congratulates the 95th AG (Reception) SGM Rice (AG Branch), CSM Hagood and SGM Bn NCO and Soldier of the Quarter at Fort Sill, OK. Hopkins working together for the good of the Corps. 1775 Summer 2009 9 SECTION II: AG and HR Professional Reading Dedicated to “Year of the NCO” AG Officer Branch Update during their counseling. This omission may be By LTC Neal McIntyre, AG Officer Branch Chief intentional and certainly within the purview of the (COL Bob Bennett and MAJ Wes Hankins, rater/senior rater to make this call. Or the Contributing Authors) rater/senior rater may have unintentionally left Ladies and Gentlemen, this summer marks these comments out and can add them as a result some personnel changes to your Adjutant General‘s of this dialogue. Additionally, senior raters need to Corps Officer Branch Team at HRC, however there amplify their potential box checks by using the will be no change in the responsive and professional narrative to clearly send the appropriate message service you will receive from your branch. I to selection boards. Board members relate to the assumed the duties as Branch Chief at the end of first and last lines in the senior rater's comments June 2009. I previously served as the LTC‘s as some of the most important factors in their Assignment Officer for 4 months in July 2006 before assessment. Senior raters should not fill their box being reassigned to HRC DCSOPs Requirements and hide potential comments. A center of mass Branch; so I have some experience with AG officer OER with the right comments about potential and assignments and professional development. I have future assignments is more valuable than an above served as a Brigade S1 at Fort Stewart and as G1 center of mass rating that doesn't enumerate for the 1st Armored Division in Germany, along performance or contain key bullets about ability to with a one year tour in support of OIF. command or school selection. The following Please note that COL Bob Bennett, my classification of types of narratives may serve as a predecessor and as part of our Branch Chief guide and assist in sending a clear message. In transition, made significant contributions to the order of merit: information in this 1775 article. Our focus for this ACOM-Exclusive Narrative: Clearly article is on OERs. describe superior performance above that of the AG Branch receives numerous phone calls about vast majority, associated with early promotion and OER rater/senior rater comments and we want to is restrictive in nature. Should only be used for the share with you an OER guide we received from a best ACOM reports within a mature profile and at former assignment officer. It's a great narrative times for the very best officers with COM reports in that we've shared with lots of folks and should help small population/immature profile (<4). A senior guide you as AG Officers as you help your bosses rater should provide comments like: write OERs and maybe something you may want to keep in your kit bag for future reference to share  Enumeration (―the best officer I currently senior with others. rate‖ / ―one of the top two officers (or Captains or Raters and Senior Raters: What raters and Majors or LTCs) I have served with in 18 years‖ / senior raters need to remember and take away, is ―one of the two best officers of the 20 I currently that although a center of mass report is not a senior rate.‖ discriminator for most boards, not all center of mass  Promotion (―promote now‖ / ―must promote below reports are viewed equally. It is very important the zone‖) that rating officials try to include the following in  Schooling (―send to SSC first look‖) the narrative: quantification or enumeration,  Command (―will be a distinguished Division G1 / Battalion Commander‖) promotion potential, schooling recommendations and next command/position recommended. A rater ACOM-Strong Narrative: Describe or senior rater may elect to leave one or more of significant performance accomplishments and these four components out of a narrative, but they enthusiastically recommend promotion, should understand they risk sending an unintended assignment to key duty positions linked to upward (and maybe not positive) message to a promotion or mobility and appropriate military schooling (e.g. selection board. Rated officers should watch for among the best, definite below the zone potential, these items in their OERs as well and question one of my best officers). Should be used for ACOM their rater/senior rater if they notice an omission reports and for the very best officers receiving 10 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com COM reports. being succinct and precise in the words they choose. One final OER thought: senior raters lose  Enumeration (―top 1%, 5%‖ / ―easily in the top credibility when their narrative does not match third of all officers I senior rate‖ / Note - less clear their box check. For example, a senior rater has 42 enumeration than the exclusive narrative) majors in rated population and states: ―MAJ Smith  Promotion ("promote below the zone") is clearly in the top 5% of all majors I rate,‖ and  School ("select for SSC at first opportunity") then gives MAJ Smith a COM box check.  Command "a must select for Division G1 / To review: Make the call (enumeration) in the Battalion Command") first line, be concise and enthusiastic. Address COM-Exclusive Narrative: Used for small performance in the body of the OER. Finish strong profiles or for officers who clearly deserve an with promotion, schooling, and command potential. ACOM for their performance and potential. What Changing subjects, the Army and the Adjutant you want to convey to the board is that this is a General Corps saw many changes during the past definite ACOM officer, but profile management few years through the execution of Modular math keeps you from top blocking this officer. Transformation and Personnel Services Delivery Should be rare and you should turn this report in Redesign (PSDR) while conducting continuous with your integrity still spotless. wartime operations in two theaters. As we consider

 Enumeration ("one of the top 3 officers" / "top the military service of AG officers, it is imperative 5%" / "one of the best officers I have observed in 18 that we provide the Professional Military Education years") (PME) and occupational opportunities needed to  Promotion ("should be promoted below the zone") maintain a competent and capable corps of AG  Schooling ("select first look for SSC") Officers. AG Branch remains committed to  Command ("has the potential to be a Division G1 ensuring professional development through the / Battalion Commander") right educational and occupational experiences in a manner that balances family stability with a COM-Strong Narrative: demanding operational tempo.

 Enumeration (may not be mentioned at all, or Figure 1 on the next page illustrates current "one of the best officers I currently senior rate") educational and assignment opportunities available  Promotion ("should be selected for a BZ to AG officers throughout their career. promotion to Major/LTC") Timing educational and assignment  Schooling ("should be selected for SSC") opportunities is equally important as completing  Command (may not be mentioned, or "should be them. Completing PME requirements, operational considered for battalion command") deployments, and institutional assignments presents a significant challenge as officers seek to COM-Neither Exclusive nor Strong: balance an Army career and family. Figure 2, also Enumeration (not needed, "top half of officers on the next page, provides a potential career battle rated," ...this hurts officers) rhythm where operational deployments are Promotion ("select this officer for promotion") balanced with educational opportunities and Schooling ("select for SSC when eligible") institutional assignments.

Command (not needed, "has potential or groom for Defend and Serve! battalion command," or statements about potential for Battalion S1/XO with no mention of Battalion Command or Division G1)

Boards will also pay attention to small profiles and size of officer population to determine the message the senior rater is attempting to convey. This causes a board member to turn his attention to the narrative and carefully read what is written. It behooves raters and senior raters to always provide (for their very best officers) a narrative that will convey a very strong, positive message by including all the elements mentioned above and by The AG Officer Branch Team 1775 Summer 2009 11 Figure 1, Current AG Officer educational and assignment opportunities

Figure 2, A potential Career Battle Rhythm for AG Officers

12 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com AG Warrant Officer Branch Update By CW4 George S. Toves, AG Warrant Officer Branch Manager

SFC Castillo, Kalina SFC Johnson, Sheree SFC Sheridan, Ezekiel SSG Brown, Tavarus SSG Fisher, Lamika SSG Hunter, Sonya SSG Jordan, Erika SSG Payne, Alanna SSG Savage, Robert SSG Taylor, Kizzy

We are well into 2009 and have reviewed everyone‘s file in preparation for 2010 assignments. In 2008 we had over a third of our Greetings AG Professionals! Corps moving around our Army in various I want to take this opportunity to thank each assignment opportunities for continued service and every one of you for your continued hard work, and support of our war fighting units in BCT, selfless service, sacrifices and dedication to duty. STBs, HRSC, TSC, as well as higher echelons Your continuous support to Soldiers and their, above Division and Corps, to include a few Joint families are truly appreciated. We are all assignments. Most of our AG Professionals have extremely busy with supporting our customers, now had the opportunity to serve in positions that organizations, both in garrison and in a deployed will allow deployment opportunity and help environment. It never seems to end, it‘s a constant relieve our fellow comrades who have had tough cycle and you all deserved a tremendous multiple deployments back to back. Thank you to amount of gratitude and appreciation. Thank you our fellow AG WOs for volunteering to serve in for what you do each and every day! various assignments and in sharing the hardships Congratulations to all FY 09 CW3/4/5 AG WO of deployment. The opportunity to deploy will promotables. Well deserved promotions! With eventually be a reality and soon you will be promotions come increased duties and recognized as part of our deployment team of responsibilities at the next higher position. Start experienced AG WO Professionals contributing in planning to serve our Army at that next level now. our support of overseas contingency operations, Your hard work and dedication along with your relevant to the rest of our Corps of professionals. constant selfless service will prepare you for these You will feel proud to have served your country in assignments at the next higher grade. Don‘t forget support of our national defense and global to plan for Professional Military Education (PME) strategy. What a rewarding experience and and ensure you enroll in the Warrant Officer opportunity! Advanced Course, Warrant Officer Staff Course Fall is around the corner, those of you who will and Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course. PME is be eligible for the FY 10 CW3/4/5 Promotion important and critical for that next tier in your Selection Board, do not wait until the last minute career. Plan early, as these courses fill up quick! to get your file updated. Start planning and Congratulations to our May 2009 Warrant working on getting your promotion files (ORB, Officer selectees. Welcome to the Warrant Officer IPERMS / OMPF, and Photo) squared away. The Adjutant General Corps of ―Quiet Professionals‖! board zones of consideration and promotion Your next challenge will be to successfully MILPER message will be released o/a October complete the Warrant Officer Candidate School 2009, board files will open up in November 2009 and the Warrant Officer Basic Course. through mid January 2010. Early planning is Assignments and class dates have already been critical and essential to a successful promotion. released to attend WOCS and WOBC from July My charter for the next two years is to get all through October 2009. Good luck and I will see the CW2Ps and CW3s enrolled in the Warrant Officer 420A Warrant Officers during your WOBC. Advance Course for FY 10 and FY 11. We only 1775 Summer 2009 13 have a total of 20 Active Duty slots, 10 seats for class 001 (8 February – 31 March 2010) and 10 seats for Class 002 (6 June – 29 July 2010). We‘re working on getting more seats in the future. I will enroll you for these courses in order of merit by DOR. If you cannot make the scheduled course dates due to deployment or OPTEMPO mission requirements, you will need to send me a 4187 requesting a PME deferment from your chain of command justifying your request for deferment. You will then be rescheduled for the next available class. WOBC 01-09 Dining In Once again, Thank you for what you do in support of our Army, families and defense of our freedom. Keep up the great work AG professionals.

Defend and Serve!

GEORGE S. TOVES CW4, AG Adjutant General Warrant Officer Branch Manager

POC Info: Army Human Resources Command Attn: AHRC-OPC-G (CW4 Toves) 200 Stovall Street WOAC 02-09 Class Photo Alexandria, VA 22332 (703) 325-0165 DSN: 221-0165

WOAC 02-09 Dining In

WOBC 01-09 Class Photo

14 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com AG Enlisted Branch Update “HRC Vision and Goals for the Army‟s HR NCO Corps” By SGM Jerome Rice, AG Enlisted Branch SGM

“Facilitating transformation and manning of the force has been and continues to be the guiding principle of the United States Army Human Resources Command. In recognition of the Year of the Noncommissioned Officer I felt it appropriate to share with our Human Resource professionals the goals, priorities, and procedures utilized specifically by your Branch Sergeant Major in the execution of his duties each day. It is our intent and hope that through this article all our HR Professionals will gain a better understanding of how we manage our AG Corps Soldiers, their assignments, and professional development.” Command Sergeant Major John F. Gathers United States Army Human Resources Command

Greetings AG Warriors, it gives me great ensure that the most current information is satisfaction to provide a contribution for the AG available for all AG Soldiers. With their help we Corps Regimental Association Magazine, 1775. created the Adjutant General Corps Enlisted First and most importantly, I want to thank Developmental Career Timeline (see Figure 1 on you all for serving in our Army and taking care of the next page). our most precious resources – the Soldiers and This timeline helps show the AG Soldier what families of our Army. You have a great team of the main requirements are for promotion civilians and noncommissioned officers here in AG competitiveness and for career progression. This Branch that are dedicated professionals who work timeline enables the selection of future hard each and everyday to serve you and our great assignments and meets Army Manning Guidance, Army. unit priority of fill, Army readiness, AG Career My goal as the AG Branch Sergeant Major is to Map, and Soldier/family needs in order to achieve efficiently and effectively managed Soldier the best match for our AG Soldier population. assignments and careers. In addition, we want to The timeline does not replace or take away provide Soldiers of the branch the most current and from the AG Career Map. However, it depicts a up to date information regarding assignments site picture of the key Professional Development policies, assignment opportunities and professional Assignments (PDA), Additional Assignments development. (Special Duties) and schools that have proven to Our priorities include supporting the Army‘s keep Soldiers competitive for promotion, provided efforts in OCO (Overseas Contingency Operations) they serve successfully. The timeline provides and restructuring of the force to ensure readiness approximately a five year plan for Soldiers. It is for all potential challenges faced by our Nation. simply a tool to help our Soldiers plan their PDAs We achieve this by assigning Soldiers with the and to enable senior leaders to provide mentorship required skills and training in accordance with for their Soldiers when counseling. Army Manning Guidance, and HRC policies and As you consider your next duty location, keep in directives. Embedded in our assignment policy is a mind your Assignment Manager/Professional priority that Soldier considerations are important. Development NCO typically works assignments To meet our mission, we must balance Army approximately 120 to 180 days out. A lot goes into readiness requirements with our Soldiers‘ consideration where your potential next professional development, as well as family assignment will be, operational versus generating considerations, like dual military marriages and force, your professional development, and your the needs of the Soldier‘s dependents (health, individual preferences. We encourage you to schooling, etc). update your ASK tool, which you may access on our Over the last year, we have worked relentlessly Soldier Support webpage or at AKO. with the Regimental CSM and Proponent SGM to Our intent is to balance the force and provide 1775 Summer 2009 15 fair and equitable assignments (operational and Additionally, ensure you keep the following generating force) to all Soldiers. If you are in the updated: operational Army your next assignment should be EFMP (every 2 years) in the Generating Force and vice versa. We are  High School Stabilizations looking to reassign Soldiers during your unit reset  MACP process or at the end of your stabilization period.  Profiles Almost daily, many Soldiers inquire about  Physicals Special Duty Assignments and the eligibility  Deployment History process. Ensure you have successfully served and   Attend NCOES on schedule have met the guidelines for serving in a Professional Development Assignment. When we Next FY we have yet another milestone that will assign Soldiers to Special Duty Assignments many be critical for all AG Soldiers and the assignment factors go into the selection process (i.e., Drill process. Effective 1 October 2010, all 42A/42F Sergeant, Recruiting, AIT PLT SGT, EO, IG, Soldiers will be required to have a minimum of a AC/RC, ROTC, Nominative/Joint, etc.). Each Secret Clearance. We have had some major events special duty is determined based on Army recently (PSDR/42L Merger) and we really need your requirements and individual qualifications; help with ensuring all eligible Soldiers meet this however, the following plays a major role in the deadline. assignment process: Lastly, the Soldier Support Branch believes that the assignment process is a cooperative effort  Assignment History (Professional between the AG Branch and you the Soldier. We Development Assignment Qualified) strongly encourage you to keep an open line of  Availability communication with your Professional Development  Background Check NCO and Assignment Manager, and use the ASK  Special Skills program.  Dwell Time  After Special Duty, return to PDA Defend and Serve! 16 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Relevant, Ready, Responsive; the Human Resources (HR) NCO During a Period of Persistent Conflict By SGM Allerick O. Knight, SGM, US ARCENT G1/C1 For over 233 years the U.S. Army has served as the Nation‘s guardian of freedom around the globe. In 2003, the Army began that's not only holding this force together at its most significant reorganization since a difficult time, but enabling us to World War II to ensure that all components accomplish the near impossible every day.‖ were fully manned, equipped and trained. In recognition of our NCOs‘ commitment We referred to these sweeping changes as to service and willingness to make great Army Transformation. This title describes sacrifices on behalf of our Nation, Secretary the Army‘s future-concept plan to of the Army, the Honorable Peter Geren modernize the force with the integration of established 2009 as Year of the NCO. This technology, new concepts, and is the second time within the last 20 years organizations designed as modular that Army NCOs have been so recognized. elements able to respond to global The first occurred in 1989, when then contingencies as needed. Secretary of the Army, the Honorable John A key and essential component to this O. Marsh declared that the Army theme for transformation is the review, assessment 1989 was ―The NCO.‖ From the Army‘s and modification to the education, training most senior leaders, there can be no greater and assignment of members of the Army‘s declaration of confidence and pride in the NCO Corps. With more than 200 years of contributions of the NCO Corps. service, the NCO Corps has consistently The Army‘s Human Resources (HR) NCO distinguished itself as the world‘s most proved no less critical to the Adjutant accomplished group of military General‘s Corps‘ role as the Army‘s professionals. Historical and daily personnel manager and the combatant accounts of life as an NCO are exemplified commander‘s combat enhancer. Since the by acts of courage, and a dedication and a Adjutant General Corp‘s own willingness to do whatever it takes to transformation, which began roughly five complete the mission. NCOs have been years ago, HR NCOs have served valiantly celebrated for decorated service in military in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedoms events ranging from Valley Forge to (OEF/OIF). Some have served as many as Gettysburg, to charges on Omaha Beach, four combat tours and made significant battles along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, to contributions and sacrifices to successful current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. operations throughout both campaigns. In a recent speech, Chief of Staff of the Today, that legacy continues with the Army GEN George W. Casey said, ―the employment of new HR support elements, noncommissioned officer corps is what such as R5 Teams, Postal Platoons, keeps the Army together.‖ He declared, "as Casualty Liaison Teams, and leadership I travel around the Army and I look at structure designed to support and provide what we've accomplished over the past command and control wherever needed in seven years at war, it's clearer and clearer the modern non-contiguous, non-linear to me that it is our noncommissioned battle space. All of these elements along officer corps that is providing the glue with the Human Resources Sustainment 1775 Summer 2009 17 Center (HRSC) found at the theater sustainment level, the Human Resources Operations Branch (HROB) found in the expeditionary and brigade sustainment levels, with the modified brigade/battalion S1s create a HR footprint that is capable of providing personnel support to commanders at all echelons of battle. HR NCOs play critical roles in the success of all of these organizations. At Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan, a HR NCO deployed with her R5 Team to serve as a theater integration element. Today, that team provides key accountability services to over 90% of the forces entering Afghanistan. This team is the only Army HR support element at this location. This is just one example of NCO leadership at its best. Other examples exist throughout the AOR. NCOs assigned to the 14th HRSC‘s Postal Operations Division, travel to every APO in the AOR to inspect and train postal operations and provide support. Without organic transportation assigned to them, this team of NCOs must negotiate and coordinate travel support requirements regardless of the level of hostility to ensure that all APOs meet DOD guidelines for postal inspection and support. The Theater Gateway, which hosts one of the largest HR operations in the AOR has many HR NCOs who are providing support to over 300,000 inbound and outbound individuals annually. By comparison, they handle more passengers annually than most U.S. regional airports. As expected, our HR NCOs assigned to combat and support battalions and brigades serve right along beside the other members of the brigade in which they support. These NCOs lead patrols, convoys and provide support to service members and other qualified recipients at camps, COBs and FOBs throughout the AOR. The HR services they provide are invaluable to the success of combat and support operations in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. These are just a few of the many and varied examples of daily support provided by HR NCOs throughout the CENTCOM AOR. It is contributions such as these that provide commanders with ready, relevant and responsive HR support from professionals who live the tenets of NCO commitment to the total force.

