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. 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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