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Col. Michael Greenberg, Fort Belvoir Garrison commander, left, and Dan Storck, Mount Vernon supervisor, participate in Tour de Mount Vernon, Saturday. See page B2.
October 24, 2019
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SecArmy highlights topBrigade priorities Belvoir Warrior Transition Soldier flourishes at DoD Warrior Games
By Sean Kimmons Army News Service
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ess than a week after being By Mary Therese Griffin sworn in as secretary, Ryan Army Warrior Care and Transition McCarthy, the previous undersecretary, touted recent gt. 1st Class Jay Martin, a efforts in the service’s top prioritrumpet player in the Army’s ties — readiness, modernization Old Guard Fife and Drum and reform — to open this year’s Corps, openly admits he was never Association of the U.S. Army really athletic. “I was not athletic Annual Meeting and Exposition., until my mid-forties and I started Oct. 14. racing BMX bicycles, believe it or Readiness, he said, has been renot,” said Martin. stored across the Army, with over Biking was his new hobby unhalf of its brigade combat teams til an accident Jan. 6, 2018, at an now at the highest levels of readiindoor bike park. Martin knew imness. But he urged the need to modmediately on impact that his legs ernize the force, such as developing were not going to be the same. After cloud-based architecture, as Russia immediate surgery he learned he and China inject billions into their would never walk again. militaries and other adversaries U.S Army photo by PFC Dominique Dixon As he transitioned through the grow their capabilities. Sgt. 1st Class Jay Martin participates in the cycling event June 23 in Warrior Transition Battalion at The Army Tampa, duringhas thealso 2019drastically Department of Defense Warrior Games, an Photo by Sgt. Dana Clarke cut its requirements timelines adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill and injured Service mem- Fort Belvoir, he decided not to give Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy speaks during opening up on biking andthe used it in his adapbers and Approximately from up toveterans. seven years to now just 300 athletes representing teams ceremony of the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting tive reconditioning. and from U.S. and Alliedhe military forces compete in a variety of athletic 18 months or less, said, which Exposition in Washington, Oct. 14. competitions. “Hand cycling is different, behas gotten newer equipment out quicker, like the Integrated Visual larly focused on shifting the current dium, seven Soldiers who repreAugmentation System currently be- balance of power,” he said. sented a microcosm of the Army ranks appeared on stage and introing tested by Soldiers. duced themselves to the audience. “Our adversaries are investing in PEOPLE In his full combat kit and a tomorrow today, unconstrained by Before McCarthy took the po1st Cavalry on his a continuing resolution and singubachelor’s degrees to senior NCOs working withDivision each of patch the military Credentialing, along with who attended the Sergeants Ma- centers of excellence to provide changes to promotion jor Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. technical skill training equitable to and boards, helps ensure the Dailey said the Army will provide academic skills. Soldiers with some college credit or “We thought we need to build on best are promoted and professional credentialing for each that more, because 60 percent of the level of NCO training. Army is combat arms, so what tanretained “The expectation is we give some- gible technical skills do they leave thing back for that service,” Dailey with?” he said. By Joe Lacdan said at an Association of the U.S. Army News Service Army breakfast in Washington, Skilled labor required Dailey cited that 80 percent of he Army could add to its D.C. “Not just be able to say that record retention numbers by you served and sacrificed, but (get- American jobs require skilled labor, providing more incentive for ting) tangible results. That’s what and that Soldiers can become proSoldiers to stay on duty, the ser- we owe to the American people–is a ductive members of the work force better product, to be more produc- after leaving the Army. vice’s top enlisted leader said. “There is a great opportunity The Army has been testing a pilot tive in their hometowns.” Dailey said the Army has been for many of our Soldiers to fulfill program for academic credentialing Photos by Rick Musselman at Fort Hood, Texas, and plans to working out the finer points of the the ranks of those skilled labor reThe Belvoir CFC “cheerleaders” Lt. Col. Andrew Soldiers and civilians show in their support of to ensureBelvoir higher quality quirements our hometowns of extend the program to severalwelcome ma- program trainingtofor members andandAmerica, and theythe have the tangible jor installations by the end of 2019, Wilbraham, Headquarters Battalion commander, theService charity donations teamwork during Fort Belvoir deciding how agencies get payskills,” Daileykickoff said. “We said Maj. of Combined the ArmyFederal DanielCampaign Fort Sgt. Belvoir 2019 kickoff 2019will Combined Federal Campaign pep just rally need and to ment. The program will also be make it official. Dailey. The Army plans to spread pep rally and charity fair, Oct. 16 at Specker Field House. charity fair. “We saw the opportunity to be the program to all installations in available to National Guard and Army Reserve members. able to capitalize on the great skills fiscal year 2020. Dailey said the Army has been more, our go Soldiers have transRecently, the Army provided 110 To read to page A6,now, CFC and Campaign
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sleeve, Capt. Travis Roland said he joined the Army after being inspired by the service of other Soldiers. “Like them, I had a strong desire cause your arms are not legs to defend our country andyour preserve –it’s all arms and upper body. the freedoms that we continueI’m to prettytoday,” much limited chest enjoy he said.from “I’mthe honored up. It’s hard, but once I got fitted in to serve in the infantry and be the the bike, I realized I have to get in heart of the fight wherever, whenthere and keep going, because pracever.” tice makes perfect,” said Martin. With 17 years of service, 1st He won a bronze medalSgt. for his Class Chelsea Porterfield said she classification in hand cycling for recently served theyear’s most DepartrewardTeam Army at in this ing assignment of her long career — ment of Defense Warrior Games as a drill sergeant Fortabout Leonard in Tampa. Martin at knew the Wood, games Missouri. before his accident but now “Nobody likes participate. a drill sergeant,” realized he could He exshe said, donning her campaign hat, plains why he believes the Warrior an intimidating sight for any new Games are important. “Just “But like sports important recruit. it’s my are responsibility formold kids with developing personality to Soldiers and give them the and growth, sportsthat at this tools and training theypoint needfor to injured handicapped individufight andorwin.” alsSgt. is the same kind of thing . said . . it Maj. Christal Rheams shapes development and helps she started off her Army careeryou as a logistics management specialist. Now a vocalist Games, for the U.S. Army See Warrior page A5 Band “Pershing’s Own,” she has been able to perform around the world and even competed this year on the TV show “America’s Got Talent.” As with many other Soldiers, she said the Army also allowed her to attain skills that would not have been possible as a civilian. “Each one of us represents the many jobs that are available in the Army,” she said. “Whether it’s a culinary artist, engineer, cyber analyst, journalist or even a member of the 1st Armored Division, each one of us are always, first and foremost, American Soldiers.” Photo by Dunn, AUSA Then, in front ofLuc the crowd, Sgt. Maj. of the Army administered Daniel Army senior leaders Dailey speaks about retention the Oath of Enlistment to a group and academic the of new recruits,credentialing signifying theatnext AUSA Institute of Land Warfare batch of Soldiers to serve the Army. breakfast iniArlington, Follow n g t h e June e n 26. listment ceremony, Gen. James late those to civilian-sector skills, McConville, chief of staff of the Army, which we had not done.” told media that people – Soldiers, Last year, with the help of Confamily members and Army civilians gress and the Army Continuing – make the other priorities happen. Education System, the Army cre“People are our No. 1 priority,” ated the credentialing assistance he said. “How we get to readiness,
Academic program could boost Soldier retention FIRED UP
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