PFC Stephen Mahlum, a native of Janesville, Wisconsin, finds a shady area under a concrete barricade to hide from the intense Kuwait sun at the Theater Gateway as he waits for a flight on his way to Rest and Recuperation Leave, June 29, 2009. 18 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Garrison CSM Jobs Offer Great Opportunity for AG NCOs By Cindy L. Your, Director, Public Affairs, Northeast Region, IMCOM Add Garrison Command Sergeant Major to the list of premier jobs for senior AG non-commissioned officers. As the Army continues to transform it is becoming harder and harder for AG NCOs to find Battalion and Brigade Level Command Sergeant Major positions. CSM Daniel Chavez, Command Sergeant Major of the Northeast Region of US Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM), says Garrison Command Sergeant Major positions are the way to go. ―This is a great job for AG senior non-commissioned officers. Your entire mission is based on providing the best quality of life for our Soldiers and families.‖ As the Region Director's personal advisor on all enlisted- related matters, particularly in areas affecting Soldier training and quality of life, CSM Chavez devotes the majority of his time to traveling throughout the Northeast Region observing training and talking to Soldiers and families. Three of the garrisons in CSM Violet McNeirney (sitting left) reads the Army Northeast Region have Adjutant General Corps birthday book to children and staff at the West Point Command Sergeants Major at the helm. Child Development Center (Photo by Kathy Eastwood) CSM Violet McNeirney, is the Garrison Command utilize different types of funding; infrastructure, Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army Garrison at West privatized housing, and family programs, just to name a Point, NY. ―I believe AG Soldiers are uniquely qualified few,‖ McNeirney said. to perform in this job. This job will challenge you on so CSM Chavez equates being a Garrison Command many levels. You get the whole package: Soldiers, family Sergeant Major with Battalion Command Sergeant members, civilians, and retirees. You deal with everyone Major time. ―A garrison is an opportunity to start at the that uses the installation and they become your battalion level to experience a broad band of services, customers. You are constantly learning; not just about and then if you get another battalion experience you will Soldiers, but about all the people on your installation and be a better Command Sergeant Major for your Soldiers,‖ taking care of them. There is a myriad of installation Chavez said. type things to do and know: living up to the mission and ―A Garrison Command Sergeant Major position is as vision of your command; budgets and knowing how to challenging as any other Command Sergeant Major position in the Army. Whether in a TDA or TOE setting, there are core competencies that are common to all Command Sergeant Majors. The difference lies in the type or scope of their mission,‖ according to CSM Mittie Smith at US Army Garrison Natick in Natick, Massachusetts. CSM Sylvia Laughlin, Fort Hamilton‘s Garrison Command Sergeant Major agrees. ―You learn so much about the total Army concept and why it is so important to provide an excellent quality of life for our Soldiers and their families. You learn how to manage and maintain a city, its entire people and the complexities all that entails,‖ Laughlin said. While traditional Battalion and Brigade Command Sergeant Major positions are in high demand, not many folks recognize how vital the relatively new Garrison Command Sergeant Major jobs are to the Army. ―After serving two years as a Battalion Command CSM Daniel Chavez, far right, stands with LTG Robert Sergeant Major, I was looking for the next challenge and Wilson, IMCOM CG, and incoming and outgoing was exploring what was available for an AG Command Northeast Region Directors, Russell Hall and Diane Sergeant Major. I knew about garrison positions because Devens, at the IMCOM Northeast Region change of I knew of other AG Command Sergeants Major that were responsibility ceremony in 2008 (Photo by Sandy Goss) serving in those positions. Initially, it wasn‘t a job I 1775 Summer 2009 19 being a Garrison Command Sergeant Major are the many lives you are able to touch, the impact you have on Soldiers and their families, the civilians, as well as the surrounding communities. The worst thing about being a Garrison Command Sergeant Major is missing the everyday interaction with Soldiers. Having to say ‗no‘ and not being able to provide all the support necessary to organizations, Soldiers and their families – often because of resource constraints, funding, and capabilities.‖ With this being the Year of the NCO, all four Command Sergeants Major find that working in Installation Management Command, taking care of Soldiers and families, is making a difference for our Army and our nation. ―I am very proud of being a Soldier serving in the AG Corps, a Mexican-American having reached the highest enlisted rank and serving our nation. This is the noblest work, defending our nation so that we can live in a free country. Be proud of CSM Mittie Smith motivates Soldiers preparing for the being an NCO not just this year but throughout your Army Birthday fun run at US Army Garrison, Natick, MA career,‖ said CSM Chavez. (Photo by Anita Tobin) Reflecting on what the Army and the Year of the aspired to do, I thought that I would seek out a brigade NCO mean to her, CSM McNeirney summed it up: ―I level position for an AG Command Sergeant Major if migrated to the United States as a teenager and joined available, but those were in short supply. I made the Army shortly afterwards. Although I didn‘t really inquiries from other Command Sergeants Major to have a clear idea of what I wanted then, I knew I would include the Installation Management Command succeed. I am living my dream and I know I am Northeast Region Command Sergeant Major and learned blessed; I have fulfilled most of my expectations even more about what the job entails. After my inquiries I though there is much more to be done. I have a thought it could be a great job and opportunity and a good wonderful military family, my spouse of fifteen years is fit for me and my family,‖ CSM McNeirney said. also a Command Sergeant Major currently serving in The broad variety of assignments held by AG Iraq and we are proud parents to our children. I love professionals is important preparation for Garrison being an NCO, especially an ‗educated‘ one and love my Command Sergeant Major responsibilities, according to job as the Garrison Command Sergeant Major. This job CSM Smith. ―Different leadership positions outside of AG will put you in the spotlight even when you don‘t want organizations such as being a PLDC Instructor, Drill it or seek it,‖ she said. Sergeant, and First Sergeant provided me a more ―Being an IMCOM Garrison CSM is a great informed analytical perspective to objectively look at an opportunity to serve your military and civilian organization from different vantage points to gain a better communities, so come join our team, you will be glad appreciation for the needs of a variety of target audiences. you did,‖ said CSM Chavez. A Garrison Command Sergeant Major must have a pulse CSM Sylvia Laughlin, on and meet the needs of everyone on the installation to Garrison CSM, Ft add leadership value,‖ Smith said. Hamilton, NY, assists CSM Smith also found the Non-Commissioned Officer Martha Clarke with Education System prepared her for her garrison unveiling the street responsibilities. ―Required NCOES at each level through sign corner renamed E9 is essential to provide the basic foundation for after her son, CPL becoming a Garrison Command Sergeant Major. Jonathan Rivadeneira, Functional courses such as Operations Sergeant and First on 75th St and 37th Sergeant are also great leadership enhancers. Self- Ave in Queens, NY. development through civilian education tremendously CPL Rivadeneira, who increases your critical thinking abilities; it also provides grew up about 100 you with different leadership approaches, team building yards from the corner, techniques, and how to interact effectively with others in was a medic with the different organizations to assure a win-win for everyone,‖ 6th Squadron, Ft she said. Bragg, NC, killed in All three CSMs find the job rewarding and action in Iraq, Sep 17, challenging. CSM Smith said, ―The best things about 2007 (Photo by B. Hill) 20 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Our NCO Promotion System from a Leader Perspective: Key Elements that Keeps Many from Reaching their Potential By SGM Tom Gills, Army G-1 SGM

“How do I really get promoted?‖ Throughout my two Education, Awards and honors, APFT - Height/Weight – years traveling across the Army in my previous Photo, UCMJ/Misconduct, and other. The right side of assignment as the HRC Enlisted Promotions Branch the score card lists, a ‗+‘, ‗N‘, and ‗–;‘ these equate to a Chief, nearly every Soldier asked me this question. The plus, a neutral, and a minus, respectively. So, the answer, which follows, is simple. First, I will confront a NCOER provides the ―meat and potatoes of the score,‖ persistent myth about the promotions process by and the rest fleshes out that score. Further, if one providing a little more clarity regarding the Senior NCO considers that the majority of these other six areas also Selection Board Process. Second, I will argue that feed the NCOER in terms of graded points (quantifiable advancement in the Army comes down to two key words. excellence bullets & senior rater numerical scores), it can My goal for this ―Year of the NCO‖ focused article is to be safely said that the NCOER is the key record of voted grab one of our core responsibilities ‗by the shirt collar‘ points in a NCO‘s total score. There are many nuances and shake it vigorously back into action. And though and additional rules in this to consider, but in very clear these points focus on the Army NCO, my advice extends terms, the NCOER is irrefutably the bulk of one‘s to junior Soldiers, Civilians and Commissioned Officers. evaluated and accumulated points. The rumor that promotions are all about ―who you If it is not about ―who you know,‖ then how can you know‖ is a myth. Let‘s take a cursory look at the Senior ensure your NCOER score is as high as possible? By NCO Selection Board Process. In order to know how a gaining the absolute maximum number of well-written SSG, SFC or MSG/1SG moves up to the next level, we excellence bullets that are quantifiable without question. need to understand the actual voting score sheet used at Also, by guaranteeing the most senior rater blocks of one a promotion selection board (see next page). Look (1) in both performance and potential. During my many closely along the left edge (vertically) at the numbers visits and discussions with Soldiers around the world, I ascending from one to six, and notice the three boxes found it somewhat unsettling that this basic information across the top left portion that categorize Duty Position, and equation is frequently unknown. Leadership/Performance, and Potential. As all leaders Now that we‘ve debunked the myth, it‘s time to reveal know, these attributes are measurable and available for the two short, but critical, words of advice mentioned at review on DA Form 2166-8, Noncommissioned Officer the start of this article: to maximize voted points, one Evaluation Report (NCOER). An NCO can earn up to must ―get counseled!‖ Getting counseled is both an art six points (the three areas are averaged) based on and skill that has nurtured success for thousands of NCOERs in current grade over the last five years. years in various forms. Unfortunately, as seen in The quantifiers for points are established by the numerous findings over the last few years, we as Army Career Management Field Panel Members at the board leaders are falling far short of the required frequency and site, before the start of voting. This ensures all NCOs quality of this critical responsibility. within an MOS are graded equitably. A new panel Many NCOs and Officers have stated that ―we are establishes the criteria for points awarded each year, just too busy to counsel our Soldiers.‖ Those that do which allows leaders to focus on current and relevant actually counsel often provide a preprinted form, and standards, and ensures all NCOs are graded based on simply ask Soldiers to let them know if they have any that standard for a given board. Timeless standards questions. Given the critical importance of ensuring our such as the seven Army values remain, while focus on subordinates understand evolving standards and different aspects (like an expeditionary Army) over time expectations, a leader that is too busy to counsel, may be may be captured and evaluated as well. This is very a leader that is too busy to have the honor of leading important to note, as the key areas listed in these Soldiers. Verbal informal counseling is an ongoing and categories can be seen as drivers, both in the traditional important part of our lives as leaders as well, but is no metrics of professionalism and in specific mission/Army substitute for a written record of reference for a team related changes longitudinally. member. Formal counseling is unmatched in serving as a The selection board is designed this way to make it developmental guidepost for the success of a leader and impossible to vote points higher than the standard set their unit. If a Sergeant stated their boss was too busy to by a given panel. Any one voter grading an individual counsel him or her, I recommended that Sergeant write over 2 points outside of the rest of the panel members down their perceived quantifiable excellence bullets will trigger a flag that must be addressed by the panel planned for the upcoming rating period and present them chief. The intent of the entire process is to eliminate the to their supervisor… and do so at the beginning of the benefit of ―who you know.‖ rating period. It is the only guaranteed method to ensure Along the top right of the voting score sheet are six the actions taken during the course of the rated period other areas of evaluation: Military Education, Civilian are nested with the leadership‘s intent, and that once 1775 Summer 2009 21 the rating is done, there is no question that the bullets leaves the door open to substandard performance, are quantifiable and justified. emerging personal issues, and a litany of other situations Many will not understand this, and some who do will that could be solved early in the process, vice waiting for still subscribe to the notion that all they have to do is a negative event to surface. ensure the administrative portion of the NCOER is Each of the factors appearing on the voting score correct. Those leaders and their warriors who are sheet is important. For the mid-grade NCO, they are the committed to serving at the higher levels of our team answers to the test. A young Soldier is well advised to must understand that one way or the other, formal keep their test answers close at hand, as well. They are counseling must occur if clear standards are to be found on the DA Form 3355 Promotion Point Worksheet. issued, understood, and executed consistently, and over From the rank of PFC, accumulated scores should be time. It is only through dedicated, direct conversation maintained, and counseling should be focused, at least in that this can be achieved, and the counseling record is part, on efforts to achieve maximum points in each area. the valid documentation that the event occurred. The highly motivated Soldier will look at that worksheet So what about PFC Edwards, LTC Williams, and twice a day, and will be subconsciously working towards Ms. Quansah? How does this apply to them? The those goals in no time. But for most, only through answer is the same. Within our great Army, individuals routine counseling will they keep their eye on this very desire to come to work and succeed, regardless of their important ball. rank or position. Our job as leaders is to ensure We succeed at that on which we focus our energies. standards are established, understood, nested with the Could there be a thing more important to a Soldier (or unit and Army mission, and that every reasonable Civilian) than professional success and the enrichment it resource is made available for that success. brings to ourselves and our families? Potentially, but this It is not an anomaly that counseling surfaces as a subject in all cases should be very high on the list. As key resource provided by the leader. Counseling should career-invested leaders, we owe ourselves and those in not be a dreaded task; it should be as elemental to a our charge the absolute best in obtaining and providing leader‘s responsibilities as blocking and tackling is in this critical and baseline resource. football. A PVT, SFC, WO, Officer or Civilian, It is an honor to serve in this storied Army, and our counseling is possibly the single most critical factor to noble AG profession of warriors taking care of warriors. ensuring one is postured for success. Once provided, During this Year of the NCO, let us recommit ourselves routinely, it is then up to the individual to respond to to our profession by communicating clearly to each those stated goals. Conversely, a failure to routinely member of our formations how they may most effectively counsel not only disadvantages our young teammates, it and successfully serve.

DA NCO Promotion Board Voting Standards Sheet 22 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Women Serving as HR NCOs in Today‟s Army By SSG Alexandra Hemmerly-Brown, FORSCOM PAO FORT MCPHERSON, GA — Promotion points? Check. Awards? Check. Education credits? Check. Your promotion packet is ready to be turned in, and while you may have put a lot of hard work into getting promoted, you won‘t sport another stripe or rocker unless somewhere along the line a Human Resources (HR) Specialist did their job. Braving endless piles of paperwork and mastering Army HR personnel systems, HR Soldiers make much of the advancement in your career possible. ―I really enjoy what I do in my job and I believe all of it is very, very important,‖ said SSG Yolanda A. Patterson of Rex, GA, a HR specialist for the Augmentation Unit at U.S. Army Forces Command SSG Yolanda A. Patterson of Rex, GA, a HR Specialist Headquarters. ―I love working with Soldiers and helping with FORSCOM HQs, discusses an issue with MSG them with all of their personal needs,‖ Patterson stated. Luther D. Mackey, the Ops NCOIC in her office Preparing orders, managing personnel files, creating awards, updating retirement points, and proofreading Tutman said it is important to highlight NCOs for correspondence are just some of the duties associated their work, because much of what they do is behind with being a HR Specialist. ―It‘s easier to just do my job the scenes. than to explain to someone what it is I actually do,‖ SSG Kelly A. Henderson of Birmingham, AL, jokingly explained SFC Cathy M. Tutman of an Administrative Specialist for FORSCOM‘s HR McClellanville, SC, a senior HR NCO, also with the Department agrees with Tutman. ―We have so FORSCOM Augmentation Unit. As a senior NCO, Tutman said she acts as a mentor many NCOs out there that do so much, but don‘t and reviews the work of junior NCOs. With 29 years in get recognized,‖ she said. Henderson said she service, she‘s proud that her job is ensuring Soldiers are chose to become an NCO as an example of her taken care of on paper. ―Making sure Soldiers have their father, who was an Army Reservist. She also said records complete is the most important thing,‖ Tutman that being a female Soldier enables her to be a firm said of her job. ―We ensure that Soldiers are not losing leader while also being sympathetic to other out on what they‘ve already earned — their education Soldiers‘ needs. and schooling.‖ Patterson echoed Henderson‘s sentiments and Tutman said that Soldiers may have completed said that in her career field, she is expected to do training or education, but until it is updated in their everything a male NCO would do. ―I believe that records, it‘s as if it doesn‘t exist. Tutman also believes strongly that Soldiers need to be involved in the HR females can do just as much, if not more than male process. She said that while civilians can do the job that NCOs in any area,‖ Patterson said. she does, Soldiers will always work overtime or do Tutman agreed and said that men and women whatever is needed to help out a fellow Soldier. As approach challenges in different ways, and that the NCOs, these HR Soldiers know how to lead just as well presence of women in the ranks helps to balance as NCOs in any other field. ―I like to get my hands dirty out the force. ―Never let anybody tell you can‘t do and do the actual work,‖ Tutman said of her role. ―When something, because you can,‖ Henderson said. a Soldier has a problem, I like to know that I can fix it.‖

SSG Kelly A. Henderson of Birmingham, AL, is an Admin Specialist for FORSCOM‟s HR Department

SFC Cathy M. Tutman of McClellanville, SC, is a senior HR NCO with the FORSCOM HQs Augmentation Unit

1775 Summer 2009 23 Training the HR NCO By SFC J.M. Lightbourne, ANCOC Small Group Leader, Fort Jackson NCO Academy Today‘s Human Resources Noncommissioned that HR NCOs attend the Basic Officer (HR NCO) is at the forefront of Army Noncommissioned Officer Course (BNCOC), transformation. In support of new Army and the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer initiatives and ever changing missions, long Course (ANCOC). Throughout these courses, gone are the days of remaining behind waiting HR NCOs are trained on the HR core for a wide variety of customers to serve. The competencies which assist in the Corps‘ 21st century Army holds the HR NCO at the relevance to the Army‘s overall mission. The core of all operations as we serve in traditional HR core competencies changing from 10 to 4 roles at Battalion S-1, Brigade Combat Team S- are: Man the Force, Provide HR Services, 1, and in positions as diverse as convoy leaders Coordinate Personnel Support, and Conduct to heading casualty liaison teams. Training and HR Planning and Operations. In addition, preparing these HR leaders to embrace current discipline, which is crucial to the success of and future challenges remains a constant any Army, is strictly enforced. A focus on the priority for the Adjutant General‘s Corps and HR NCO‘s wartime mission is reinforced the Fort Jackson NCO Academy. throughout the duration of these courses, 2009 has been deemed by our Army as the culminating in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) Year of the NCO. ―The purpose of the Year of conducted at the Warrior Training Area (WTA) the NCO initiative is to enhance each NCO‘s on Fort Jackson that combines realistic education, fitness, leadership development, and scenarios that mirror the Operational and pride in service through the implementation of Contemporary Operational Environment. programs and policies that support the The NCOs who instruct at the NCO sustainment and growth of the NCO Corps.‖ 1 Academy are very competent and well versed From the birth of the AG Corps in 1775 to the in their career field. They have served in present, the HR NCO demonstrated many positions executing the Army‘s HR core extraordinary professionalism and dedication to competencies, and are dedicated to training duty. This represents a span of 234 years of the current and future HR leaders. A typical service to our nation. HR NCOs continue to day begins at 0545 for Physical Training. serve proudly supporting the nation‘s strategic Prior to classroom instruction, the NCO Creed, objectives. Soldiers Creed, and Army song are recited. The role of the HR NCO continues to evolve. Classroom instruction begins at 0845 and does Effective and efficient training is critical to the not cease until every student NCO success of this special group of men and women. understands the material that was presented The HR NCO today comes from a variety of for the day. Student NCOs are tested daily, military backgrounds. Many Soldiers reclassify and if necessary, retraining is conducted to into the Army‘s HR Community from Infantry, assist those who have difficulty. No comrade is Artillery, and Armor Military Occupational ever left behind. The Instructors at the NCO Specialties, to name a few. A good percentage of Academy live by these words. NCOs are airborne qualified, have served in To enhance the learning environment, Special Mission Units, and have been credited student HR NCOs at the NCO academy also with at least one combat tour. These receive blocks of instruction on Virtual Small demographics provide the HR Community with Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and Force XXI a constant mission to always train to exceed the Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), HR standard. which is a communications platform designed HR NCO training is primarily instituted at for commanders to track friendly and hostile the NCO Academy, Fort Jackson, SC. It is here forces on the battlefield. 2 This training 1. http://www.army.mil/yearofthenco/initiatives.html 2. www.fas.org/man.dod 24 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com provides the HR NCO with additional skills to take back assignments, there is no place like the NCO Academy, to their respective units. Additional training is Fort Jackson, SC. NCO leadership and HR proficiency conducted on Suicide Prevention, Sexual Assault are reinforced and developed within the Academy. The Response and Prevention, Military History, Ethical operational forces greatly benefit from our efforts, which Reasoning, and Cultural Awareness. This training are consistent with the highest traditions of military helps reinforce the Army values and dedication to taking service. COL Manning, the AG Corps Commandant, care of Soldiers, which is part of all NCO responsibilities recently stated in a briefing to ANCOC and BNCOC embedded in the foundations of our success throughout student NCOs that, ―Personnel Services Delivery the many years of the NCO Corps‘ existence. Redesign (PSDR) is the AG Corps‘ and HR community‘s Training and preparing the HR NCO for the response to Army Transformation.‖ demands of the future also has its challenges. Many HR The AG Corps responded remarkably to Army NCOs have been assigned to perform special duties such Transformation with a curriculum that is relevant, as Recruiting Duty, Drill Sergeant Duty, Special Staffs, challenging, and rewarding. HR NCOs undergo intensive and a variety of special assignments that have taken training and are taught to anticipate manpower needs them out of the main stream Army, leaving them and to maintain the fighting strength of the United slightly unfamiliar with current Army HR States Army. The Program of Instruction (POI) for the Transformation. Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course (BNCOC) Reserve and National Guard HR NCOs also work currently has 328.8 hours of technical and tactical with different systems than the systems that AC HR training and the POI for the Advanced Noncommissioned NCOs use. Therefore, when USAR and ARNG HR Officers Course (ANCOC) has 255 hours of training and NCOs attend ANCOC and BNCOC they are not as instruction (refer to charts on the next page). NCOs familiar with the course material as their AC should notice a heavy emphasis of ―Interpret Military counterparts. It is the job of the Small Group Leaders at Pay and Allowances‖ within the POI technical training the Fort Jackson NCO Academy to ensure that HR section for both BNCOC and ANCOC. Additionally, NCOs are trained on the most current, most relevant NCOs should note that TRADOC mandated DIMHRS HR information, and properly prepared to meet the training in anticipation of Army-wide DIMHRS needs of the Army‘s 21st Century mission as the AG integration in the near future. Junior NCOs should also Corps transforms. anticipate attending BNCOC between their sixth and It continues to be an extremely rewarding seventh year of service, and senior NCOs should experience to be able to instruct the future HR NCOs of anticipate attending ANCOC by their thirteenth year of our great Army. When it comes to the generating force service.

