Military Personnel Management
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Vol. 75, No. 12 March 24, 2017 Bonuses to re-enlist Army to Passing information eclipse 1M SoldiersBy David Vergun Army News Service WASHINGTON — The Army is hiring. “We’re looking for and want to retain high-quality young men and women who are resilient, fit, Soldiers of character,” said Maj. Gen. Jason T. Evans, director of Military Personnel Management. With the drawdown over, there are now “more opportunities for promotion and incentives as we grow the Army. We want Soldiers to take advantage of that,” he said. During the drawdown, if a Soldier was passed over for promotion, it usually meant separation, but now good Soldiers have a better chance of re-enlisting or extending, he said, adding there are bonuses for a number of critical military occupational specialties to sweeten the deal. On Dec. 23, the president signed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2017 that provided funding for higher levels of manning and set into motion the end of the drawdown, Evans said. Costs to retain this size force in fiscal 2018 and beyond range between $3.5 billion and $4.5 billion, which would require additional funding later on. Prior to Dec. 23, the Army was on a path to have 460,000 active-duty Soldiers by the end of this fiscal year, with a further reduction to 450,000 by the end of fiscal 2018. Also by the end of that fiscal year the Guard would have drawn down to 335,000 and the Reserve to 195,000, said Lt. Gen. James C. McConville, Army deputy chief of staff for personnel. That would have put the total force at 980,000. With the drawdown stopped, and even reversed, the Army will need to grow to about 1,018,000, including 476,000 active, 343,000 Guard and 199,000 Reserve by the end of this fiscal year, he said. Growing the active force from 460,000 to 476,000 will be accomplished by increasing the recruiting mission by 6,000 to 68,500 total, increasing the enlisted retention mission by 9,000 to 17,500 total and increasing officer retention mission by approximately 1,000, he said. Photo by Spc. Anthony Bryant Also, qualified prior-service Soldiers with needed Staff Sgt. Tyler Garrison, infantryman, Company A, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker skills will be welcomed back, he added. All of this Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, receives communication over the radio during training March increase in personnel across the board needs to happen 16 at the Fort Carson military operations in urban terrain village. The company situational training exercise by Oct. 1. held at the ombined ollective Training acility is designed to build confidence in Soldiers rior to them moving on to day and night iterations of the combined arms livefire exercise. See story on ages 11. See Bonuses on Page 4 Inside Page 5 Page 10 Page 3 2 MOUNTAINEER — March 24, 2017 Commentary MOUNTAINEER CYS receives hiring exemption Commanding General: aGenRanFGonsales Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation accepted, are beginning the on-boarding process. The vetting process for CYS staff is very thorough and Garrison Commander:olRonaldFitchr The federal hiring freeze implemented by President requires in-depth background checks to ensure that only Donald J. Trump on Jan. 23 signifi cantly impacted Child and the most suitable individuals are hired to work with our arrison ublic ffairs ffi cereectt Youth Services (CYS) at Fort Carson. Due to the critical children and youths. Although the hiring process can take Chief, Print and Web Communications: nature of child care operations in support of the Army mission, several weeks due to the background check process, Fort Ricert an exemption was granted Feb. 16 allowing CYS to hire staff. Carson Families can be certain that only the best qualifi ed CYS submitted a list of required positions and had individuals are hired. Editor: einFisher 142 positions exempted from the hiring freeze. To date, CYS has reopened registrations at some facilities and working closely with the Non-Appropriated Fund human as additional staff are hired and on-boarded, program Staff writers: AleandraFlodin resources offi ce, CYS has been able to bring on board 21 registrations will resume in other programs. Those programs Scottrater new staff members and has made 105 selections. Selected that had operations suspended will resume operations Sports writer: Waltohnson applicants have had job offers made and, as offers are once adequate staff are onboard and suitably trained. Layout/graphics: eanneaerall This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Depart- ment of Defense. Contents of the Mountaineer are not necessarily the offi cial view of, or endorsed Exchange restaurants open to all by, the U.S. Government or the Department of the Army. Printed circulation is 8,000 copies. Army and Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs options in both the food court and Express, the Exchange The editorial content of the Mountaineer is proves you don’t have to wait until you’re off-post to eat the respon sibility of the Public Affairs Offi ce, Fort While Army and Air Force Exchange Service a hearty, healthy meal.” Carson, Colo., Tel.: 526-4144. The e-mail address shopping privileges are only open to Soldiers, Airmen, Guidelines on who is authorized to use Exchange is [email protected]. retirees and their Families, anyone can dine in the Fort The Mountaineer is posted online at operations are prescribed by Army Regulation 215-8 http://www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com. Carson Exchange restaurants or pick up grab-and-go fare and Air Force Instruction 34-211 (I) and the Armed The Mountaineer is an unoffi cial from the fi ve Express locations on post. Services Exchange Regulations, Department of Defense publication authorized by AR 360-1. The Army Regulation 215-8 and Air Force Instruction Instruction 1330.21. Mountaineer is printed by Colorado Springs 34-211 (I) lets anyone — including visitors, contractors Anyone who he qualifi es for full Exchange benefi ts, Military Newspaper Group, a private fi rm in and Department of Defense civilians — dine at the no way connected with the Department of the including access to main stores, but does not have access Army, under exclusive written contract with Exchange’s more than 1,600 restaurants worldwide. The should contact the Colorado Springs Consolidated Fort Carson. It is published 49 times per year. regulation also authorizes anyone to buy grab-and-go Exchanges general manager’s offi ce at 576-6174. The appearance of advertising in this food and beverages from one of the Exchange’s 300-plus The Army and Air Force Exchange Service goes where publication, including inserts or supplements, Express locations, as long as the items are consumed on Soldiers, Airmen and their Families go to improve the does not constitute endorsement by the the installation. Department of the Army or Colorado Springs quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Military Newspaper Group, of the products or “Whether you work on the installation or are just Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military services advertised. The publisher reserves the visiting a military Family member, the Exchange has you morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange right to reject advertisements. covered with a variety of satisfying meal options,” said is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by Everything advertised in this publication Colorado Springs Consolidated Exchange General a board of directors, responsible to the secretaries of the shall be made available for purchase, use or Manager Wayne Hansen. “With numerous better-for-you patronage without regard to race, color, religion, Army and Air Force through the chiefs of staff. sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affi liation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confi rmed, the printer shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. For display advertising call 634-5905. All correspondence or queries regarding advertising and subscriptions should be directed to Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, 235 S. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, phone 634-5905. The Mountaineer’s editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Offi ce, building 1218, room 320, Fort Carson, CO 80913-5119, phone 526-4144. Releases from outside sources are so indicated. The deadline for submissions to the Mountaineer is close of business Friday the week before the next issue is published. The Mountaineer At a glance staff reserves the right to edit submissions for newspaper style, clarity and typographical errors. Policies and statements refl ected in the Military Chapel Briefs and schedule news and editorial columns represent views 3ABCT meshes training strategy Religious information pertaining to Fort Carson — Page 19 of the individual writers and under no NATO unit helps facilitate rapid deployment — Page 6 circumstances are to be considered those of Military Briefs At Ease the Department of the Army. Services available on Fort Carson — Page 8 Event Reproduction of editorial material is authorized. Please credit accordingly. Soldiers hang up uniforms Springs celebrates space history — Page 21 13 honored for their service — Page 9 Adventure Military to civilian Chill out at cemetery turned Cheesman Park — Page 21 Panel shares experience to smooth transition — Page 11 Beyond the gate Rear