1775 Summer 2009 25 42A BNCOC Technical Training Administrative Time Critical Tasks Commandant/1SG In-Brief 1 Personnel In-processing 3 Interpret Military Pay and Allowances 22.6 Prepare the USR 12.8 S1 Net Introduction/Sign up 1 Process Personnel Information Management (PIM) 9.0 CIF Pick- up/Turn in 2 Mid Course AAR 1 Process Casualty Reports 8.2 Review a Completed Evaluation Report 8.0 End of Course AAR 1 Process EDAS 7.7 End of Course Critique 1 Receive End of Course Counseling/ Perform Joint HR Ops 6.4 Process PASR 6.3 Visit Museum 4 Employ VSAT 6.0 Out-processing 1 Graduation Rehearsal 2 Review the HRAR to Ensure Proper Utilization 5.8 Review Award and Decorations 5.7 Graduation 1 Conduct R5 Operations 5.0 Admin time 10 TOTAL: 28 Report HR Planning Considerations 4.9 Process a PAI 4.4 Multi-Echelon Training Conduct PRM 4.3 Coordinate Deployment Cycle Support 4.2 FTX 72 Apply the HR Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) 4.1 Mandatory Training Inclusive w/FTX Review a Request for Leave/Pass 4.0 Cultural Awareness 2 Conduct Unit Postal Operations 4.0 Personnel Recovery 1 Review MWR 3.9 LOGCAP 1 Review the HR Structure 4.0 CLCS 16 Perform Tactical Personnel Systems Function (TPS) 7.0 TOTAL: 72 Review the Officer/Enlisted Records Brief 6.4 Employ Defense Theater Accountability Software (DTAS)6.1 Mandated Classes Review Correspondence 5.4 TRADOC FBCB2 40.0 TOTAL: 162.2 Army’s SAPR 3.9 OPSEC 1.0 Mental Health/Suicide Prevention 1.0 Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) 1.0 Classes to be Implemented CASCOM Modular Force Overview 2.8 Process Enlisted Promotions and Reductions 7.9 SSI/AGS Process DEERS Information and ID Cards 4.6 DIMHRS Basic Foundation Course DIMHRS eCatalog TOTAL: 49.7 TOTAL: 16.5 TOTAL: 328.4 (+.4) 42A ANCOC Administrative Time Technical Training Commandant/1SG In-Brief 1 Personnel In-processing 3 Critical Tasks S1 Net Introduction / Sign up 1 Interpret Military Pay and Allowances 22.6 CIF Pick- up/Turn in 2 Supervise Personnel Information Management (PIM) 9.0 Mid Course AAR 1 Supervise Casualty System 8.7 End of Course AAR 1 Supervise PRM – EDAS 7.7 End of Course Critique 1 Supervise Awards and Decorations 6.7 Receive End of Course Counseling/Visit Museum 4 Supervise R5 Operations 6.6 Out-processing 1 Supervise Unit Status Reporting 6.6 Graduation Rehearsal 2 Supervise Joint HR Ops 6.4 Graduation 1 Employ VSAT 6.0 Admin time 3 Supervise the PASR System 5.3 TOTAL: 21 Analyze HR Planning Considerations 4.9 Multi-Echelon Training Conduct PRM 4.3 Supervise Deployment Cycle Support 4.2 FTX 72 Supervise MWR 3.9 Mandatory Classes inclusive w/FTX: Supervise Unit Postal Operations 4.0 Cultural Awareness 2.0 Supervise ODAS 1.0 Personnel Recovery 1.0 Employ DTAS 4.0 LOGCAP 1.0 Review the HR Organizational Structure 4.0 Modular Force Overview 2.8 Supervise TPS 4.0 CLCS 16.0 Employ Situational Leadership 2.0 Supervise TPS Analyze Full Spectrum Operations (4) Employ DTAS TOTAL: 72 TOTAL: 121.9 Mandated Classes Note: Italicized indicates homework TRADOC *Discuss Lessons Learned 7.0 Army’s SAPR 3.9 OPSEC 1.0 Ethical Reasoning 2.1 Mental Health/Suicide Prevention 1.0 Classes to be Implemented Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) 1.0 Supervise Enlisted Promotions and Reductions 5.0 SSI/AGS Supervise Personnel Evaluations 5.0 FBCB2 6.0 Supervise the Update of DEERS/ID Cards 4.6 DIMHRS Basic Foundation Course (7) Suspended DIMHRS eCatalog (3.5) Suspended TOTAL: 14.6 TOTAL: 22.0 * Discuss Lessons Learned (7 hrs classroom / 9 hrs homework) TOTAL: 251.5 (+3.5)

26 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com „Camouflage Angel‟ NCO Spends Last Moments With US Combat Casualties By Staff Sgt. Dilia Ayala, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing

JOINT BASE BALAD (JBB), IRAQ (July 2009) — The emergency room trauma call and the medical staff's immediate action upon his arrival is only a memory to her now; sitting quietly at the bedside of her brother-in-arms, she carefully takes his hand, thanking him for his service and promising she will not leave his side. He is a critically injured combat casualty, her team complete and send a Defense and she is Army SGT Jennifer Watson of the Casualty Information Processing System Casualty Liaison Team here. folder report to the Department of the Army or Although a somber scene, it is not an the patient's respective service so that their uncommon one for the Peru, Indiana native, next-of-kin can be notified. who in addition to her primary duties "I make sure we tell their family throughout the last 14 months, has taken it everything they want to know, so they know upon herself to ensure no US casualty passes everything that's going on," said SGT Watson; away alone. Holding each of their hands, she "Through the report, we'll tell the families sits with them until the end, no matter the day everything that is going on with their family or the hour. "It's unfortunate that their member ... so that they don't have any families can't be here," said SGT Watson, who questions.― is deployed here from Fort Campbell, KY. "So I Furthermore, once the initial report has took it upon myself to step up and be that been sent, the CLT and Watson make hourly family while they are here. No one asked me to rounds to the intensive-care ward or unit to do it; I just did what I felt was right in my check on the patient's well-being, or, for the heart. I want them to know they are heroes. "I more critical patients, to check on their feel just because they are passing away does stability. ―We are constantly communicating not mean they cannot hear and feel someone and making sure the family knows everything around them," she continued. "I talk to them, we know,‖ said Watson; "We want to put the thanking them for what they have done, telling families at ease and let them know that them they are a hero, they will never be everything is being done for their loved one. forgotten, and I explain my job to them to help From the moment a service member is brought them be at ease knowing the family will be told in through Hero's Highway, they are never the truth.― alone.― In general, SGT Watson explains to the Each month, the AFTH, the equivalent of a patients that the CLT works within the Patient US Level-1 trauma center, treats more than Administrative Department, acting as a liaison 540 patients; more than 100 are trauma cases for all military and civilian patients in theater in the emergency department. Although SGT and initiating the casualty notification process Watson can never predict if and when her to the patient's next-of-kin. fellow brothers- or sisters- in arms may need Upon their arrival at the Air Force Theater her, she is always available. "The hospital Hospital (AFTH), SGT Watson speaks with staff is wonderful," said Watson; "They know each combat casualty getting as accurate how important it is for me to be there with information as possible about the incident. them and if they know it's time, someone will Once the doctor gives their diagnosis and come and get me no matter where I'm at. "I severity of the patient's injuries, Watson and see it as a form of closure, not just for me, but 1775 Summer 2009 27 for the families so that they know that bear and at great personal emotional cost to somebody was there with their son or SGT Watson, but she is unwavering in her final daughter," she added. "My heart goes out to commitment to these Soldiers. You don't have every patient that comes into the hospital, to look any further than SGT Watson to find a especially my wounded in action Soldiers. I true hero.― feel like everyone who comes through the door "Angel" and "hero" are only two of the many is my brother or sister.― titles SGT Watson has been given since Not surprisingly, SGT Watson's dedication arriving at JBB; although she is appreciative of to duty and her hard work have not gone the kind words, she remains humble. "I am far unnoticed. She has touched the lives of all from an angel," said the Sergeant with a smile. those who she has come in contact with, to "I just do what is in my heart. I guess for me, I include the Air Force‘s 332nd Expeditionary think about the family and the closure of Medical Group Commander, Col. Mark Mavity. knowing the Soldier did not pass away alone. "SGT Watson's story is one of the most To say I'm a hero ... no. The heroes are my compelling here in the Med Group," said guys who come in through Hero's Highway.― Mavity; "She is a Soldier's Soldier who Reflecting on her time here, SGT Watson combines an unparalleled level of compassion said she is extremely thankful for the and commitment to our most grievously opportunity she has had to work side-by-side wounded warriors with amazing with the Air Force. "The staff of the 332nd professionalism each and every day. What is Expeditionary Medical Group has done an truly incredible is that she is a personnelist by amazing job since I have been here," she said. training, but with the heart of a medic who has "They are incredible. They have done taken it upon herself to hold the hand and procedures and saved the lives of the most keep a bedside vigil with every mortally critically injured Soldiers, and have been some wounded Soldier who has spent their last of the most professional people I have ever hours within the AFTH," continued the worked with. I want the families to know that Colonel. "She will not let her brave brothers or their service member was a hero," SGT Watson sisters pass alone. This is a heavy burden to concluded. "They made the ultimate sacrifice, but before they passed on, they received the best medical treatment, and the staff did everything they could -- they were not in pain and they did not die alone."

SGT Jennifer Watson, NCOIC of the Casualty Liaison Team at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, stands in Hero's Highway. Each patient brought via helicopter to the Air Force Theater Hospital passes through Hero's Highway. SGT Watson, a native of Peru, Indiana, is deployed here from Fort Campbell, KY. Photo by Staff Sgt. Dilia Ayala, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.

28 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Why a Human Capital Strategy – Why a Human Capital Enterprise? By: COL Larry Wark, Army G1 Strategic Initiatives Group

The Reality. Today‘s Army is out of balance; Total Army enabled by effective HR Systems and the demand for its forces exceeds the sustainable agile policies. The competency-based and supply. The Army has challenges with the performance-oriented workforce is the strength of operational depth and strategic flexibility that is the Total Army and provides the capabilities integral to its ability to provide ready forces as required for full-spectrum operations. The HCS rapidly as necessary for contingency operations. fundamentally seeks effective competency Overall, Army readiness is degraded about as fast as management processes to maximize the impact of a it can be built. If unaddressed, this lack of balance principled approach to HR management. The four poses a significant risk to the All-Volunteer Force as primary factors driving change in manning the well as the Army‘s timely response to future Total Army are the following: contingencies.  The Long War: In this era of persistent The Environment. Today, the Nation remains conflict, it is critical that the HCS be both engaged in an era of persistent conflict – a period of competency-based and performance-driven, protracted confrontation against adversaries willing aligning personnel capabilities with mission to use any and all means to achieve their political requirements and increasing the potential for and ideological ends. In addition to meeting the success. demands of persistent conflict, the Army is  Increasing Personnel Costs: The HCS undergoing its largest, most comprehensive, balances the friction between cost-based manning internal transformation since World War II. and the HCS principles of Readiness, Excellence, Meanwhile, throughout these seismic shifts, our Total Army (Integration) and Diversity. Soldiers and Families have performed and sacrificed  The Declining Pool of Potential Applicants: heroically for the good of the Nation. To ensure the We are facing a U.S. population that is successful completion of these mission goals, and decreasingly qualified and/or not inclined to serve ever mindful of the sacrifices of so many, the Army in the military against a strong competition with has developed its first ever Human Capital Strategy the private sector. and is well underway to building an organization  Demographic Shifts: The U.S. workforce in that will implement the strategy. general is facing an ―experience gap‖ as baby The Army‘s principal task is to provide forces to boomers retire, leaving a void in the mid-to-senior combatant commanders to meet current and future level workforce. Also, the nation is evolving challenges. Constantly evolving and complex demographically, with the expectation that there environments, constrained resources, and a force will be no majority population by 2042. that is out of balance tests the Army‘s ability to The HCS is a 21st Century model to guide meet that obligation. An agile Army Human Capital strategic decision-making about the people needs of Strategy (HCS) has been developed to address these the All-Volunteer Total Army, which includes four challenges by providing a roadmap to restore components (Active, National Guard, Army balance to the force and continue developing the Reserve, and Civilian). The strategy improves the force through 2024. overall excellence of the Army workforce together We Need a Human Capital Strategy. The with the supporting HR systems, policies, and Army‘s Human Capital Strategy is the first in its programs. The HCS recognizes that people make 234 year history. The Army Human Capital the difference; that the HR Enterprise must not Strategy is an overarching strategic statement focus solely on numbers of people, but also on the describing the guiding principles that govern how qualities and competencies that people provide to we want to Man the Army. The objective of the HCS the Army. The HCS, as implemented by the Army, is to secure and sustain the All-Volunteer Total should create an environment in which the Army Army over the long term, resourced through efficient becomes an ―Employer of Choice‖. and cost-conscious practices. The HCS is a Four principles guide decision-making within principles-based strategy that charts a course the HR Enterprise and describe the major towards a higher quality, more diverse, and ready outcomes that indicate the success of the strategy, 1775 Summer 2009 29 Figure 1. Elements of the Army Human Capital Strategic Plan which is an integrated Total Army, diverse in people frameworks. The HCS guides decision-making and and capabilities, recruited and developed for influences the three program execution excellence to assure readiness for full spectrum mechanisms of legislative initiatives, policy operations. These four principles are important decisions, and resource decisions. considerations that should underlie the HR decision- These principles applied together create a more making process (see Figure 1): mission-ready workforce. For example, enhancing  Enhance Readiness: The strategy facilitates a excellence in recruiting and retention through more agile Army by developing a more adaptive diversity can improve the readiness of the Total state of personnel readiness. Army. These principles provide required, focused  Ensure Excellence: The strategy enables competencies needed for anticipated operational tactical decision-making practices based on the requirements. HR systems, policies, and programs consideration of impact on the excellence of the will anticipate, create, and maintain personnel Force, both Military and Civilian. readiness and must identify and close competency  Achieve Total Army Integration: The strategy gaps in the Total Army. highlights the importance of integrating the four To achieve the strategy‘s maximum potential, it components of the Army into a total, integrated must be institutionalized (i.e. widely understood, force in order to maximize personnel capability. internalized, and promoted) by the Army  Maximize Diversity: The strategy emphasizes leadership. It will guide the entire Human Capital increased levels of diversity in the Total Army, Enterprise. The HCS provides the end-state for an making it a more adaptive, culturally astute Force. integrated HR approach that emphasizes the four The HCS model arrays these principles across principles described above in HR decision-making the Human Resources Lifecycle and guides the and resource application. All human resources development of competency and performance programs, resources, and policy decisions and 30 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com processes will evolve in support of the Army HCS Harvey led the organizational change. The and its principles. challenge we face is adapting our institutions to To be successful and effective, supporting HCS cement the transformation of the Army of the 21st implementation plans must be developed and Century. We will accomplish this by: distributed. Officer, Enlisted and Civilian personnel  Harnessing the innovative spirit that makes our implementation/action plans describe the actual Soldiers so effective in combat. implementation process of the HCS to include the  Adopting an enterprise approach to fiscal required initiatives, policy changes, and resources decision-making that allows us to generate the throughout the HR Enterprise to achieve the HCS most effective and efficient forces for the end-state. However, there must be an Combatant Commanders. organizational structure and governance process  Educating our senior leaders to provide them the with the mission to focus resources and provide skills to lead this cultural change and to guide the accountability in executing the strategy across the Army Enterprise. Total Army.  Adapting our institutions and governance Army Governance Model (see Figure 2). models to inculcate this institutional change. The Army is entering the last phase of its The Army Enterprise is comprised of four Core transformation from a Cold War Army to a 21st Enterprises: Readiness (FORSCOM); Human Century Army – an agile, disciplined Warrior Team Capital (TRADOC); Materiel (AMC); and Services dominant across the spectrum of conflict. GEN and Infrastructure (IMCOM). The Army‘s Shinseki and Secretary of the Army (SECARMY) Enterprise Initiative does not alter the role of the White provided the intellectual framework for our ASA (M&RA) or TRADOC‘s role as an Army transformation. GEN Schoomaker and SECARMY Command in support of the Secretary of the

Figure 2. The Army Governance Model 1775 Summer 2009 31 Army‘s Title 10 responsibilities. The Army‘s integral part of the Generating Force and Enterprise Initiative seeks to adapt Army supports the Army‘s Title 10 responsibilities. culture, organizations, systems, and processes The TRADOC Campaign Plan is synchronous to effectively and efficiently generate trained, with the Army Campaign Plan and ready, and modernized campaign-capable forces demonstrates TRADOC‘s commitment to to conduct full-spectrum operations in an era of continuous improvement in pursuit of persistent conflict, while preserving the All- winning the Nation‘s wars and preserving the Volunteer Force. All-Volunteer Force. TRADOC‘s mission is to The Enterprise Task Force will lead this train and educate the Army‘s Soldiers and effort for the SECARMY and Chief of Staff Civilians; develop leaders; design, foster, and Army. The Enterprise Task Force (ETF) integrate capability development, concepts, develops and oversees, under the direction of and doctrine in order to build and support a the Chief Management Officer (CMO), the campaign-capable, expeditionary Army in implementation of plans and processes to support of joint warfighting commanders inculcate an enterprise approach to Army through ARFORGEN; and lead the Human decision making. The ETF leads the adaptation Capital Core Enterprise. of Army culture, organizations, and processes so End-State. The Army has a Human that leaders take a holistic approach to running Capital Strategy in place that speaks to the the Army and more effectively and efficiently strategic environment, goals and missions of generate trained and ready forces for full- the Army now, and to 2024. The HCE will spectrum operations. develop a Human Capital Campaign plan to Human Capital Enterprise (HCE). The guide execution within the Human Capital HCE‘s mission is to more efficiently and Enterprise. HCE will enter Initial effectively recruit, train, educate and develop Operational Capability (IOC) in October 2009 Soldiers, Civilians and Leaders for the Army, and Full Operational Capability in October and to design and integrate capabilities to meet 2010 and is designed to be the engine that current and future requirements of Army Force drives Human Capital issues across the Army Generation (ARFORGEN). Additionally, the Enterprise in an agile, enterprise-focused HCE will implement and execute HQDA manner. Human Capital strategies, policies, and The benefits the Army realizes from resources specifically by: having a Human Capital Strategy and a  Designating the ASA (M&RA) as the lead for Human Capital Enterprise is a fully oversight and empowering the CG, TRADOC as operational, balanced, expeditionary, the chair of the HCE. campaign-capable Army that sustains the All-  Establishing and describing authorities, Volunteer Force; prepares ready forces across roles, and responsibilities required to fulfill the the Total Force; resets to build sufficient goals and objectives established for the HCE strategic flexibility and operational depth to and approved by the SECARMY. deal with unforeseen requirements in a  Defining and establishing the proper strategic environment of uncertainty and relationships within the HCE to ensure unpredictability; and is transformed to meet effective and efficient execution of the HCE the demands of the National Security enterprise mission. Strategy.

 Defining HCE governance structures and SOURCES: HCE roles in other decision making forums to  Army HCS, Date: 5 March 2009 ensure synchronization throughout the Army  Institutional Adaptation and Army Enterprise. Transformation, Memorandum for  Identifying enterprise outcomes linked to Distribution, Charter establishing the Army phases of the Army‘s institutional adaption. Enterprise Board, 15 January 2009 As an Army Command, TRADOC is an 32 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Silver Scimitar By COL Cheryl Ludwa, Director, 3rd Human Resources Sustainment Center (HRSC)

A scimitar is a sword 'curved like the lion's claw,' capable of being used as a slicing weapon, like the lion's claw, on which it is modeled. In the right hands, the weapon is fast and efficient.

A scimitar, like our Army personnel systems as a venue to train a personnel group headquarters such as DTAS, eMILPO, TPS and DCIPS, in the staff to operate in a deployed environment. The hands of trained and competent Human Resources first Silver Scimitar was a very low key, low tech (HR) Soldiers can be an invaluable combat training event; however those HR leaders realized multiplier on today‘s battlefield. Silver Scimitar is the potential of that first organized training appropriate moniker for the Army‘s only training exercise and continued to refine Silver Scimitar venue for HR professionals and units identified for execution in subsequent years. deployment. The 3d Personnel Command (PERSCOM) Silver Scimitar (SS) 2009, conducted March 21 activated in 1991, subsumed most of the Army through April 3, 2009 at Fort Devens, trained 610 Reserve AG units at the time, and took charge of Soldiers from all Army components. These Soldiers Silver Scimitar as well. The exercise evolved represented 24 HR units (14 Army Reserve, two during the mid-1990s to train the 3d PERSCOM‘s National Guard and eight Active Army) throughout subordinate AG units, upwards to a thousand the Army, from the Alaska Army National Guard to Soldiers in personnel competencies and Soldier an active duty unit based in Europe. Instructors, survival skills. While the scope of the exercise representing every aspect of Army HR, provided 71 expanded during this time, the exercise remained briefings and classes, with many of those classes primarily an Army Reserve exercise, as for most offered multiple times. Army Reserve AG units, this was the only mission As a culminating event, the SS mission training outlet. readiness exercise (MRX) presented participants While 3d PERSCOM used Silver Scimitar to with a theater-level scenario, designed to evaluate prepare itself to become the theater personnel their ability to conduct personnel operations in a command at the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom mature theater. Theater Gateway operations (OIF), the exercise was suspended for a couple of allowed personnel accountability staff to track in and outbound flights and process Soldiers as they Acronyms used throughout the article include: entered or exited theater. Additionally, postal units DCIPS – Defense Casualty Information Personnel established a mock post office, as well as a military System mail terminal complete with prograde and DTAS – Deployed Theater Accountability System retrograde postal operations. eMILPO – Electronic Military Personnel Office The exercise used over 400 computers with its IBU – Itty Bitty Unit own network, a number of postal IRTs in the mock IRT – Integrated Retail Terminal post office, and units made use of their VSAT/CAISI OPTEMPO – Operational Tempo systems during their training. TPS – Tactical Personnel System VSAT/CAISI – Very Small Aperture Terminal/Combat History. Silver Scimitar began as an Army Service Support Automated Information Systems Reserve sponsored exercise more than 20 years ago Interface 1775 Summer 2009 33 years due to 3d PERSCOM‘s OPTEMPO in OIF. 3d during Silver Scimitar 2009. The importance of PERSCOM resurrected Silver Scimitar in 2006, and this secondary benefit of Silver Scimitar in 2007 Silver Scimitar became a true all Army participation cannot be overstated. ―Building component, multi-echelon HR predeployment Relationships‖ could have served as this year‘s exercise, when the 8th Human Resources exercise theme, as leaders and planners Sustainment Center (HRSC), the first HRSC encouraged the partnering of units that would have activated under Personnel Services Delivery eventually have a habitual relationship in theater. Redesign (PSDR), prepared for deployment via For instance, the Casualty Liaison Team (CLT) participation in Silver Scimitar 2007. identified to support the 310th HRSC in theater What Silver Scimitar has become. Further upon deployment actually worked side-by-side with evolution has refined the multi-compo, multi- the 310th HRSC Casualty Division during the echelon, competency-based flavor that makes Silver exercise MRX. The R5 (reception, replacement, Scimitar unique to most Army exercises. The return to duty, rest and recuperation, and current concept of Silver Scimitar is to provide redeployment) Teams identified to work with the predeployment training for all Army Reserve SRC Theater Gateway (TG), were collocated with the TG 12 organizations (i.e., HR units) and the exercise during the MRX and fell in on their assigned serves as the primary mechanism to train the missions. The leaders and Soldiers of these units Army‘s HRSCs for deployment. Though an Army experienced first-hand opportunities to assess each Reserve exercise, HR leaders have encouraged all other‘s strengths and weaknesses, leadership SRC 12 units to participate, as this has been the styles and personalities. This initial introduction Army‘s only opportunity for all Active Army, Army allowed leaders and Soldiers alike to begin Reserve, and National Guard SRC 12 units to building trust and confidence in each other, before receive doctrinal and hands-on training on the HR arriving in theater. core competencies and systems, as well as The success of Silver Scimitar is the ability for participate in a hands-on, multi-faceted MRX. the AG/HR community to take care of its own. The Silver Scimitar planners target units identified for directors of the Army‘s five HRSCs have committed OEF /OIF deployment for participation. to remaining heavily involved in the training of As an exercise that has been able to maintain its SRC 12 units throughout the Army. The 3d HRSC relevancy, Silver Scimitar focuses on current and served as the primary trainer for the 8th HRSC as anticipated future operations in Central Command‘s it prepared to deploy in 2007. The 8th HRSC, in (CENTCOM) area of operation. The exercise is also turn, served as the 14th HRSC‘s primary trainer. realistic, as it incorporates hands-on training and This year, while the 3d HRSC focused on training applications of theater systems and structure. For SRC IBUs, the 14th HRSC trained the 310th instance, this year participants used a special HRSC. Likewise both the 8th HRSC and the 14th Deployed Theater Accountability System (DTAS) HRSC have been able to coordinate the training account to train. Also, the MRX task involvement of theater based HR Company and organization was based on planned array of HR Human Resources Operations Branch (HROB) forces in theater. Planners ensured all training was Soldiers, bringing to the exercise real time doctrinally rooted in the Army‘s HR core expertise and experience. competencies, yet tempered in realistic application What’s next for Silver Scimitar? Silver in support of sustainment mission. Scimitar 2010 will take place 20 March – 2 April Significance of Silver Scimitar. Silver 2010. Any HR units identified for deployment Scimitar is a US Army Reserve Command should participate in this exercise. The USARC (USARC)-sponsored exercise primarily focused on SRC 12 manager will work with RC units to the unique training needs of the reserve force. Its coordinate participation. AC and NG units can existence as the only HR exercise available to coordinate their participation with the Silver prepare deploying units opened itself to Scimitar planning team. HR professionals should participation by Active Component and National look for specific Silver Scimitar information and Guard units. Through the participation of these guidance in an upcoming S1Net message and via units, this exercise has become the Army‘s only other command channels. truly AG oriented and AG conducted training event for SRC 12 units. Much was made about building relationships 34 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Theater Human Resources Operations: A Force Enabler in the Sustainment Community By COL Steven L. Shea, Director, 14th Human Resources Sustainment Center (HRSC)

―You don‘t have to own it to influence it.‖ – BG Richard P. Mustion

―Doctrine is a guide to action, not a set of fixed rules.‖1 – FM 3-0

FM 5-0 states: ―the measure of a good plan is with logisticians in the Sustainment Community as not whether execution transpires as planned but an HR enabler. This proved to be an especially whether the plan facilitates effective action in the daunting task as we employed many Itty Bitty face of unforeseen events.‖2 In the case of Human Units (IBUs) throughout the theater. For example, Resources (HR) in an operational environment, a Casualty Liaison Team (CLT), composed of five HR doctrine was not executed as planned, due to Soldiers, led by a Sergeant (E5), is often on its own, already established Theater requirements that away from its parent HR Company, attached to a had to be maintained. HR units were created, multi-national task force working at a level three and then the doctrine followed. Although not medical treatment facility or a two star general uncommon, many of us, new to Theater HR officer (GO) headquarters. Another example of a doctrine and its purpose, were challenged by the typical HR IBU is the R5 Personnel Accounting different constructs, and only time and knowledge Team (PAT), composed of six Soldiers, led by a gained from a deployed experience would change Staff Sergeant (E-6), positioned at theater entry our mental models of HR support to full spectrum points, and tasked to perform a critical Theater operations. Gateway (TG) function. HR IBUs generally There are five points this article will address. operate at the tactical and operational level, with First, it will acknowledge the challenges with each small unit highly responsible for mission transforming while providing support to combat accomplishment. Although there were some initial operations. Second, it highlights the importance problems, we are successfully executing theater of relationship building and how it impacts level HR operations in a modular environment. success on the battlefield. Third, it reviews the Relationships. Members of the Human Human Resources Operations Branch (HROB) Resources Sustainment Center (HRSC), the largest employment trends. Next, it takes a look at the theater level (SRC 12) HR organization (83 employment of select functions - Postal, R5, and personnel), are building relationships and sharing HR Companies. Finally and most importantly, it experiences with Sustainment Commands concludes with recommendations for the future. (Expeditionary) (ESCs), Sustainment Brigades Challenges with Transforming. Providing (SBs), HR Companies, Military Mail Terminal HR services to an ever-changing battlefield in (MMT) Directorates, and TG Directorates across all support of full spectrum operations proved to be a Army components. Although having direct C2 challenge to the HR Community. With the would be helpful and make things easier, good beginning of modularity over four years ago, the relationships and a common purpose can prove to only HR personnel who could speak intelligently be a beneficial approach to modular-structured HR about this new Theater-Level HR Operations operations. Currently we are adapting and doctrine were the individuals that actually wrote creating new procedures, and continuously it. Many within the HR Community were assessing ourselves with every lesson learned. We unfamiliar with it, and in many cases, questioned are also developing new training plans and the logic behind the changes. The changes standards that will enable future deploying units removed us from our comfort zone and forced the 1 Reference FM 3-0 Operations; Feb 2008 HR Community to step into the operational 2 FM 5-0 Army Planning and Orders Production, realm, working operational issues at every level 20 January 2005, para 1-3 1775 Summer 2009 35 to prepare for the changing operational unpredictable environment. environment. Finally and most importantly, we 6. Conducts inspections of APOs; ensures continue to evolve, like any learning organization. integrated, accurate and timely processing of mail. The way ahead for theater level HR operations 7. Provides current and future planning capabilities must be understood from the lowest nodes all the through the SPO to the Commander (i.e., HR unit way up to the HRSC. Additionally, we must distribution management). promote, educate, and infuse ourselves within the 8. Understands and coordinates HR unit force Sustainment Community, as we are a part of their tracking (ensures no gaps or excessive overlaps) and team. develops mitigation strategies, as required. Human Resources Operations Branch 9. Serves as the Commander‘s HR subject matter (HROB) Employment Trends. Over the past experts (SMEs); understands HR functional areas five months, we observed many trends with the (i.e., Postal, Casualty, R5, and PASR). employment of HROBs at the ESC and SB levels; 10. Is the conduit through which Commanders some in accordance with doctrine and others based influence the HR concept of support in the battle on operational needs. In the previous CENTCOM space. theater rotation, two SBs put operational control of The HR support mission cannot be appreciated their HROBs under the Brigade Troop Battalion fully by the Commander without providing an (BTB). In other cases, the HROB is completely understanding of HR capabilities. This makes it disbanded or nonexistent, typically because of difficult for HR units and branches to perform their METT-TC. Ideally, the HROB should remain roles in support operations. Thus, it is important for staffed under the Support Operations (SPO) of the HR planners to convey all the HR services that ESC/SB as is the case with all the other support theater HR units provide to the Sustainment branches. Within the HROB, at the ESC and SB Community. levels, these staffs must be manned correctly with Functional Employment Trends. From a experienced HR personnel, trained, and allowed to postal perspective, HR operational impact on the execute their mission. We understand that Sustainment Community is maximized when three Commanders can employ their personnel as they conditions are met: SPO understands the determine appropriate to accomplish the mission; importance of C2 and contractor relationships; SPO however, the Army‘s HR Community recommends understands the importance of postal knowledge and that Commanders gain an understanding of the adaptability to the deployed environment; and capability HR planners bring to the fight in this ownership implies use of postal assets for expeditionary environment. We must impart to senior Commanders the wisdom of properly employing and utilizing the HR services provided by HR units and branches within the Sustainment Community. The following is a list of the Top Ten reasons a Commander and SPO need a functional HROB. The HROB: 1. Provides HR operational guidance to all subordinate HR units. 2. Understands which HR systems are critical to mission success. 3. Monitors and/or helps establish HR contracting efforts within the command‘s battle space (writes scope of work language, interacts with contractor management). 4. Analyzes redeployment or reallocation of HR units within the battle space. 5. Develops the HR Concept of Support to include courses of action (COAs) to support mission requirements and analyzes COAs to determine the 310th HRSC Soldiers conducting R5 training best method to support HR operations in an during Silver Scimitar 2009 at Fort Devens, MA 36 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com truly determining the HR requirements and providing the right number of units capable of executing the mission. HR units must become more interoperable, in order to remain relevant into the future. The current modular HR system deploys ―plug and play‖ HR units separately from parent elements. HR Companies must begin to train and deploy as one unit, not as separate, independent HR elements. The value of this type of training and utilization enables Company Commanders to gain practice at receiving the mission and sourcing it with the right skill sets to succeed. Today, it is possible for a Commander of an HR Company to serve anywhere from 18 to 24 months and never see or know some of his or her Soldiers because of SGM De Freitas, Directorate SGM, 14th HRSC, the current deployment operational tempo coaching Soldiers at the Theater Gateway, Kuwait (OPTEMPO). appropriate HR missions. In postal operations, the We are just starting to get a good grasp of our guidance we provide is often directive in nature, due responsibilities as theater HR planners. By to statutes and regulations. However, based on developing the same analytical skills associated experience, our effectiveness derives from the with combat operations, we have learned to relationships we develop with the SB/ESC HROBs, accomplish our HR operational support mission. HR Companies, and Postal Platoons. Because there At the same time, we must continue to educate the is no direct C2 relationship between the HRSC and Sustainment Community on what we can do for the HROBs and subordinate HR elements, we them. The Sustainment Community is receptive; worked diligently to establish a good rapport with however, more progress needs to be made. Some HR counterparts. While it has worked so far, we embraced the modular transformation, eagerly understand that it may prove difficult for others inviting us to their meetings and seeking our input. who do not recognize or value the importance of This is a good start. We must continue efforts to relationships. While HROBs must take ownership educate not only those within the sustainment of their postal assets and become subject matter world but also those within the HR Community. experts, the HRSC Postal Operations Division Too many HR personnel are not aggressively (POD) provides tremendous technical expertise and studying the changes to HR doctrine, and still support to HROBs and Postal Platoons. None-the- relate to the HR world as centered only on G1/S1 less, when HROBs take ownership of postal assets, functions. this creates a more efficient operation and fosters Although there is no formal training focused for greater interest in ensuring mission success. HROBs yet, it is coming. Some say the doctrine In one year, the Army (all components) deployed needs to change, but perhaps the doctrine needs a over 65 percent of all the R5 Plans and Operations chance to be fully implemented first. Doctrine is (PLOPs) teams and R5 PATs in the HR force not perfect, as its purpose is to provide a common inventory. The high employment of these HR teams philosophy, language and enhance unity of effort.3 resulted from a lack of adequately evaluating the However, this is not an excuse for leaders within number of teams needed based on doctrinal the HR Community to not take the initiative in missions in a changing operational environment. training the HROBs now. There are some general This problem was also exacerbated by a resources available that will help HR staff disagreement between the HR and logistics members prepare for their role in an HROB, communities on how to employ HR resources. In including Army field manuals: FM 1-0, HR the end, the HR TG mission could have been Support; FMI 1-0.02, Theater Level Human accomplished with less HR teams, provided the Resources Support; FM 3-0, Operations; and FM Gateway‘s vital non-HR activities, such as convoy 5-0, Army Planning and Orders Production. The escort duties, were performed by other appropriate 3 FM 6-0, Mission Command: Command and units. The mitigation strategy was as simple as Control of Army Forces, 11 August 2003, p. viii 1775 Summer 2009 37 modular operational HR structure is here to stay, 3. Know the HR unit Rules of Allocation (ROA), but with minor changes in the HR Company structure also understand METT-TC. expected in the future. HR operations play an 4. Utilize the HR leadership support chain integral part in the overall sustainment effort and (HRSC/G1) - we have a common interest and can will continue to remain relevant to this effort at the help each other. tactical, operational and strategic level. 5. Attend a Contracting Officer Representative Our position is clear on the relevance of HR (COR) Course; HR services are increasingly relationships in the modular structure. It is becoming contracted. necessary for all involved to work towards 6. Participate in external exercises where incorporating the new theater HR doctrine, and we experiences can be shared with fellow HR members need to continue a relevant dialogue within the HR who may someday play a role in future HR and logistics communities. It is only through our deployments. common purpose, expeditionary mindset, and will 7. Think outside the box; we are operating in an to succeed that this new structure will work. expeditionary environment. Although HR units are relatively small in size, the 8. Be proactive--not reactive--whenever possible. impact of HR support on the morale and welfare of 9. Confidence + Competence = Relevance; take all service members is enormous. The way ahead every opportunity to market the relevance of HR will entail finding a way to transform HR units into operations to senior leaders. the right fit for HR operations and support missions. To achieve this end, HR planners cannot Disclaimer: afford to be intellectually complacent. The position and opinion expressed herein do not In conclusion, the points covered in this article necessarily state or reflect those of the United acknowledged the challenges with transforming States Government, the Army, the Army HR while conducting combat operations, the Community, SSI, or CASCOM. Input came from importance of relationship and a review of HROB multiple sources and is based primarily on the and functional employment trends. Most observations of the 14th HRSC while deployed to the importantly, it showed us the way ahead. The CENTCOM AOR. following is a guide to facilitate successful accomplishment of the HR missions within the Point of Contact: Sustainment Community framework: COL Steven L. Shea, Director, 14th HRSC

1. Support the command. NIPR: steven.l.shea @kuwait.swa.army.mil 2. Be included in the Military Decision Making AKO: [email protected] Process (MDMP).

14th HRSC at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait 38 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com 3rd Sustainment Brigade (SB) Strength Management Lessons Learned By CW2 Kym Cheese, 3rd SB S1 Section, Fort Stewart, GA Army Human Resources (HR) Transformation There are three phases in the ARFORGEN significantly changed the HR mission for Brigade cycle: (1) reset/train phase, (2) ready phase, and (3) and Battalion S1s across the force. There have available phase. In accordance with AR 350-1, been many changes in HR support for commanders, paragraph, 1-6, under ARFORGEN, a designated Soldiers and their families. For example, in brigade increases readiness over time, moving accordance with FM 1-0, paragraph 2-1, the most through the reset/train, ready, and available force significant element of the Army‘s transformation is pools in the operational readiness cycle. To the the transition from a Division-centric tactical force extent possible, personnel within the brigade are to a Brigade-centric tactical force. Battalion and stabilized so they can train, deploy and operate Brigade S1s are now the focal point for the together as a cohesive team. Unlike a Brigade planning and execution of the HR core Combat Team, the SB does not deploy as a whole competencies in accordance with FM 1-0, brigade; it will always have units in all three paragraph 2-6. This article will focus on the HR phases. This is a huge challenge for a strength core competency of Personnel Readiness manager. One of the lessons learned from our Management (PRM) and the challenges from a previous deployment is that the S1 must leave Sustainment Brigade‘s perspective. several personnel in the Rear Detachment (RD) One of the biggest challenges facing S1s in with strength management experience. This is also today‘s brigade-centric force is PRM. Many of you a challenge because a BDE S1 is only authorized 13 would ask why PRM is a big challenge. In personnel. The decision of who will deploy and who addition, many would also ask why is the Brigade will remain is important for any brigade, but it is a S1 in direct charge of PRM for our command if crucial decision for a SB. The BCTs normally leave higher levels of command (i.e., Corps & Division) a small population of RD Soldiers when they deploy. can take on a greater PRM burden as they have in A SB can possibly leave thousands of Soldiers back the past? Army HR Transformation gave the in the rear. For example, our Brigade HQs will Brigade S1 PRM to make deploying units more self deploy next summer, along with two Battalion HQs. sufficient and eliminate bureaucratic and The RD will consist of the subordinate companies, redundant manning processes at higher levels of platoons, detachments, and teams within the four command. Additionally, the new PSDR structure battalions that fall under our brigade. Our RD placed a 1LT in charge of the Personnel Readiness Team (PRT). The PRT Team Chief duties actually require the skills of an AG Captain, so a 1LT has his or her hands full and must come as well prepared as possible in order to hit the ground running. We did not realize the magnitude of strength management in a Sustainment Brigade (SB) until the Deputy Commander became more focused on personnel readiness. One thing we noticed right away was that our strength management section was immediately challenged to fix the brigade‘s manning shortfalls. Prior to PSDR and modularity, no one below the S1 did a lot of strength management. In addition, there wasn‘t a lot of time to train the lieutenants who ran the PRT section how to do strength management. One 3rd Sustainment BDE S1 Section. Kneeling: CW2 Cheese; Front row left-right: SGT Rowell, SGT Brooks, of the biggest challenges is the lack of knowledge of 2LT Delva, PV2 Kemp, MSG Futch; Back row left-right: the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) cycle at SPC Byrd, PFC Williams, SPC Way, SPC McNeal, SPC both the Brigade and Battalion S1s levels. Dietrich 1775 Summer 2009 39 deployed, in reset, in the available phase preparing and training for deployment, or non-available. Every new S1 strength manager must realize that they must educate subordinate S1 personnel on PSDR, ARFORGEN, and the roles and responsibilities of the BDE/BN S1s when executing personnel readiness management. In addition, strength management TTPs and SOPs must be created, accurate and maintained. For example, S1s can draft a FRAGO in reference to eMILPO reconciliation. In this instance the BN S1s have to send at least one representative to the BDE S1 to reconcile the following reports: (1) AAA-162s, (2) AAA-165s, and (3) UMR. Another TTP that can be implemented is the BDE S1 must scrub the following reports for each BN prior to USR turn in: rd 3 SB S1 Readiness Team. SGT Brooks and SPC (1) Non-Availability Memo, (2) 90-Day ETS/60-Day McNeal; not shown SGT Hernandez and SFC Symonette PCS Memo, (3) AAA-162s, and (4) Personnel Asset might reach 2,500 Soldiers assigned, including Visibility Report (PAVR). non-deployables. The BDE S1 will scrub these reports for Another challenge is the lack of knowledge of accuracy. If there are any manning issues, BDE the core function PRM. Many personnel in S1s will annotate the discrepancies and send the subordinate BN S1 sections require significant USR rep back to the BN S1 to correct each PRM training. For example, one of the biggest discrepancy prior to USR. The BDE S1 should also challenges within the brigade is educating 42A conduct monthly S1 huddles with subordinate S1s personnel and leaders at the BDE and BN levels on to coach, teach, and mentor. the Unit Manning Report (UMR). Many 42As do Another challenge is the data that S1s input not understand that the UMR is the foundation of into HR systems. As HR professionals, we must Unit Status Reporting (USR). Improper Soldier understand that executing Personnel Information slotting has a major impact on personnel readiness. Management (PIM) functions is crucial and has a In addition, Brigade S1s must continually major impact on a unit‘s personnel readiness. Just emphasize to subordinate S1s that they have direct like oil is the life line of a vehicle, PIM is the life responsibility for data accuracy in Army HR line for HR readiness. If HR professionals are not systems, which must be continuously updated. updating HR systems in a timely and accurate Being the strength manager in a SB is manner, it degrades the data, which directly challenging because there are so many moving influences commanders and HR leader decisions. pieces. A strength manager in a SB is almost like BDE S1s should constantly remind subordinate S1s at the Division level. For example, there is a to update the PERSTEMPO prior to deployment transportation company that will deploy this fall and when Soldiers redeploy to home station. In and is short 88M30s. For the past eight months, addition, Soldier dwell time must be updated in 88M30 was reported during USR turn in. HRC eMILPO upon redeployment. The data that is said to cross-level from different units within the inputted is what HRC immediately sees at their brigade because the brigade is overstrength in the level. aggregate for 88Ms. Although the brigade is There are many challenges for the strength overstrength in the aggregate, it cannot pull management section in a BDE. To overcome these 88M30s from another unit within the brigade challenges we must continue to educate HR because there are two transportation companies professionals on the core HR strength management (TCs) that just redeployed and are currently in functions. Training on HR systems is key to our reset phase. Another TC is deployed. The brigade success. We, as Army HR professionals, need to do could not pull Soldiers who just redeployed because more HR training, including hands-on training, if now those Soldiers have authorized dwell time. we are to succeed and fully support the Army‘s new The brigade has to emphasize to HRC and the brigade-centric force. Division G1 that many of its Soldiers are either Heart of the Rock! 40 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Leader Development for Army Civilians: What HR Supervisors Need to Know About the Civilian Education System (CES) By Mr. Barry Leslie and Mr. Wayne Ditto, Army Management Staff College, Fort Leavenworth Soldiers understand the importance of The Civilian Education System (CES). This continuous development in operational article provides an overview of CES that HR assignments, training, and education as well as leaders can use as a starting point for their responsibility for self-development. The advising their Army civilians about leader Professional Military Education System provides development opportunities. opportunities to enhance leader development. What is the Civilian Education Officers, Warrant Officers, NCOs and Enlisted System? The Army Management Staff personnel are required to attend a series of College is responsible for providing a sequential and progressive professional sequential and progressive civilian leader development courses. What about their Army development program through distributed civilian counterparts? Do they have learning and residential courses taught at opportunities for professional leadership Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and Fort development? The answer is yes! Adjutant Leavenworth, Kansas. These courses General‘s Corps / Human Resources civilians can prepare Army civilians with essential attend a leader development training and leadership skills. The courses, shown in education program that is available through the Figure 1 below, are: Foundation Course Army Management Staff College and is known as (distributed learning), Basic Course (Fort

Figure 1 – Civilian Education System Distributed Learning and Resident Courses 1775 Summer 2009 41 Leavenworth), Intermediate Course (Fort are better equipped to take on difficult Belvoir), and Advanced Course (Fort Belvoir). assignments. Finally, CES courses provide In addition, CES offers additional courses that opportunities for developing valuable include the Action Officer Course, Supervisor worldwide professional networks. Development Course, Manager Development Who pays for the courses? Department Course, and Continuing Education for Senior of the Army provides centralized funding so Leaders. permanent Army civilians can attend CES Which of your civilians are eligible and courses. Local commands must fund military, when can or should they attend the courses? temporary employees, and non-Department of Civilians must meet eligibility requirements and the Army civilian employees. pre-requisites as shown in Table 1 below. What can individuals expect when Why you should insure your Civilian they attend the courses? Civilian workforce attend the courses? AG Corps / HR Education System courses involve inquiry civilian employees must be competent, confident based learning that is student centered. leaders who are capable of taking the initiative Students become immersed in small group in complex environments while providing a wide discussions, problem solving, and decision range of human resource support to the Soldier. making. The Foundation Course provides an Attending the distributed learning and resident overview of the Army. The Basic Course CES courses will give HR civilian employees attendees focus on developing a cohesive team opportunities to develop leadership and decision and the application of leadership skills to making skills so they can be active and solve problems. Intermediate Course innovative contributors to successful mission students learn the importance of developing accomplishment. Individuals who attend CES cohesive organizations, managing resources, courses are more competitive for promotion and implementing change, and the application of

42 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com critical thinking skills. Completing the four developmental programs is the Advanced Course which offers senior civilian leaders the skills necessary to oversee and lead complex organizations in support of national defense strategies, managing organization level resources, leading change, and how the Army is integrated into the Joint Force. Faculty and staff members will provide a respectful and safe learning environment that challenges and supports student learning. Small group classrooms give everyone an opportunity to be involved in discussions, workshops, and problem solving. How can individuals prepare for attendance both academically as well as mind-set? Students are required to complete all pre-requisites (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced) conditional to the level of attendance prior to the residential phase of these programs. Additionally, students and others can increase their awareness of leadership through the Army Management Staff College (AMSC) website at http://www.amsc.belvoir.army.mil/ces/ac/ which provides a recommended reading list. HR civilians should come with an open mind and a willingness to share experiences in the classroom. The classroom environment is based on adult learning principals so students are expected to take responsibility for their learning, while maximizing the opportunity to learn from both faculty and fellow participants. Where can supervisors and prospective students go for more information? The following websites offer additional information about the Civilian Education Systems:  Army Management Staff College – http://www.amsc.belvoir.army.mil/ces/ac/  Civilian Personnel Online – http://cpol.army.mil/library/train/ces/ Adjutant General‘s Corps leaders need to know that CES provides civilians with an opportunity to receive progressive and sequential leadership education throughout their careers. Civilian personnel who attend CES courses are more competitive for promotion and they acquire the skills to take on more challenging assignments. Supervisors who understand CES are better able to communicate the benefits of civilian professional leadership development opportunities and assist their subordinates with professional development decisions.

CES Basic Course (Ft. Leavenworth) Class 09-10 13 - 24 Jul 09

CES Advanced Course (Ft. Belvoir) Class 09-06 26 May 09 - 19 Jun 09

1775 Summer 2009 43 Notes from the Equal Opportunity Training Proponent By SGM Shawanda Martin, EO Training Proponent Team, AG School Greetings AG Leaders, while 2008 was an extremely and we would like to hear from you! So please check it exciting and fast-paced year for the AG School‘s EO out and give us your thoughts as we continue to strive Training Proponent, we want to make you aware of a for excellence in promoting the Army‘s EO Program. great tool and several new EO training products the EO Equal Opportunity Leaders Course (EOLC). Due to optempo affiliated with deployment and at Training Proponent Office developed and is considered a the request of commanders throughout the Army, the significant step forward for the Army and the entire EOLC replaced the antiquated two week EO EO/EEO community that has transformed the way EO Representative's Course (EORC). Commanders felt it Advisors, Commanders, Soldiers, and DA Civilians train was necessary to return Soldiers back to their units and communicate. faster, but with the same level of training and expertise. Equal Opportunity Network (EO NET) The EO Training Proponent met that request by The EO Training Proponent Office announced and developing EOLC, a 60 hour Training Support Package released the first ever web-based platform for EO that focuses on development of the knowledge, skills, knowledge and training on 11 Dec 08. EO Net is dedicated and abilities that an EO leader is required to possess at to supporting the EO training needs of EO Practioners, the company and battalion level. EOLC is taught throughout the Army by qualified Defense Equal Soldiers, DA Civilians, and leaders by providing Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) graduates. interactive web-based training and regulatory guidance in The current version of the EOLC is 2.1 with an effective support of the Army‘s EO Program. date of 1 Jun 08. The EO Training Proponent is EO Net is the first of its kind and enhances the way currently conducting annual maintenance of the EOLC, EO professionals communicate and support Soldiers, 2.1 and is on track to release version 2.3 not later than civilians, and leaders. It is designed to assist the Soldier, 1 Sep 09. regardless of MOS, or a civilian that has little or no formal Army Service Specific Training (ASST). Change EO training and give them the opportunity to access is on the horizon for the DEOMI Equal Opportunity relevant EO training material and ask an EO question if Advisors Program (EOAP) and Army Service Specific they were perhaps to embarrassed to ask the question Training (ASST) course. DEOMI‘s EOAP redesign will come in two phases. Phase I is a series of 16 online during the training session. EO Net also offers the first training modules while in residence at DEOMI. The EO map and organizational chart, training tool box, performance will be measured during the in-residence checklists, smartcards, scenarios, videos, sample reprisal (Phase II) small group instruction and rubrics will be plans, vignettes, EO & EEO service awards, regulations used to assess students' behavior/attitudes in the and links, and a host of other relevant EO information. application of principles taught during the course. EO Net is a great way for Soldiers, commanders, and Phase II is projected to become a five week EOAP (in- EO professionals to stay abreast of EO training residence) course at DEOMI that will include an requirements and changes, but also offers effective and additional three weeks of ASST. The first two iterations innovative training ideas, presentations, and of the new EOAP curriculum will be pilot courses. requirements for leaders across the Army, regardless of In support of DEOMI‘s curriculum change, the EO Training Proponent recently completed the redesign and the operational environment. re-write of the ASST TSP instructed by the institute. The two things you will need to access EO Net is a The revised ASST TSP is application centric providing computer and an active AKO account with your username EOA‘s with additional training opportunities in areas and password. This applies to AC, RC, and ARNG essential to their duties and responsibilities as an EO Soldiers and civilians, deployed, in garrison, or at home. Advisor. The ASST contains 16 lessons that are Once logged into AKO, proceed to the EO Net home page interactive and realistically prepare EOAs for duty. The by typing https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/463396. ASST course is scheduled for implementation during The EO Net can also be accessed at the following links: DEOMI‘s 10-2 EOAP class. Remember, what impacts Soldiers, impacts  http://www.armyg1.army.mil readiness!  http://www.armyg1.army.mil/soldiers.asp  http://www.armyg1.army.mil/leaders.asp  http://www.armyg1.army.mil/civilians.asp An EO Instructor  http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr.asp training an EO  http://www.armyg1.army.mil/eo/default.asp Leaders Course

The EO Net has received over 19,702 hits from users around the world. We are truly excited about EO Net 44 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com SECTION III: Army Bands West Point Band Celebrates Year of the NCO By SSG Philip Stehly West Point, NY – The West Point Band presented a concert celebrating the ―Year of the NCO‖ on Sunday, August 2, 2009 at Eisenhower Hall on the West Point campus. Highlighting the performance was actor and musician Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band performing a number of selections. This concert was free and open to the public. In addition to the Lt. Dan Band, the West Point Concert Band was present and played a portion of the performance. Highlights included Liberty Fanfare by John Williams, Henry Fillmore‘s Americans We, and Fantasy on Army Strong by Mark Isham. Additionally, the West Point Concert Band performed Shenandoah-Ragged Old Flag with narration provided by Gary Sinise. Gary Sinise currently stars in the CBS show CSI: NY. Some of his film credits include: Apollo 13, Truman, The Green Mile, and Forrest Gump, for which he was nominated for an academy award. The foundation for Sinise‘s Lt. Dan Band was laid in 2003, and in 2004 they made their first overseas USO tour. Since that first overseas tour, and in the past five years, Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band 1775 Summer 2009 45 have played an average of 30-40 shows per attended by people from West Point and year. beyond. The Concert Band has a history 2009 - Year of the NCO. Since 1775, the marked with several world-class performances Army has set apart its NCOs from other and close associations with renowned enlisted Soldiers by distinctive insignia of composers to include Percy Grainger and grade. With more than 200 years of service, Morton Gould. the U.S. Army‘s Noncommissioned Officer During the Summer of 2008 the West Point Corps has distinguished itself as the world‘s Concert Band performed with the New York most accomplished group of military Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall in New professionals. Historical and daily accounts of York City to celebrate Independence Day. life as an NCO are exemplified by acts of More recently, the West Point Band performed courage, and a dedication and a willingness to the very first National Anthem at the new do whatever it takes to complete the mission. Yankee Stadium at a pre-season game on April NCOs have been celebrated for decorated 3, 2009 and then performed John Philip Sousa service in military events ranging from Valley marches at the new stadium on opening day Forge to Gettysburg, to charges on Omaha April 16, 2009. Beach and battles along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, to current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. In recognition of their commitment to service and willingness to make great sacrifices on behalf of our Nation, the Secretary of the Army established 2009 as Year of the NCO. We invite you to join the celebration of one of America‘s greatest assets, the NCO Corps, the backbone of the American Army. The West Point Band. The United States Military Academy Concert Band is a direct descendant of the small Band of Musick that had assembled at West Point by 1817. The modest twenty-piece military band of that era has evolved into the 48-member wind band of today. The West Point Band performs at Eisenhower Hall on the West Pont campus Over the years, the Concert Band has earned the reputation of being among the finest of its kind in the world. The band‘s events annually attract thousands of visitors to the academy to hear the finest in new and traditional concert band literature. The most popular of these events are the summer concerts at West Point‘s Trophy Point Amphitheatre. Annual 4th of July performances at the ruins of Fort Putnam (on the grounds of West Point) began in 1817 and more regular outdoor performances by the Concert Band occurred throughout the middle and later 1800‘s. By 1950, the summer concerts on the Plain (beside the cadet barracks) were very well 46 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Great Musicians - Outstanding NCOs and Soldiers By SGM David Doyon, US Army Training and Doctrine Command Band The TRADOC Band is has more than just great his selection as Fort Monroe‘s Soldier of the Year. musicians, it also has outstanding NCOs and SPC Wagner and his TRADOC Rock teammates Soldiers. The Fort Monroe NCO and Soldier of the were featured presenters at the 2009 Army Band Year are both TRADOC Band members as well as Leader Training (ABLT). the Army Band Soldier of the Year. Saxophone player SPC Aaron Morris was SSG Justin Smitchger, Fort Monroe‘s NCO of recognized during the 2009 ABLT for his selection as the Year, joined Congressman Bobby Scott and the Army Band Soldier of the Year for Active Duty General Officers from TRADOC and NATO as Bands. Competing with other Soldiers from the honored guests at the May 2nd performance of the other active component Army Bands, SPC Morris 2009 Virginia International Tattoo held at the won the honor based on his superior performance of Scope in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. From the duty, his demonstrated technical skills as well as his VIP box, SSG Smitchger stood and received the prowess as a Soldier. SPC Morris was chosen to final salute of the evening in honor of his selection conduct George Gershwin‘s ―An American in Paris‖ as the NCO of Year and in celebration of the US at the ―Year of the NCO‖ Concert. Army‘s ―Year of the NCO.‖ SSG Smitchger, a The TRADOC Band is a very fortunate trumpet player with the TRADOC Band, was also organization to have such outstanding Soldiers and recognized at the TRADOC Band‘s NCO-led musicians. SSG Smitchger, SPC Wagner and SPC concert presented at the Fergusson Center for the Morris are all very worthy of the honors they‘ve Arts on April 18, 2009, for his exceptional earned and are a reflection of the ever increasing performance resulting in his earning the NCO of quality of personnel in the Army Band field today. the Year honors. They are highly deserving of the recognition they‘ve SPC Wesley Wagner, a guitar player, with received and on behalf of the all the Soldiers and TRADOC Rock music performance team is Fort leaders of TRADOC Band we say a hearty ―Hooah Monroe‘s Soldier of the Year. He and SSG and Well Done!‖ Smitchger were recognized recently by a local From Left: CPT Derrick N. Shaw, Cdr, TRADOC Band; Kiwanis Club for their achievements. The Fort SSG Justin J. Smitchger, Fort Monroe NCO of the Year; Monroe Post Commander, COL Anthony Reyes, SPC Wesley C. Wagner, Fort Monroe Soldier of the and others from the Post joined the Kiwanis Club Year; SPC Aaron J. Morris, Army Band Soldier of the members for a dinner to recognize SPC Wagner for Year (AC); and SGM David M. Doyon, Sr Enlisted his superior performance and dedication leading to Bandleader, TRADOC Band

1775 Summer 2009 47 Army Reserve NCOs Lead the 100th Army Band By SFC Mark Bell, 81st Regional Support Command (RSC) FORT KNOX, KY – They come from all walks of life. They are teachers, librarians, dispatchers and students; but they are Army Reserve Soldiers -- with a little extra twist. Their formations are slightly different; the cadences they sing are of a different tune, but most surprisingly is the of lack junior or field-grade officers within the ranks. Instead, the unit is 100th Army Band commanded by a chief warrant officer and led by members during a small group of senior noncommissioned officers rehearsal who provide leadership, mentorship, and make important unit decisions normally reserved for platoon leaders or company commanders. "The 100th Army Band is an excellent example of the importance of the NCO Corps in today's Army," said CSM Luis Blanco, the 81st Regional Support Command's senior enlisted Soldier. "Everyday, noncommissioned officers are gaining more responsibilities within their units, and they battle assembly,‖ LaBarbara said during one of the are accomplishing every difficult missions given to breaks. ―Everyone here knows their job and what is them.― expected of them. Having some great NCOs help CSM Blanco said the 81st "Wildcats" are riding things move very smoothly here.‖ LaBarbara said the wave of a new trend of highly educated leaders the role of the NCO in the band is very similar to with masters and doctorate of philosophy degrees. the motto of the 81st RSC ―Wildcats‖ based at Fort "In today's Army, our senior leaders expect the Jackson, SC. "We are here to train, maintain and NCO Corps to be highly educated," Blanco said. sustain Soldiers, equipment, facilities and unit "The future senior NCO needs to be working missions," he said. ―Without NCOs, we wouldn't toward a bachelor's degree at a minimum. We survive.‖ must prepare our NCOs to be leaders after their As the peak summer season is in full swing, the career in the Army.― He said the 100th Army Band band's performance schedule is a busy one. For six is an exceptional model of NCOs taking charge and months, the nearly 50 musicians assigned to the executing on point. band will provide music in support of the 81st RSC's Tucked away on a small hilltop on Fort Knox, mission in the southeastern portion of the U.S. "We the 100th Army Band, one of three bands assigned instill in our forces the will to fight and win, foster to the 81st RSC, is very similar to hundreds of the support of our citizens, and promote our other Reserve units speckled across the country -- national interests at home and abroad," said SFC but only at first glance. 1SG Matt LaBarbara John Pisano, a drummer and the unit's training slowly corralled one of the largest Army Reserve NCO. bands into a large rehearsal facility to explain So what does that mean exactly? Pisano said upcoming weekend events. Several senior NCOs the 100th Army Band provides musical support to appeared from a small office armed with folders services members and communities by fielding a and notebooks marked up with vital information ceremonial music ensemble; popular music for a busy two-day Soldier weekend. ensembles, such as the rock band; small ensembles Rehearsals, performances, reenlistments, combat organized for specific functions, like a brass quintet; training, moving office equipment, and issuing and individual musicians for solo performances. "In combat equipment were just a few of the agenda a tactical environment, Army bands also provide items that needed to be completed in less that 36 music support for stability and support operations," hours. Pisano added. ―It never fails, we always seem to meet our All this is done with the creativity, initiative and goals that we establish at the beginning of each leadership of NCOs who lead the unit's smaller 48 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Music Support Teams (MSTs) that provide a wide Whether they are on the flight lines welcoming gamut of musical genre to audiences that range home American warriors from combat, or providing from grade school pep rallies to large city-wide community fairs a little bounce in their dance, Army celebrations. From a musical perspective, NCOs bands, like the 100th, will continue to be led by the serve as MST leaders or assistant leaders. Pisano backbone of the Army - the NCO. "We must said band NCOs must be a master of multi-tasking; continue to allow our young non-commissioned not only with their musical skill sets but with the officers to lead from the point and give them that daily duties of leading Soldiers, no matter what chance to succeed both in the Army and back at cargo they pull or what mountain they conquer. home," Blanco said. "They are the future of my ―NCOs are organizing, instructing, training, Army." counseling and evaluating instrumentalists of their particular MST," he said. "Additionally, team 100th Army Band Info leaders also serve in different administrative Commander capacities, such as music librarian, supply, training CWO Lawrence Barton and operations NCOs -- depending on the needs of First Sergeant / Oboe the band. ―These additional duty assignments are 1SG Jeffrey Labarbara important because Army bands are NCO-centric Chief, Soldier & Family Support Division / organizations,‖ Pisano said. "Band commanders Clarinet expect NCOs to train and lead each of the band's SFC Nancy Chiara administrative sections and musical ensembles," he Chief, Plans Operations & Training Division / added. Rock Band Leader / Percussionist Both Pisano and LaBarbara said the key to SFC John Pisano success for an Army bandsman is the precise Chief, Logistics & Resource Management balance between being a musician and Soldier. Division / Clarinet "We are not just musicians, we are warrior- SFC Benjamin Rademaker musicians," said Pisano. "Our individual and Unit Administrator collective success is measured by not only our Ms. Sharon Lynch musical abilities, but also by our Soldier skills. ―The biggest challenge of an Army band is Mailing Address: balancing the warrior training with its musical 100th Army Band training,‖ he added. North Seminole Road Without adequate rehearsal time, individual Building 6620/6624 and collective musical skills are perishable. Fort Knox, KY 40121-5108 "We have to ensure we provide sufficient individual Phone: (502) 624-7961 and ensemble rehearsal time," Pisano said. ―This typically means that on a given battle assembly weekend, we will spend our mornings engaged in physical training and warrior training, and our afternoons are dedicated to musical training.‖ Pisano said one of the most common myths he hears of Reserve and National Guard Army bands is that they are only musicians. ―I think many Soldiers believe this myth because they only see an Army Band where they are deploying, redeploying, attending a change of command, promotion ceremony or attending a formal function,‖ he said. "They do not see all of the other training the band undergoes to ensure the band serves not only as musicians, but as warrior-musicians.― LaBarbara said he ensures his Soldiers excel in training situations that are not band specific. "We meet the same standards as every other Soldier and in some ways more," he said. 1775 Summer 2009 49 Army Material Command Band Plays Special Tribute to NCOs By Rachel Ponder, Aberdeen Proving Grounds News The U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) Band Marin added that he thinks that NCOs are the performed ―Esprit de Corps,‖ a music and video tribute to Army‘s secret weapon. ―Armies around the world want the Army‘s Noncommissioned Officer Corps at the to find out how to make their Sergeants like our Aberdeen Proving Ground Post Theater on May 15, 2009. Sergeants, and you can bet our enemies know how good The Army‘s theme ―Year of the NCO‖ for 2009 was our Sergeants are,‖ Marin said. ―Our NCOs are declared by Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, Army something of a secret to the American public. This is Chief of Staff General George W. Casey Jr., and Sergeant something we need to change during the Year of the Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston. NCO. The NCO Corps has more than two hundred This year of emphasis spotlights the role of the NCO years of service and has distinguished itself as the in our Army. One of the reasons for this year‘s theme is most accomplished group of military professionals in to recognize the contributions that NCOs made and the world.‖ currently make every day supporting Army operations The first song of the night was ―American Visions‖ world-wide. by Travis J. Weller, accompanied by a pageant of The AMC Band program featured solos by NCOs, Soldiers dressed in uniforms from the past showing the while profiles highlighting their achievements since history of the Army through costume. After a bass enlisting in the Army showed on the screen. The AMC trombone solo by SFC Jeremy Davis, there was a set of Band is under the command of CW4 Frederick L. Ellwein. rock and pop songs led by SFC Stephen J. Spohn, last SGM Wendy Thomson conceived, produced and conducted year‘s AMC NCO of the Year. During ―Citizen Soldier‖ the ―Year of the NCO‖ concert and SGT Samuel Yoo by 3 Doors Down, a video was played honoring the narrated the event. work that Soldiers do on a daily basis. Opening the concert, U.S. Army Research, The concert concluded with three patriotic songs, Development and Engineering Command‘s CSM Hector ―We Were There,‖ ―When You Are a Soldier,‖ and G. Marin provided welcoming remarks. He said that ―America the Beautiful‖ featuring vocalists SFC NCOs have made great contributions in the Army. Deborah Levine, SGT Yoo, SGT Anthony Gentilo and ―Throughout the Army‘s history, whenever tactics or SGT Ericka Escalante. technologies have changed, the role of the NCO has also After the concert, MSG Rebecca Booker, an NCO changed,‖ he said. ―As the battlefield became more and who works at the U.S. Army Center for Health more decentralized, NCOs were asked to step up and take Promotion and Preventive Medicine, said that she on more leadership duties.‖ Marin said that the roles enjoyed the concert. ―I greatly appreciate that the have come into clearer focus since the terrorist attacks of Army is recognizing NCOs this year, and I think APG September 11, 2001. ―Our enemies know they have no is doing a great job of having events to recognize our hope in surviving a head-to-head battle with our Army, so achievements. It makes me proud to be an NCO,‖ instead they specialize in attacking small teams, convoys Booker said. ―I felt like the music they chose really and isolated outposts.‖ Marin said that this means NCOs appealed to the audience.‖ Booker continued that she are often the senior leaders during those types of felt like the program was a fun and entertaining way to encounters, and they are ready for the challenge. educate the young Advanced Individual Training ―Despite the sacrifice, our Soldiers and Families continue Soldiers of the roles and responsibilities of an NCO. to sign up and keep serving our nation,‖ Marin said. ―The young Soldiers are our future NCOs,‖ she said. ―That says a lot about the Army‘s strength – a strength ―The rank of an NCO is something they can look that comes from our values, from our warrior ethos and forward to achieving.‖ from NCO leadership.‖

The U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) Band performed “Esprit de Corps,” a music and video tribute to the Army‟s NCO Corps at the Aberdeen Proving Ground Post Theater on May 15, 2009

50 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Band Members Embark on Historic Deployed 4th of July Tour By Public Affairs Office, 25th Infantry Division Early in the morning of June 25, 2009, 73 members of the combined elements from the 56th Army Band (I Corps), the 1st Cavalry Division Band, the 25th Infantry Division Band , and the 34th Infantry Division from Minnesota boarded a C-17 Aircraft and headed to COB Basra on the first leg of the first ever July 4th Celebration Concert tour in Iraq. The combined bands, led by CW5 John S. Fraser, CW4 Aaron Graff, CW3 Trygve Skaar, and CW2 Joseph Parenteau, were scheduled to perform four concerts throughout the Iraqi Theatre of Operations. The members of the combined bands gathered for a week of rehearsals and camaraderie the week of June 22nd at the I Corps Band‘s rehearsal facility on Camp Victory. This was the Band Soldiers participated in a historic first time in the history of concert series over the 2009 July 4th weekend. Never before have musicians Operation Iraqi Freedom from multiple US Army Bands combined for that all of the Army Bands a major concert ensemble performance event while maintaining concurrent morale, in theater gathered in one ceremonial, and protocol operations place at one time for one throughout Iraq. Band members from the 1st Cavalry Division, 25th Infantry Division, specific mission. ―I had this 34th Infantry Division out of Minnesota, and wild idea long before we ever 56th Army “I Corps” trained hard and performed a spectacular series of concerts deployed,‖ remarked CW5 for Soldiers in MND-South, Camp Basra, and Fraser, the commander of at MND-Baghdad‟s Al Faw Palace at Camp the I Corps Band; ―I never Victory, Iraq. The 750 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and thought we could actually Marines attending the tour‟s two major put it together, but with the performances were given a traditional July 4th celebration courtesy of US Army Bands cooperation of the other in Iraq. band members and their 1775 Summer 2009 51 commands we were able to get it done.‖ hours of personal time the band members The Concert tour began the night of gathered again for one final rehearsal June 26th at COB Basra, the band before the culminating concert at the Al performed in the midst of 120 degree heat Faw Palace on Camp Victory the night of to a crowd of the highly motivated troops of July 4th. Multi National Division – South. The Performing for a crowd of about 500 Commanding General of MND-S, MG Rick Service members on the front steps of the Nash and Command Sergeant Major of Al Faw Palace, the combined bands MND-S, CSM Doug Julian remained after performed an inspirational and motivating the concert to congratulate and thank the assortment of popular and patriotic music. members of the bands on a job well done! After a special request from the MNC-I The tour came to an abrupt halt as Command Sergeant Major, CSM Frank severe dust and sand storms trapped the Grippe, during one of the breaks in the band members at COB Basra for the next planned concert repertoire a few members six days. This however did not stop the of the band performed an impromptu band members from sharing their talents edition of ―Free Bird‖. with the Soldiers of COB Basra. Over the Although the weather cut the tour short next several nights the Soldiers from the the members of the combined bands were 34th Infantry Division Band‘s Country happy that they were able to be a part of Band, The Red Bull Riders, The I Corps this unprecedented mission. ―It is very Band‘s Modern Rock Band, Sunburn, and important for us to celebrate the Fourth of the 34th Infantry Division Band‘s Red Bull July here in Iraq; it marks the signing of Rock Band entertained the troops at Echo‘s, the Declaration of Independence and the a small restaurant located on COB Basra. birth of our great nation.‖ SSG Tim SPC Mike Nelson, from Scarbrough, ME, Ingram of Alexandria, PA stated; ―It the lead singer of Sunburn had no trouble reminds the service members of why they keeping morale high. Nelson would often are here, so that one day the Iraqi people change the lyrics of his songs to incorporate may have the opportunity to celebrate the misfortune of the band members stuck their own special holidays the way we at COB Basra, allowing the band members can.‖ in the audience to laugh at their misfortune instead of allowing it to get the better of them. ―This was my chance to make something positive out of a not so positive situation,‖ Nelson remarked; ―We had a great time performing in Basra and I think the crowd was very appreciative of our music.‖ After countless phone calls and e-mails CPT Randall Bartell, the MNC-I Staff Band Officer was able to get in touch with all the proper channels resulting in a Marine C- 130 aircraft to transport the members of The guidons on display of the combined Army bands from the 56th Army Band (I Corps), the 1st Cavalry the combined bands back to Camp Victory Division Band, the 25th Infantry Division Band , and early the morning of July 3rd. After a few the 34th Infantry Division from Minnesota, all in Iraq 52 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com US Army Bands NCO / Soldier of the Year By CSM Joe Camarda, CSM Army Bands Musicians have been an important part of the military even before the U.S. Army was created in 1775. From the Signal Corps drummers of the Revolutionary War, to the brass bands of WWII, musicians have played a critical role in the Army's success. Whether it's a ceremonial performance for a military audience or a popular music concert for a community, Army band musicians have the unique opportunity to serve their country by boosting the morale of Soldiers, family members, civilians, and communities both at home and abroad. The Army Bands NCO of the Year program was initiated by Army band leadership several years ago to identify and recognize Soldiers who best demonstrate those traits, characteristics, and values most desired in an Army musician. In 2009, the program was expanded to include our exceptional Soldiers between E-1 and E-4 not yet promoted to the NCO ranks. The Band NCO and Soldier of the Year program now include six winners from the following categories: Senior NCO, Junior NCO, and Soldier. Each year a winner is selected in each category for both the Active and Reserve components. This is an outstanding opportunity for Commanders and Senior Enlisted Soldiers to nominate those in their commands who demonstrate musical, leadership, and organizational skills that support the mission, vision, and values of Army bands and the Army. We evaluate Soldiers for this recognition in five categories: Leadership; Artistic Integrity; Effectiveness & Mission Accomplishment; Organizational & Planning Skills; and Personal Honors. A new batch of nomination forms are submitted each year to the CSM Army Bands. The CSM then organizes a panel of band Sergeants Major to evaluate each nomination packet and select the winners. The honor of selection as the Band NCO of the Year has significant meaning in our program. For starters, these winners are sent TDY to the annual Army Band Leader Training event in Virginia Beach for special recognition by Army Band Leaders from around the world in a special ceremony. Additionally, winners will be viewed favorably for promotion by panel members on annual promotion boards as well as considered first priority for our most challenging assignments by DA Branch Managers. The winners for this year‘s board are:

AC Sr NCO of the Year: SFC RC Sr NCO of the Year: SFC Gregory AC Jr NCO of the Year: SSG Kira Jesse Bolanos, MEDCOM Band, Gordey, 106th Army Band, North Welch, USAREUR Band & Chorus, San Antonio, TX Little Rock, AR (ARNG) Heidelberg, Germany

RC Jr NCO of the Year: SSG AC Soldier of the Year: SPC Aaron RC Soldier of the Year: SPC Karri Nathaniel Johnson, 101st Army Morris, TRADOC Command Band, Davis, 23rd Army Band, West Band, Buckley AFB, CO (ARNG) Fort Monroe, VA Jordan, UT (ARNG) 1775 Summer 2009 53 SECTION IV: Around the Corps 2009 National Regimental Adjutant General Ball Ball Theme – “The Adjutant General‟s Corps NCOs: Past * Present * Future” By MAJ John R. Cuva, 120th AG Battalion (Reception), Ft Jackson Soldiers wearing the period uniforms of their predecessors from the Revolutionary War to Global War on Terror, the posting of the colors, playing of the national anthem, and invocation, COL Manning provided opening comments. COL Manning‘s opening comments provided a vision for the National AG Ball and the planning that started in 2008. ―Our overall intent for the ball was to find a dynamic speaker, which we believe we‘ve done with CSM Ciotola, provide great entertainment, promote the Corps‘ pride and identity, and finally have fun!‖ COL Manning stated. COL Manning also acknowledged NCOs and Soldiers dress up in periodic costumes to represent AG the tremendous efforts of the 120th AG Corps Soldiers Past, Present, and Future at the National AG Ball Battalion (Reception) in the planning th The Adjutant General's Corps celebrated its coordination and execution of the ball. The 120 234th Birthday at the National AG Regimental Ball AG Battalion, along with the Fort Jackson NCO held at Fort Jackson‘s NCO Club on 5 June 2009. Academy, executed fund raising events to the Those who attended paid tribute to the proud support the ball, which included the following: the heritage of the Adjutant General's Corps, and AG Ball Fun Run consisting of a 3k walk, a 5k and recognized and honored individuals who have stood & 10k run, bake sales, and a car wash. out as outstanding HR professionals amongst the Corps ranks this past year. In particular, the Corps extended a well-deserved honor to our NCO Corps and centered the theme of the night around AG Noncommissioned Officers with the theme of ―The Adjutant General‘s Corps NCO: Past * Present * Future.‖ The AG Ball started with a receiving line in conjunction with a social hour. Key leadership in attendance consisted of COL Robert L. Manning Chief of the AG Corps and CSM Darlene C. Hagood the Regimental Command Sergeant Major. Regarding the ball, CSM Hagood said, ―One of our objectives for the national ball is to instill a sense of camaraderie and an intense sense of pride in our Corps for the services and support we‘ve provided to our nation for 234 years‖. After the recognition of today‘s NCOs and From L to R: CSM Hagood, CSM Ciotola (Guest Speaker), and COL Manning greet AG Ball attendees 54 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Following COL Manning‘s comments, ball ceremonial cake, ball attendees watched a attendees recognized the Army‘s fallen comrades congratulatory AG birthday video from Sergeant with a moment of silence and conducted the ball‘s Major of the Army Kenneth Preston. traditional ceremonial toasts. During dinner, photo Preceding the guest speaker‘s remarks and in clips of AG Soldiers in action from around the world recognition of the ball‘s there – ―Year of the NCO‖, were displayed in addition to the showing of a Be, SSG(P) Serena D. Pickett, the AG NCO of the Know, Do video in honor of the NCO Corps. Year, led the reciting of the Noncommissioned During the night‘s festivities, The Strolling Officers Creed. Strings (Pershing‘s Own) and a detachment from Fort Jackson's 282nd Army Band provided inspirational entertainment. The Strolling Strings SSG(P) Pickett have played for every president since President leads the Eisenhower and several European Royal families. reciting of the The dozen or more violinists and violas moved NCO Creed at amongst the ball room tables playing everything from the National AG ―Rocky Top Tennessee‖ and Louis Armstrong‘s ―What Ball a Wonderful World‖, to traditional songs like ―God Bless America‖. The final song played by the Strolling Strings was ―Happy Birthday‖ as PVT Andrus Marty (the most junior Adjutant General Corps Warrior) and Major General (Ret) Patricia Hickerson (the most senior Adjutant General Corps Warrior) cut the ceremonial cake in traditional fashion with a saber. During the cutting of the

CSM Neil Ciotola, III Corps and Fort Hood Command Sergeant Major, honored the National AG Ball with his presence and was requested because of his rich history and distinguished career within the NCO Corps. His speech was initially focused on the future of the Army, and then shifted towards empowering those individuals whose journeys within the Army had only begun showing the crowd how the future of the Army would be shaped then and now by individuals such as PVT Marty. CSM Ciotola went on to provide one of the most genuine and touching speeches for all the guests at the AG Ball. As an Armor NCO, he showed how his own views of our great Corps “Pershing‟s Own” had changed over the years and he expressed how (Strolling Strings) his respect and gratitude grew for AG Soldiers. and a detachment The stories shared served to remind us how from Ft Jackson's important the many jobs AG Soldiers execute 282nd Army Band within the Army are, and show the importance of provided the what the Corps brings to the Army, its Soldiers National AG Ball‟s and their families. entertainment Following his speech, CSM Ciotola was awarded the Horatio Gates Honorary Medal by COL Manning and CSM Hagood for his distinguished service in promoting the objectives of the Adjutant General‘s Corps. CSM Ciotola‘s speech to the National AG Regimental Ball can be read in its entirety in the following 1775 article. 1775 Summer 2009 55 Following CSM Ciotola‘s speech, the annual Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Awards were presented. Among those recognized were the Officer of the Year, CPT Andre Watson, Human Resources Command, Alexandria, VA; Warrant Officer of the Year, CW2 Qasim Sattar, Warrant Officer Career College, Fort Rucker, AL; NCO of the Year, SSG(P) Serena D. Pickett, US Army Element, HQs, US Pacific Command, Camp, H.M. Smith, Hawaii; Soldier of the Year, SPC Melissa L. Pugh, HQs, 83rd Chemical Battalion, Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, LA; and the Civilian of the Year, Mr. Charles E. Green, Sr., Director of Human Resources, Fort Hood, TX. Courtesy of Mr. Jeb Zoller of First Command Financial Services, Columbia, SC, each awardee received a display cased replica of the 1807 Joseph Kirner English Percussion Dueling Pistol, designating them the ―top gun‖ of their respective category for 2009. As the National AG Ball drew to a close, a sense of pride and esprit-de-corps emanated throughout the crowd of Adjutant General‘s Corps professionals. Many AG Soldiers and HR professionals travelled to South Carolina from all over the country and across the globe, including a few that were currently on deployment, to attend the ball. In total, there were nearly 550 Soldiers and guests in attendance. COL Manning thanked the following for making this year‘s ball a huge success: The 120th AG Battalion and Color Guard; the 282nd Army Band and US Army Strolling Strings; Ms. Darcie Fouste for the AG Corps history displays throughout the NCO Club; the 2009 Adjutant General‘s Corps Ball Committee; and for Booz Allen Hamilton‘s support and sponsorship.

#1 #2

#3 #4

#5 Mrs. Teri Maude, wife of LTG Timothy Maude, Army G1 killed in action on September 11, 2001, and COL Manning present AG Regimental Awards to the following recipients:

#1 CPT Andre Watson, Officer of the Year #2 CW2 Qasim Sattar, WO of the Year #3 SSG(P) Serena Pickett, NCO of the Year #4 SPC Melissa Pugh, Soldier of the Year #5 Mr. Charles Green, Civilian of the Year 56 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com The National Adjutant General‟s Corps Ball June 5, 2009, Fort Jackson, SC

1775 Summer 2009 57 2009 National AG Ball Address By CSM Neil Ciotola, Command Sergeant Major, III Corps and Fort Hood potential to lift up, teach, mentor and counsel in a setting such as this? Is there any worth in immersing one‘s self in the historical significance and heraldry of our respective institutions? I‘m not asking those of you in attendance because ―you get it‖, but for those who may have thought they had better things to do; for those who do not think they get paid to do these things; for those who do not understand the profoundness of their mere presence, as viewed by their subordinates, these questions must be asked. For all of you here tonight I say this; you lift me and countless others up. Most of you realize that, the remainder of you, not yet sufficiently institutionalized given your limited tenure in the organization, one day, you will. To the substance of my remarks, everything I‘m about to say could be addressed with two simple statements; then and now… and where will you find them; but both deserve explanation. As I read the history of the AG Corps I was nothing short of impressed as I learned that the AG Corps is two days shy of being as old as our Army. I was inspired as I read that those who have served in the Corps have not Commanders, Fellow Noncommissioned Officers, only been great administrators, logisticians in their own distinguished guests, family and friends. Thanks for right, but great battlefield commanders as well. So there this profound opportunity and the gracious invitation. I I was, traveling in my car from downtown Killeen back to revel in both the privilege of being here and the Fort Hood when I closed on a car at an intersection. On opportunity to address you all. the back window of the POV was the decal ―Combat So here we are, at this, the Adjutant General‘s Corps Medic‖. In all honesty the first thought that came to National Ball, in this the year of the Noncommissioned mind was Duh, tell me of a veteran medic that ain‘t! Officer. First and foremost I acknowledge the guidance They all subordinate themselves to the care of their I was given as it relates to the topic I ought to focus my fellow troopers and their families, but for those that have remarks on, but quite frankly tonight is not about served in our combatant theaters, be they assigned to a NCOs, it‘s about our Army; its commissioned and maneuver unit, a medical company, a forward surgical enlisted ranks and the Adjutant General‘s Corps. team, or a hospital company; they have all endured the Second; I will not attempt to teach you anything here trauma of combat in one way or another. tonight, but I will attempt to lift you up. To inspire you I thought of my pending appearance at this event; with what has inspired me, the accomplishments of the the history of the AG Corps, those first commanders and Corps. And finally I want to applaud all of you here in kept coming back to that decal ―Combat Medic‖. I smiled attendance. Your presence speaks volumes of your and thought of all the troopers I‘ve had under my charge commitment to the institution, both our Army and the as a BCT, Division and Corps CSM in combat. I thought AG Corps, and the importance of that thing called of all the lines that used to define the roles and socialization. responsibilities of each branch of our Army and how All too often I hear too many speak of not having the blurry they have become. I thought of this Corps and time to do this or that, of them thinking that they have how so many that comprise its ranks, have done so ―done their part‖ during the course of the ―normal duty much; above and beyond what one would typically day‖. To those who are not here I‘d be inclined to ask ascribe or expect from the Adjutant Generals Corps or its when does the duty day end? I‘m the Command troopers. I thought then and now, then and now… but Sergeant Major of III Corps and Fort Hood; today we‘re we‘ll come back to that. known as the family first Corps. At Fort Hood the duty Over the course of my 33 years in our Army I admit day ends at 1700 hours, 1500 hours on Thursdays and to being taken to school each day, but it was not until I only those with express permission from the Corps was a First Sergeant I realized the magnitude of the AG Commander may train on weekends. This said, when Corps contributions. does the duty day really end? Let‘s face it, as a young cavalryman when I needed Is there any corollary between socializing and those folks in my crew, squad or platoon it was in my eyes the things called Esprit de Corps and camaraderie? Is there First Sergeant that got them for me. It was Top who 58 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com ensured the award my Soldier or Soldiers warranted was secured. It was the First Sergeant that resolved the pay, promotion, assignment and training issues of my troopers. It was the First Sergeant that ensured evaluations were done to standard, processed exceptions to policy, unit manning rosters, promotion worksheets, Leave and Earnings Statements, delivered mail, AER requests, gains and loss rosters, etc, etc, etc. During my first nine years in the Army I quite frankly wondered what anyone else had to do, heck; First Sergeant did all that ―stuff‖. For some unexplained reason in 1990 someone, or group in the Army made the fatal error of advancing me to the rank of Master Sergeant. Oh by the way, by now all of you know it‘s the AG community (DA Secretariat) that sponsors all our centralized promotion boards, provides oversight of all those that sit as panel members do, and ultimately processes each promotion packet for appearance and ensures all procedural protocols are observed. So it‘s the summer of 1991, I‘ve just returned from a tour of duty in those fun spots we refer to as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. I‘ve been frocked to the rank of First Sergeant, oh by the way, the frocking authorization and my ultimate promotion and appointment order for First Sergeant would be validated, generated, endorsed, processed and signed by educated, assisted or fixed what I screwed up. In every AG personnel. I occupy my office, hung all manner of instance those that I mention not only taught me, they pictures and mementos on my walls, fill the desk with empowered me with the knowledge I would need to all sorts of cool Army stuff and then it hit me, I‘m the develop those subordinate to me, they empowered and one who has to do all the things for all my troops I encouraged me to take an active role in the management previously mentioned. of those I in my charge. I reflect back on why I joined the Army; one reason In my capacity as the Command Sergeant Major of a being I was tired of school, and all the countless Corps, nearly 63,000 Soldiers and Airmen strong, I occasions wherein I was compelled, if not required, to continue to seek the counsel and assistance of AG pull out a pen and paper to take notes, and once again I Leaders, principally Sergeants Major, Colonels and great found myself in need of schooling. So I did what any civilians in the management of men and women who have decent senior NCO would do, I went to the S1 shop of accrued, in most instances, two, three and now four year the Squadron Headquarters. With me I took a list of all long (or longer) combat deployments. those things I previously mentioned and over the course I marvel at the tenacity of our AG Soldiers and of my three and a half years as a First Sergeant two Civilians‘, they are as tenacious in the prosecution of great Staff Sergeants and one phenomenal Sergeant their responsibilities and as compassionate and First Class (all three AG Soldiers), and no less than four concerned as any Infantryman, Cavalryman or Field young Lieutenants, yup Lieutenants, took me to school. Artilleryman I‘ve ever known. They are, in every sense of The only thing I did to set the conditions for my the word, ―Warriors‖ and pursue their duties to the letter edification was this – I acknowledged my lack of of our ethos. What sets my AG Officers and Soldiers knowledge in every given area and asked them to take apart from many is this; in every instance every one of me to school. The success of these AG leaders is these leaders were, and remain, content to work behind manifested in the minds, deeds and words of my the scenes, with few culminating moments to revel in, cavalrymen; as I had thought that all my previous First managing and caring for the most precious resource we Sergeants had done it all, they thought….I had as well. have in our arsenal; the American Soldier. I‘ve been a Command Sergeant Major for 13 years, After four combat deployments I have a new found I‘ve occupied the senior enlisted position of two appreciation for a few other things, roles and Battalions, one Squadron, one Brigade Combat Team, a responsibilities and profound obligations that have been Division and ultimately a Corps. In each instance I can heaped upon our AG brothers and sisters. First there is recall the Personnel Services Sergeant or AG Sergeant that thing I have always referred to as my Calgon bath oil Major, Chief Warrant Officer, Captain, Major, bead. If you have one year in the Army or 33 there is yet Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel that counseled, mentored, another thing we have in common, other than this 1775 Summer 2009 59 uniform; we‘ve stood a parade or ceremony on the field. mentioned would sign a letter home to the family who After all my years I cannot count, nor reflect accurately suffered the loss and typically, if not routinely it was an on any particular facet of a ceremony save one; the band. AG officer who wrote the letter on the commander‘s I can recall the snot running out my nose or the sweat behalf. I thank the good Lord I was not, nor am not running down the small of my back or into my eyes. I obligated to do, such an emotionally debilitating thing. cannot tell those of you who have not stood one how hard This again, is testimony to the character of our AG it is to take that first step in a pass in review after 20 to Corps. 45 minutes of remarks. What I can tell you is the band Then and now. The Soldiers and officers of the was my salvation, it took me away, it allowed me to take Adjutant General‘s Corps have been caring for the flight, if only for a moment, while they played. human element for 234 years. Then and now. As we It afforded me the opportunity to find new reserves I reflect back on the battlefield contributions of our AG could call upon to stand one moment longer. Fast Soldiers we find great field commanders of the past forward to my deployment with the First Cavalry standing alongside the selfless professionals of today. Division to Operation Iraqi Freedom II and I have vivid How many times have we seen or read word of the AG recollections of the band playing in a mess hall, distant Female trooper, the fifth in a five Soldier stack, set to operating base or a combat outpost. I can see, in my assault a residence in places like Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, or mind‘s eye, the countless evening concerts and jam Afghanistan; her presence having an immediate and sessions that were the escape of many a trooper so far calming effect on the female and adolescent residents of from home. Our bands and the music they played were the same. How many times have we been witness to and are our salvation. There are countless troopers I owe these young ladies going the extra mile, immerse my life and my sanity to. As a group one of them is ―the themselves in the nuances of a foreign language, all in band‖. an effort to be a more viable part of a team, in a No other branch of our Army can lay claim to having maneuver unit, at the tip of the spear. How many times the dubious honor and thankless task of having so much have we first or second hand, been witness to the to do with the emotional well being of our troops. tenacity of our AG troopers as they travel the roads and Whether in the training area of our home base, a trails of combatant theaters in order to process actions Training Center, some corner of America fighting fires, for troopers at a combat outpost or firebase? providing disaster relief or forward deployed in a I‘ve been witness to the AG trooper who is as good combatant theater our AG Officers and Soldiers possess with an M-2 heavy barrel machine gun as he or she is the capacity to make men and women smile or bring a with MS Word. I‘ve been firsthand witness to AG tear to their eye with a word or the passing of their hand Soldiers who can rattle off troop leading procedures and when they process and forward…the mail. Regardless of operations order formats as well, if not better, than any how far we have come technologically for many of us our Combat Arms Soldier I‘ve ever met. How often have you day, when far from home, revolves around getting the seen our AG troops chomp at the bit to ―go outside the mail. As a younger First Sergeant I used to wonder what wire‖ in order to gain insight into that which our troops the big deal was; give me and my troopers our bag of of the line are confronted with. What pains me in this mail. As a Corps Command Sergeant Major in a deployed last regard is that too many in the Corps have fallen theater the magnitude of the task became clear as I was victim to the perverted notions of too many on the line witness to C-5 galaxies, C-17s, C-130s and entire convoys land at Baghdad International Airport or pull into Victory Base Camp. I would stand back and marvel at what our AG troopers were confronted with, tons and tons of mail, each and every day. I‘d watch and occasionally assist in the separation of the mail all the while thinking two things; I‘d rather be on a combat patrol than do this day after day and I wonder if I got any. To those of you who have served in a mail room, post office or Joint Military Mail Terminal, I can tell you this, you nourished us every day. And while I wish I did not have to repeatedly reflect on it there is the reality of combat that all of us who have served is confronted with, the loss of our Soldiers in action. As a BCT CSM I carry with me the burden of 26 troopers killed in action, some my dear friends, I think of the 163 we lost in the First Cavalry Division and ultimately the 893 we lost while serving as the headquarters of the Multi-National Corps in Iraq. In each instance the commander of the formation I 60 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com and think they must look the devil in the eye, go outside CSM Neil Ciotola Biography the wire, to justify or lend credibility to their presence. What a perverted notion. Command Sergeant Major Then and now you find the AG trooper sustaining III Corps & Fort Hood the Army‘s fighting strength while standing side by side CSM Neil L. Ciotola is a native of New Jersey. He with their brothers and sisters of the line. Then as now we are witness to an institution that has, will and must, enlisted in the Army on 3 Aug 76 and attended One continue to not only sustain the fighting strength of all Station Unit Training as an Armor Crewman at our formations, but the spirit of every man and woman Fort Knox, KY. The CSM‘s overseas assignments that comprises our ranks. Then and now, I leave you with a final thought, include 3 tours in Germany, and 2 in the Persian where will you find the manifestation of our AG Gulf . His stateside assignments include tours at Soldier‘s efforts? In our homes, in a box of keepsakes tucked in some corner of a closet, in a book reflecting the Ft Hood, Ft Stewart, Ft McPherson, Ft Knox, and career of an old Soldier in the form of assignment and Ft Lewis. He has served in a variety of duty promotion orders, evaluations, certificates of positions to include tank driver, loader, gunner, appreciation, letters of congratulations, on the wall in the family room, in the form of a shadow box with one‘s tank commander, tank platoon sergeant, cavalry awards proudly displayed for future generations to troop First Sergeant, battalion and theater Army reflect on. In the hands of a five year old child, as he or headquarters master gunner, operations SGM, INF she holds a purple heart, a Bronze Star, a Silver Star, the DSC or Medal of Honor; while a spouse or parent BN CSM, CAV Squadron CSM, CSM 1st Battalion clutches the flag and tells the exploits of a fallen trooper, 33rd Armor, CSM 2nd BCT, 1st Cavalry Division a father, mother, husband or wife. Then and now…in the hearts of those who have served and those that stood (CD); and CSM 1st CD. He is currently assigned as alongside them. the CSM of III Corps and Fort Hood. God bless you all…goodnight.

1775 Summer 2009 61 Winners of the 2009 Adjutant General's Corps Regimental Officer, Warrant Officer, NCO, Soldier, and Civilian of the Year By CW5 (Ret) Dave Ratliff, AGCRA VP Awards The Chief of the Adjutant General's Corps, COL The Officer and Warrant Officer finishing first will Robert L. Manning, is pleased to announce the winners receive the LTG Maude Medal for Distinguished of this year's Regimental Officer, Warrant Officer, NCO, Achievement and a one year membership to the Adjutant Soldier, and Civilian of the Year. A record number of General's Corps Regimental Association. The NCO and nominations were received this year from across our Soldier finishing first will receive the SGM Strickland Army. The voting was extremely close and some of the Medal for Distinguished Achievement and a one year finest in our Corps were chosen. membership to the Adjutant General's Corps Regimental Association. The Civilian of the Year will receive the The winners are: John J. Dinnien Civilian Award for Excellence in Military Officer of the Year Personnel Management and a one year membership to the Adjutant General's Corps Regimental Association. 1st - CPT Andre Watson, AG Officer Branch, HRC The second and third place finishers will receive one Tie for 2nd - CPT Kelly Hann, HQs, MND-B, Camp year memberships to the Adjutant General's Corps Liberty, Iraq, and CPT Randy P. Lefebvre, 25th Combat Regimental Association and a Chief of the Corps Aviation Bde, 25th ID, Schofield Barracks, HI Certificate and Coin. Winners already a member of the Warrant Officer of the Year Association, will have memberships extended for twelve months. 1st - CW2 Qasim Sattar, Warrant Officer Career The 1st place winners were recognized at the National College, Ft Rucker, AL Adjutant General's Corps Ball on 5 June 2009 at the Fort 2nd - CW3 Aner Henriquez, Jr., 7th SF Group Jackson NCO Club. (Airborne) Ft Bragg, NC 3rd - CW2(P) Anthony Cavalieri, IV, Joint Special Operations Command, Ft Bragg, NC

NCO of the Year

1st - SSG Serena D. Pickett, J1 Manpower/Force Development NCO, PACOM, Camp H.M. Smith, HI 2nd - SFC Larry Brown, NCO Academy, Ft Jackson, SC 3rd - SSG Amber Lesinski, 801st BSB, 4th BCT, 101st Airborne Division, FOB Sharana, Iraq

Soldier of the Year

1st - SPC Melissa L. Pugh, HQs, Joint Readiness Training Center, Ft Polk, LA 2nd Place - SPC Bryan Hinton, HQs, 1st BCT, 504th Parachute INF RGMT, 82nd Airborne Div, Ft Bragg CPT Andre Watson CW2 Qasim Sattar 3rd Place - SPC Jessica Jackson, 8th Special Troops Bn, AG Officer of the Year WO of the Year Ft Shafter, HI

Civilian of the Year

Mr. Charles E. Green, Sr., Director of Human Resources, United States Army Garrison, Ft Hood, TX

Mr. Charles Green Civilian of the Year

SSG Serena Pickett SPC Melissa Pugh NCO of the Year Soldier of the Year 62 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com The Potomac Chapter of Virginia Celebrates the Adjutant General‟s Corps 234th Birthday by Embracing Change By: MAJ Jeanette Martin, Executive VP Programs & Outreach, AGCRA Potomac Chapter

The Potomac Chapter of Virginia celebrated the Adjutant General‘s Corps 234th birthday on May 2, 2009, at the Waterford in Springfield, Virginia. Lieutenant General Robert Durbin, Special Assistant to the Army Chief of Staff for Enterprise Management, spoke on the theme ―Change is Here‖ for an audience of more than 225 Soldiers, civilians, retirees, and contractors. It was a terrific evening that reminded us of the importance of the human factor behind technological changes and the importance of the HR community as we move forward. In addition to celebrating the Adjutant General‘s Corps birthday, several Soldiers and Civilians were recognized for their performance and contributions to the Corps. The Horatio Gates Gold Medal, second award, was awarded to Lieutenant General Michael Rochelle, the Army G1, for a lifetime of selfless service and caring leadership to the Army, and AG Corps Soldiers and their Families. A week prior to the ball, the Potomac Chapter sponsored the 8th Annual Maude Foundation Golf Tournament at Andrews Air Force Base. The Chapter, with generous contributions from corporate sponsors and other donations, raised $26,000 for the Maude Foundation, in honor of the former Army G1, Lieutenant General Timothy Maude. The evening proved to be one of the classiest and most successful events for the Potomac Chapter and the Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Association. All attendees closed this memorable night with songs of harmony from the Army Chorus. The chorus director drew smiles from everyone with his arrangement of popular Army cadence calls, a rendition like none other you‘ve heard while in formation. The Army Human Resources Command Color Guard retired the colors and the top brass led the way on the dance floor. The 2009-2010 Potomac Chapter Regimental officers look forward to the challenge of raising the bar higher as we prepare for the 9th Annual Maude Foundation Golf Tournament and the Adjutant General‘s Corps 235th Birthday.

(Left to Right) BG Ruben Jones, 63d The Adjutant General; MG Gina Farrisee, 61st The Adjutant General; LTG Michael Rochelle, Army G1; and BG (R) Earl Simms, 59th The Adjutant General

1775 Summer 2009 63 Potomac Chapter Celebrates the AG Corps 234th Birthday

Horatio Gates Gold Medal Awardees. From L to R: MAJ Christine V. Enriquez, MAJ Tracy L. Wadle, and COL Steve Shappell

Horatio Gates Bronze Medal Awardees. From L to R: MAJ Jeanette A. Martin, MAJ Jacqueline A. Smith

COL Steve Shappell, Chapter President, presents Mrs. Terry Maude with a $26,000 check for the Maude Foundation

Achievement Medal Awardees. From L to R: Mrs. Susan Windisch, COL (R) Nick Monje, SFC Robin Harris, CW3 Julie Reyes, and MAJ Alan Shaw

64 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com AG Corps Birthday Celebration – Camp Taji, Iraq By: MAJ Terry D. Brannan, Brigade S1, 10th Sustainment Brigade Camp Taji, Iraq – On 13 June 2009, the 10th The 10th SB celebration focused on the history Sustainment Brigade (SB) Commander, COL of the AG Corps in wartime and peace, beginning Mark E. Drake and the AG Soldiers of the 10th SB with the founder of the AG Corps, General S-1 Section hosted the 234th Birthday Celebration Horatio Gates, and continuing now to our present of the Adjutant General‘s Corps. conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a In attendance were over 90 AG Soldiers from memorable time had by all and a great way to the 14th Human Resources Sustainment Center ground our junior AG Soldiers in the legacy, pride (HRSC), 10th SB S-1 Section and Human and history of the AG Corps. Resources Operations Branch (HROB), 10th SB Troops Battalion, 260th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), 419th CSSB, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1/1 Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 56th Stryker BCT, and the 271st Human Resources Company. COL Steven L. Shea, Director, 14th HRSC, attended as the guest of honor and guest speaker. He spoke of the way ahead for Soldiers of the AG Corps and that we must continue to adapt and change in order to best serve our customers. COL Shea presented the Horatio Gates Bronze Medal to CW2 Pedro Del Granado, 10th SB S-1 HR Tech, and to SFC Mark Thompson, 10th SB S-1 NCOIC. He also presented the Theodore Roosevelt Medal to SGT Rickie Johnson, 10th SB S-1 HR NCO. Horatio Gates Bronze Medal Recipients; L to R: CW2 Granado, COL Shea (presenting), SFC Thompson

SGM DeFreitas (Right), 14th HRSC SGM and the youngest Soldier, SPC Georges, PA ARNG, 56th SBCT, cut the cake

10th SB S1 Team with AG Corps birthday cake

SGT Johnson Roosevelt Medal Recipient

10th SB Head Table

1775 Summer 2009 65 Reactivation of the AGCRA Rio Grande Chapter at Fort Bliss By SFC Don Eggert, Strategic Planning NCOIC (S-3), Fort Bliss Mobilization and Deployment Brigade PSDR, BRAC, GTA… these acronyms might just He expects the re-development of the chapter to be alphabet soup to most people, and even to many speed up as more personnel become involved, Soldiers. But for those who are currently or will soon adding, ―I‘m looking forward to the next few be assigned to Fort Bliss, and for those serving weeks and months as we resurrect the Fort Bliss throughout the AG Corps, they are the spark that has chapter and give AG Officers and Soldiers the ignited a major transformation. In conjunction with opportunity to participate in a professional outlet numerous ongoing changes, a core group of NCOs and that will help them truly appreciate their branch Officers are working to incorporate the reactivation and profession.‖ and resurgence of AGCRA‘s Rio Grande Chapter as The transformation of Fort Bliss includes part of the whirlwind of activity happening at Fort designation as the new home of the 1st Armored Bliss. Division, relocation of the ADA School and Center AGCRA‘s February 2009 Newsletter, posted on the to Fort Sill, and establishment of the installation Association website, alerted SFC Don Eggert and LTC as one of four primary Joint mobilization sites Dave Kukkola of the Fort Bliss Mobilization and responsible for deploying units from all services Deployment Brigade to the pending deactivation of and components to theaters of operation. the Rio Grande Chapter. In short order, coordination Combined with other force structure with the AGCRA Executive Council put the two in modifications such as Grow the Army (GTA), the touch with COL Thomas Bailey and SGM Linda net impact at Fort Bliss is an expansion from Kessinger, the G1 and G1 SGM of the 32d Army Air 9,300 Soldiers in January 2005 to well over and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC), also at Fort 30,000 by FY 2012; current population has Bliss. Together, the group is developing a plan to already grown to over 20,000. In addition, over rebuild the chapter in cooperation with newly arriving 15,000 mobilizing and demobilizing Soldiers pass units and the installation‘s IMCOM HR staff. All through the installation each year. current Association members were invited to the first Responding to this rapid growth poses rebuilding meeting, which occurred at the significant challenges to every organization at installation‘s NCO Club on 21 Aug 09. Fort Bliss. LTC Kukkola agreed with SGM SGM Kessinger is looking forward to revising the Kessinger on the importance of commitment, Rio Grande Chapter. The SGM stated, ―Because the noting, ―commitment will be the key to our old chapter has been inactive for several years, senior success. The changing environment at Fort Bliss AG leaders need to stress the importance of why we and in the El Paso community gives us the want to do it again. We have a lot of AG Soldiers on opportunity to create one of the best chapters in Fort Bliss who don't even use S1NET. With AGCRA. The large numbers of AG professionals OPTEMPO so high, it takes a lot of commitment to arriving in the 1st Armored Division‘s brigades make a chapter work, but I believe that the and battalions will potentially provide the networking that comes with chapter meetings, foundation for a strong, robust organization. We activities, and newsletters can make a difference in need to plant the seeds, and with some help from AG performance across the installation.‖ our fellow AG Officers and NCOs, we‘ll ensure the Reactivation of the Rio Grande Chapter comes at chapter survives, grows and thrives.‖ a critical time in the history of Fort Bliss. As a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) review, the installation recently transitioned from TRADOC to FORSCOM. COL Bailey, the senior HR leader at Fort Bliss, observed, ―the transition of Fort Bliss from a TRADOC centric installation to FORSCOM means the timing of reestablishing the Rio Grande AGCRA Chapter could not be better.‖ COL Bailey (left), 32d AAMDC G1, meets with SFC Eggert (center) and LTC Kukkola to discuss reactivating AGCRA's Rio Grande Chapter 66 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com General Officer Announcement, Brigadier General Nomination On 28 August 2009, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced that the President has nominated COL Thomas C. Seamands, AG, currently serving as Chief, General Officer Management Office, Office of the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., for promotion to Brigadier General. The Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Association congratulates COL Seamands on his nomination.

Spotlight Retirement – US PACOM J1, Retires After 31 Years of Service By LTC Alan Kellogg (USA) and Maj Matt McDaniel (USAF), PACOM PAO On 3 June 2009, COL Joseph E. Pedone III, the United States Pacific Command‘s Director for Manpower, Personnel and Administration (J1), formally retired following 31 years of active duty service in the United States Army. In a ceremony officiated by Admiral Timothy J. Keating, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, COL Pedone received his retirement orders, decorations, flag, and final salute amidst a host of family and friends. The event, held at the Nimitz-MacArthur Pacific Command Center, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, honored COL Pedone‘s dedicated service to the nation and his excellence as a human relations manager, commander, and joint warrior. In recognition of his service, the Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Association presented him with the Horatio Gates Gold Medal. A founding member of the AG Regimental Association in 1987, COL Pedone actively supported the organization and led local chapters as President both at Fort Campbell and Fort Lewis. His efforts paved the way for the growth of the Adjutant Generals Corps and its engagement throughout the Army. He is one of only Admiral Timothy J. Keating, Commander, U.S. 386 members to receive the Horatio Gates Gold Medal, the Pacific Command, presents COL Pedone his Associations highest honor. retirement award at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. In Remembrance… Dr. James L. Ard, PhD Apr 13, 1944 – Dec 13, 2008 Jim Ard – a Soldier, NCO, DA civilian, PhD, and instrumental in establishing the Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Association, passed away on December 13, 2008, at the age of 64. Jim enlisted in the Army in 1967 and retired in 1987. Jim was an Army Ranger and his actions in Vietnam resulted in his receiving a Silver Star, Bronze Star, 3 Purple Hearts and 4 Air Medals earned during combat. Jim also earned his PhD in Information Management Systems from Cal Southern University. After retiring from the Army, Jim went to work as an Army civilian employee. During the next 18 years until April 2005 when Jim retired again as Chief of Staff for the Adjutant General School, he served in a variety of positions at Fort Benjamin Harrison and Fort Jackson. The Army adopted the Regimental System and the Adjutant General‘s Corps Regiment was activated in June 1987 at Fort Harrison. This led to the creation of the Adjutant General‘s Corps Regimental Association (AGCRA) and Jim was actively involved supporting the Association for more than twenty years. The AGCRA lifetime membership was created early in the Association‘s history and Jim was the first person to become a lifetime member. He was awarded the Horatio Gates Gold on two occasions for his extraordinary contributions to the Association. Jim is survived by his loving wife, Joyce of 43 years; beloved son Jonathan Ard (wife Kimberly M.) of Lawrence, IN; grandsons Jaymes and Justin Ard; brothers Larry Ard (wife Diane) of Huntsville, AL, and Michael Ard (wife Cindy) of Kissimmee, FL. Jim was a member of Sion Presbyterian Church in Winnsboro, SC and had served as Elder, Deacon and Adult Sunday School teacher. He was an avid RVer, loved spending time with his family and friends and was most relaxed while fishing. He also loved riding his Can Am Spyder motorcycle. Jim will be greatly missed by the family and friends whose lives he touched so deeply. 1775 Summer 2009 67 SECTION V: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Yes, Horatio…It’s Time to Rename the AG Corps By: LTC (Ret) Lyle Adams, Instructor, CGSC

In the course of coordinating with a fellow faculty member recently, he blurted out, ―…HR, personnelists, Adjutant General…or whatever you AG types are calling yourself these days!‖ That got me thinking, is the Adjutant General‘s (AG) Corps due for a name change – or at least an upgrade? I think so, and this article will explain my reasoning. Specifically, I believe the AG Corps should be officially renamed the Human Resources (HR) Corps. First, the Army has already renamed the majority of its personnel agencies and career fields to align with the words ―human resources‖. For example, the Personnel Command (PERSCOM) was reflagged as the US Army Human Resources Command (HRC); Field Manual (FM) 12-9, Personnel Doctrine, was renamed FM 1-0, Human Resources Support; the future corporate database is named the Defense Integrated Military Human Resources System (DIMHRS); the new theater-level deployable agency was named the Human Resources Support Center (HRSC); Theater and Expeditionary Support Commands (TSCs/ECSs) and Sustainment Brigades contain Human Resource Operation Cells or Branches (HROCs or HROBs); the work horses of the organizational structure are called Human Resource (HR) Companies; and unit authorization documents contain titles such as Human Resources (HR) SGTs and SPCs for Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 42A and Human Resource (HR) Information Systems Management Specialist for MOS 42F. Second, the Army‘s premier doctrinal source for personnel support, FM 1-0, contains the words ―human resources‖ 93 times and refers to the acronym ―HR‖ 986 times compared to 12 and 10 appearances to the words ―adjutant general‖ and the acronym ―AG‖, respectively. ―HR‖ to ―AG‖ score: 1079 to 24! Interestingly enough, FM 1-0 codifies the most important ten missions as the Human Resource (HR) Core Competencies. In the private sector HR support includes personnel pay issues as well as personnel management issues. In modeling that holistic corporate approach to HR, the Army is currently transferring its personnel pay responsibilities under the Army‘s HR structure. Third, renaming the AG Corps to the HR Corps will help disassociate the dreaded connection that the AG Corps maintains as the ―keeper‖ of those dreaded ―Adjutant‖ duties – which can be anything from managing the commander‘s calendar, to running the cup and flower fund, to orchestrating the family readiness group. Granted, these are important missions and somebody has to do them, but units no longer officially have ―adjutant‖ positions on their manning documents to serve as a repository for all those additional duties. Instead, today‘s unit manning documents call the old adjutant positions ―HR Officer‖ positions, so any effort to rename the corps as HR versus AG would serve the professional HR community 68 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Horatio Lloyd Gates, a British Soldier turned American general, offered his services to George Washington at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War to help organize the Continental Army. On June 17, 1775, at Washington’s request, Congress commissioned Gates as a Brigadier General and Adjutant General of the Continental Army. Gate’s commissioning was only second to George Washington’s commissioning as Commander of the Continental Army. BG Gates created the Army's system of records and orders, and helped with the standardization of regiments from the various colonies. Continually longing for field command, in August 1776 Gates assumed command of the Northern Department just in time for the Battle of Saratoga. Congress presented MG Gates a gold medal to commemorate his victories over the British in the Battles of Bennington, Fort Stanwix and Saratoga. appropriately. Fourth, modernizing the name of the corps to the HR Corps does not automatically imply that the corps is not proud of its founding roots or its place in history. Quite the contrary! AG commissioned officers, non- commissioned officers and enlisted Soldiers hold Horatio Gates in highest esteem, consider Gates our patron saint, and regardless of the name of the corps will continue to do so. So, arguing that the corps‘ name must remain rigidly aligned with Horatio Gates as the first ―Adjutant General‖ in order to preserve appropriate linage would be a fallacy. Many of the Army‘s corps and regiments have historic affiliations with legendary and historical personalities without actually taking on their founding father‘s duty title (in this case the job title of ―AG‖). For instance, the Order of Saint Barbara is an honorary military society of the Field Artillery Corps. Similarly, the newly renamed Human Resources Corps Regimental Association (HRCRA) would continue to award Gold and Bronze Horatio Gates Medals for significant achievements, service and leaderships. The U.S. Army is irrefutably the largest corporate organization in the world, yet its personnel management lexicon is stuck in time. The naming convention of ―Adjutant General‖ has served the corps and the Army admirably and the full wealth of AG historical linage endures. But for several reasons highlighted here, it is time for the AG Corps to raise the centerpiece of personnel transformation, cut the ribbon on the grand opening of the HR era and give the corps the title that fully aligns with what the Army‘s HR community does every day in support of Soldiers, civilians, retirees and their families. Yes, Horatio, the time has come.

Lyle Adams, a career Adjutant General officer, is a retired Lieutenant Colonel currently serving as an Instructor in the Department of Logistics and Resource Operations at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Letters to the Editor of 1775 solely express the opinions of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the officers of the Adjutant General‟s Corps Regimental Association, nor policy or guidance of the Army‟s HR leadership. Letters to the Editor of 1775 can be e-mailed to [email protected].

1775 Summer 2009 69 SECTION VI: AGCRA AGCRA AWARDS PROGRAM CW5 (Ret) David A. Ratliff, AGCRA VP for Awards

It has been several years since the Adjutant Achievement ―and‖ Service Over an Extended Period General‘s Corps Regimental Association (AGCRA) of Time. awards program was featured in ―1775‖. Since Horatio Gates Bronze - For Significant then we have added new awards, adjusted some Achievement ―or‖ Service Over an Extended Period awards criteria and continued to recognize of Time. individual contributions to the Army and our AGCRA Achievement Medal - For Achievement Association, as well as outstanding academic and/or Service (considered the Chapter President‘s performance, physical fitness, and leadership in award). AG initial entry or advanced courses. Honorary Medal - Senior Officers (LTC and above), The US Mint halted production of some of the Senior Warrant Officers (CW4 and above), Senior Association‘s original medals and these have been Noncommissioned Officers (MSG and above), and redesigned. The Distinguished Honor Graduate Senior Civilians (GS 13 or above / equivalent) who from all basic and advanced courses receives the normally would ―not‖ be members of the Adjutant Benjamin Harrison Medal (The Winfield Scott General's Corps, nor affiliated with the Adjutant Medal went out of production). General's Corps, nor participate as members of the Our newest awards honor two of our Adjutant General's Corps Regimental Association, distinguished former leaders – MG William H. but are recognized for their extraordinary Gourley medal for leadership and COL Frank C. achievements and service which promote the Foster, Jr., award for writing excellence. These objectives and purposes of the Adjutant General's awards are currently presented at graduation for Corps the AG Captains Career Course. The first Gourley Benjamin Harrison Medal - For obtaining the medal was presented in September 2008 and the highest overall class standing in Leadership, first Foster award was presented in June 2009 Academics, and Physical Fitness for all AG School with COL (Ret) Foster presenting the medal. and NCOA HR Courses, except AIT. The AGCRA Executive Council views the AGCRA Medal of Excellence - For obtaining the AGCRA Achievement Medal as an ―impact award‖ highest overall class standing in Academics, Physical and the Gates Medals as ―service awards‖. We Fitness, and Leadership during AG AIT. receive many AGCRA award nominations for Theodore Roosevelt Medal - For Excellence in individuals who are not members of AGCRA. The Physical Fitness. Gates Gold and Bronze, the Achievement Medal, LTG Timothy J. Maude Medal for and the Theodore Roosevelt Medal are awarded Distinguished Achievement - AG Corps only to AGCRA members. Regimental Officer and WO of the Year. The Adjutant General‘s Corps ―Regimental Of SGM Larry L. Strickland Medal for the Year‖ program continues to grow. We received Distinguished Achievement - AG Corps a record number of nominations this past year from Regimental NCO and Soldier of the Year. across the Army. The Association provides the Mr. John J. Dinnien Medal For Achievement medals, but this is an Adjutant General‘s Corps and Service - AG Corps Regimental Civilian of the Regimental and US Army program. Nominees do Year. not have to be members of AGCRA. Each year the MG William H. Gourley Leadership Award and criteria and packet submission date is announced COL Frank C. Foster, Jr. Award for Writing through official Army channels. Selection boards Excellence - AG Captains Career Course awards.

are convened and the winners are recognized Detailed information on AGCRA awards can be during the National AG Ball at Fort Jackson in found at the Association‘s website at the following June. internet address: http://www.agcra.com/awards.php Information about each award follows and some Or you can write or e-mail the AGCRA VP for are highlighted on the following pages: awards at the following: AGCRA, PO Box 10026, Horatio Gates Gold - For Extraordinary Fort Jackson, SC 29207, e-mail: [email protected]. 70 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com Showcasing Selective AGCRA Awards

HORATIO GATES GOLD or BRONZE HORATIO GATES HONORARY MEDAL

History: MG Horatio Gates was the first Adjutant History: Same as the Gates Gold and Bronze. General of the Army. During the Revolutionary Purpose: To recognize the achievements and War a gold medal was presented to MG Gates by distinguished service of individuals who promote Congress to commemorate his victories over the the objectives of the AG Corps as set forth in the British in the Battles of Bennington, Fort Stanwix Constitution and Bylaws of the Association. and Saratoga. These three key battles prevented Persons Eligible: Sr Officers, Sr NCOs, and Sr the British from occupying the strategic Hudson Civilians who normally would not be members of Valley and isolating New England from the other the AG Corps, or affiliated with the AG Corps, when colonies. A replica of the original Gold Medal the recommendation is submitted. Also, eligible are honors Gates' service and leadership. persons in Human Resources positions who have Purpose: To recognize the achievements ―and‖ (for provided significant support to the AG Corps. Gold) ―or‖ (for Bronze) service of individuals who Individuals may only receive this award one time. promote the objectives of the AGCRA and/or the AG Cost: $40.00, borne by the recommending Corps, as set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws authority. of the Association. Persons Eligible: Any person who is a member in good standing of AGCRA and who is a member of the AG Corps, or other HR professional, or affiliated with the AG Corps, when the award recommendation is submitted. Personnel may not receive this award more than twice. Cost: $30.00 / $25.00, borne by the recommending authority.

AGCRA ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

History: At the request of many Chapter Presidents, the AGCRA created an award to recognize contributions to the Association and the AG Corps. Purpose: To recognize the achievements of individuals who promote the objectives and purposes of the AGCRA and the AG Corps, or Human Resources professional, as set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association. The AGCRA Achievement Medal is awarded for achievement of a lesser degree than required for award of the Horatio Gates Medal. Persons Eligible: Any person who is a member in good standing of the Association, and who is a member of the AG Corps, or affiliated with the AG Corps, or other Human Resources professional, when the recommendation is submitted. Personnel may not receive this award more than twice. Cost: $20.00, borne by the recommending authority. 1775 Summer 2009 71 AGCRA AWARD Winners January – July 2009

GATES GOLD SFC Paul C. Hessert HARRISON MEDAL SGM Michael L. Croom 2LT Edwin B. Melendez LTG Michael D. Rochelle (2nd) SFC Darlean Oneal COL Jill Chambers (2nd) 2LT Andrea Kaman GATES BRONZE (Cont) MAJ Tracy L. Wadle 2LT Kenita Murray COL Wendy Bechtel SGM Tony Dela Vega MAJ Christine V. Enriquez SSG Jeremy P. Mehring MAJ John R. Cuva SGM Christopher Lyons COL Steve Shappell SFC Jonathan Dehart SFC Stacie Weber SGM Larson Parker COL Joseph E. Pedone CW2 Ryan Martin CW5 Scott B. Hagar SGM Raymond Rodriguez COL Aaron M. Zook, Jr. CPT Nicole L. Gross LTC John Kilgallon SGM Roger M. Buss MSG David T. Dickey CW2 Natalie Kelly SGM Dawn Lisbon SGM Todd A. Hair COL Patricia Mulcahy SSG Alejandro Fuentesnun CPT Christy A. Dial 1SG Kendall Berglin CW5 Charles E. Clayton SFC Carl E. Reynolds SFC Mark A. Thompson MSG David Houghton CW5 Ronald G. Galloway WO1 Jeremy J. Christopher CW4 Melanie A. Ladra CSM(Ret) Clayton Clark LTC Robert L. White, Jr 2LT Donald Woods COL William E. Lukens SGM Rodney Bottoms SSG Michael Kingsteele LTC Tina Picoli-Teolis CPT Amy Lin MAJ Mario Washington 2LT Kristin Shaw MAJ Terry D. Brannan CPT April Wharton MAJ Orlando R. Rojas 2LT Kenneth L. Mandakunis MSG Dexter Burnam SFC Michael C. Dobrosky LTC Michael L. Bineham GATES BRONZE SGT Charyce Phillips SGM Willie E. Martin CW2 Carl S. Greenwell 2LT Shaela K. Bresnan SFC (Ret) Sammy L. Payne SFC Jeffrey R. Craig WO1 Dorane O. Crawford CW2 Pedro A. Del Granado CW3 Mark P. Trepanier SGT Nancy Chan SGM(Ret) Christopher Craven CSM Lewis J. Kellam 1LT Kimberly Hudgens LTC Steven G. Thomas SFC Chad L. Pinkston COL Mary J. Mason CW3 Letrice Stockard SFC Guillermo Fontanez 2LT Roseclaire Prosper SFC Joseph M. West, Jr WO1 Cristal M. Dawes Sales CW4 George Toves COL Michael A. Casey MAJ Jacqueline A. Smith ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL MAJ Jeanette A. Martin 1SG Shannon L. Tutor COL Lorie T. Javier Mrs. Kimberly K. Sauberan LTC Alan G. Kellogg LTC John S. Turner MAJ Kevin J. Agen COL Lorraine Tyacke ROOSEVELT MEDAL CPT Randy P. Lefebrve CPT Jermaine A. Athill CPT Michael A. Cuccaro WO1 Robert M. Wolfe SSG Shekira Smith 2LT Florence S. Amosa MSG Andrew D. Griffith SGT Collin Burrington SFC Darlean Oneal MSG Nelson J. McKenzie SSG Michael J. Asuncion 2LT Jessica Lee SFC Marion K. Mitchell CW2 Kenneth I. Singleton 2LT Jennifer Lewis MSG Jimmy McDowell CPT Rejera M. Arnold 2LT Stefanie Shefcheck CPT Lindsey Condry 1LT Dina P. Boley 2LT James Thompson 1SG Daryl L. Harris SSG Henry J. Moran SPC Rickie D. Johnson CW4 James S. Niederritter Ms. Sherrell Pippin 2LT David Hartig SGM Mildred Ruiz-Rodriguez CPT Sarah K. Gorham 2LT Reginald Standifer Ms. Rosemary J. Loftis MAJ Gretchen Gardner SSG Siclali Sanchez LTC William P. Graham Cadet Margaret W. Kim SSG Mario Rivera CSM Tonya Griffin SFC Neyda Pena CW2 Beofra K. Butler MAJ Allen M. Sliter SSG Teresa A. Figueroa CPT Nicole L. Gross CW2 Qasim A. Sattar CPT Paul A. Noce CPT Adrienne M. Prem 72 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com AGCRA AWARD Winners (Continued)

ROOSEVELT MEDAL (Cont) CPT Glen R. Urik LTC Alan Kellogg NCO / SOLDIER OF THE YEAR SFC Jennifer Sherman SGM Larry L. Strickland SSG Wilmer Aguilar Medal WO1 Tonia D. Gerhard SSG Serena D. Pickett 2LT Gwynn Miller SPC Melissa L. Pugh 2LT Stephen Omoletski 2LT Dan Washington OFFICER / WARRANT SGT Williams Anaab OFFICER OF THE YEAR SGT Reginald L. Smith LTG Timothy J. Maude 2LT Lakesha L. Anderson Medal 2LT Shawntay S. Barnes CPT Andre D. Watson 2LT Kevin M. Braunskill CW2 Qasim A. Sattar 2LT Brett Hernanadez CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR CPT Gladys Aglibot John J. Dinnien Medal CPT John Dickens Mr. Charles E. Green, Sr. CPT Chanel Harris CPT Michael Horkay CPT April Wharton SFC Jose L. Garcia SFC Ademar Cubero

2LT Shaela K. Bresnan 2LT Claire Cvetkovski 2LT Maurice L. Sloan MG WILLIAM H. GOURLEY WO1 Stephen E. Bagosbah LEADERSHIP AWARD WO1 Dorane O. Crawford CPT John G. Misenheimer, Jr. AIT MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE WO1 Krystal S. Fisher CPT Richard Frank PFC Ryan Mott SGT Melissa A. Mark WO1 Timothy M. Friederichs MAJ James Rye PV2 Marie Coar PV2 James Sands WO1 Jose F. Garcia CPT Anthony Wilson SPC Michael Peck SPC Lucas Geyer 2LT April Habib SFC Cameron Davis SGT Katherine E. O‘Dell PFC Tabitha Thorn SGT Courtney Bittick CW2 Wandy X. Garcia-Amadis PVT Katie Mendicino CW3 Letrice Stockard SPC Rebekah Courson SSG Ericka E. Melendez SPC Elizabeth L. Boyer SFC Alonzo G. Soto SPC William A. Sloan SFC Trinket L. Martinez SPC Colin B. Lippy 2LT Roseclaire Prosper SPC David M. Oexmann 2LT Gregory Scott SPC Christopher Whitfield SPC Suzanne B. Kusick 2LT Tara Sweeney HORATIO GATES 2LT Stephanie A. Williams SPC Christopher M. Dyke HONORARY SPC Kelly R. Love COL (Ret) Jeffrey L. Spara COL FRANK C. FOSTER, JR. SPC Andrea L. Sematoske Mr. Robert A. Byers AWARD FOR WRITING SPC Tiffany S. Rahm COL Troy A. Clay EXCELLENCE SGT Michael J. Becker COL Allison Reinwald PFC Austin Garland CPT Molly Davidson CSM Neil L. Ciotola PVT Mitchell Woodrum 1775 Summer 2009 73 74 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com AGCRA Membership Update and Campaign Plan By SFC (Ret) Kenneth M. Fidler, Jr., AGCRA VP Membership

Since the last issue of 1775, the AGCRA Executive e. Select "register and continue". (FOR FIRST TIME Council adopted an aggressive Campaign Plan and USERS OF THE AGCRA WEBSITE, this is not for AKO Membership Drive in an effort to reinvigorate and credentials.) reintroduce AGCRA to the Army‘s Human Resources f. Click on "submit and continue". (HR) Community. The centerpiece of the Campaign g. Click on "continue" to review order. Plan is the increased membership of senior HR leaders, h. Click on "continue" to verify address and click and effective and efficient strategic communications "continue" again. with AG/HR leaders, Soldiers, civilians and retirees. i. Select Payment Method: The Association is encouraging senior AG/HR leaders to (1) Print Form and mail in payment; or, either update their address in the Association‘s database (2) Direct Payment (secure credit card transaction or encourage these leaders to join our ranks as part of with PayPal); or, the Army‘s professional HR Association. (3) PayPal Express (pre-existing PayPal customers I am proud to report since April 2009, we increased only); or, our membership by over 400 new members, and during j. Complete payment information. the month of July alone we welcomed 140 new and k. Select "Go Now". You will receive a message that renewing members! This is a tribute to the pride that your order has been approved. each of you has in our Corps, our Regiment, and our In order to avoid unnecessary delay and frustration, Association. it is critical that the information you enter during the on- We also welcomed a new chapter to our ranks. The line application process be correct. The slightest mistake Golden State Chapter, located with the California (e.g., misspelled word in address, incorrect number of Army National Guard, was activated effective 7 July digits in the zip code) may result in the credit card being 2009. Under the leadership of the Chapter President, rejected by PayPal. LTC Renee‘ T. MacDonald, the Golden State Chapter The AGCRA Webmaster added an automated welcomed 25 new members to the Association. To LTC mechanism that will remind members that their MacDonald and all of the members of the Golden State memberships are about to expire. This automated Chapter - welcome to the AGCRA! reminder sends out an email notification to those In addition to the Golden State Chapter, several members whose memberships will expire within 45 days, other chapters significantly increased the overall as well as to members whose membership has been membership of the AGCRA through hard work and expired for up to 90 days. We must have a good e-mail pride. The following Chapters are recognized for their address for you in our database for this new feature to be efforts and contributions during the last year in effective. Additionally for members who PCS, keeping contributing to the growth of our Association: your personal information and address updated in the AGCRA database is essential if you are to receive  Aloha Chapter (Hawaii) AGCRA publications in a timely manner.  Carolina Chapter (Fort Jackson, SC) We will continue to publish the AGCRA Newsletter in  Iron Mike Chapter (Fort Bragg, NC) an all out effort to keep the membership better connected  Lone Star Chapter (Fort Hood, TX) to the Association. It will continue to be mailed every  Potomac Chapter (Northern Virginia) other month and will contain information about current AGCRA Web site improvements include a ―What‘s issues and events taking place within AGCRA. If there is New‖ feature along the left-hand side of the home page something you would like to see published in either 1775 that chronologically lists the recent additions to the or the AGCRA Newsletter, please feel free to contact the website. For those of you looking for past issues of 1775, Editor at [email protected]. the last nine issues are now available in .pdf format in In an effort to make AGCRA more visible to all the ―Members Only‖ section. The most recent AG/HR professionals, AGCRA now has a presence on the Newsletter – June 2009, is also available for reading. S1Net and FaceBook. We will periodically post The website also allows you to purchase and/or renew announcements to these websites. We also have the your AGCRA membership through the Sutler Store link, ability to add photos and conduct discussion board topics by following these simple steps: on FaceBook. a. Go to www.agcra.com. For further assistance or information on membership, b. Click on "Join AGCRA" link. issues please contact your chapter representative or c. Select membership level (based on rank/status) or email me directly at [email protected]. Sutler Store item. Defend and Serve! d. Click "add to basket―, "view basket" and "continue". 1775 Summer 2009 75 New Items for Sale in the Sutler Store For more information or to purchase items, go to http://agcra.com/store/

The selection of specialty AG Corps logo apparel available in the Sutler Store continues to grow. Featured is the women‘s AG Corps ¾ sleeve Solid Dress Shirt available in Light Blue or White, and the men‘s AG Corps long sleeve Solid Dress Shirt available in Light Blue or Khaki.

Additionally, new cool dry polyester Polo shirts w/AG Corps Logo are available in both women‘s and men‘s styles in an assortment of colors. Crewneck and hooded sweatshirts w/AG Corps Logo are also available in Navy.

For Golfers who want to show their AG Corps pride on the course, check out ―The Golf Store‖ tab on the homepage. AG Corps Golf items include: Golf Towels w/Grommet and Logo available in Red or Navy; a light weight Golf Wind Shirt w/Logo and zippered peel off sleeves in two arm locations available in Navy; and AGCRA Golf Tees (3 ¼‖) available in Natural or White.

All prices include shipping and handling. AG Corps Golf Windshirt (Navy) – $50.00 AG Corps Ceramic Mug (Cobalt) – $7.00 AG Corps Stainless Rollerball Pen – $10.00 Legend Pen (Defend and Serve) (Electric Blue) – $8.00 Executive Zippered Padfolio (Blue/Black) – $25.00 AG Corps Men’s Polo - Cool Dry Polyester (Navy, White, or Red) – $25.00 AG Corps Women’s Polo - Cool Dry Polyester (Navy or Red) – $25.00 AG Corps Men’s Long sleeve Solid Dress Shirt (Light Blue or Khaki) – $35.00 AG Corps Laser engraved Wooden Humidor – $45.00 AG Corps Women’s 3/4 sleeve Solid Dress Shirt (Light Blue or White) – $30.00 AG Corps Golf Tees, 3 ¼”, 25 count (Natural or White) – $7.00 AG Corps Sweatshirt – Crewneck or Hooded (Navy) – $25.00

76 The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, www.agcra.com

The Adjutant General’s Corps Non Profit Org. Regimental Association U.S. Postage PO Box 10026 PAID Fort Jackson, SC 29207 Columbia, SC Permit # 00586

Check out the new items for sale in the Sutler Store