Story by: Sgt. Stephanie L. Carl
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan ---- With questions about pay, mobilizations, promotions and retention, National Guard and Reserve Soldiers gathered Dec. 21 at the Clamshell on Bagram Air Base seeking answers.
"We will always do what we need to do to help the Soldiers," said Master Sgt. Gregory Jacobs, ARA retention noncommissioned officer, to the Soldiers participating in the first Army Reserve Affairs town hall meeting.
The meeting afforded the ARA staff an opportunity to present current information about pertinent topics to the Soldiers, and it gave the Soldiers an opportunity to ask important questions.
"I've learned a lot of important information about reenlistment bonuses," said Sgt. Melanie Vaillencourt, 450th Military Police Company personnel noncommissioned officer. "I'm going to be able to give my Soldiers a lot of valuable information that will help them make some decisions."
During the meeting, members of the ARA presented the National Guard's new reenlistment bonus incentive program, which became effective Dec. 18. The new program allows some National Guard Soldiers who reenlist during their deployment to receive a lump-sum, tax-free bonus of up to $15,000. But this new policy is only expected to be in effect for a short-period of time due to budgeting constraints. "I will do everything I can to get that Soldier a bonus," said Jacobs, advising leaders to refer their Soldiers to the ARA office with questions about reenlistment. He also noted that not every Soldier will be eligible for a reenlistment bonus.
ARA staff also noted that there has been no change to the reenlistment programs for the U.S. Army Reserve.Another topic that received a lot of attention during the meeting was the Contingency Operations Temporary Tour of Active Duty extension program. This program allows National Guard and Reserve Soldiers to voluntarily extend mobilization. Policy requires units to demobilize Soldiers after no more than 24 months of active-duty service. But COTTAD gives individual Soldiers the opportunity to extend their time on active-duty status beyond 24-months for issues like redeploying with the rest of their unit, rather than by themselves.
Promotions were also a focal point for the Soldiers at the meeting.
"How will mobilizations affect promotions?" asked one NCO.
Soldiers who are mobilized can get promoted either in the position they are filling on a deployment or to a position at their home station. Some noncommissioned officer professional development requirements for promotion are waived during mobilization, such as the basic noncommissioned officer course. However, there are time constraints for attending these schools and for finding positions upon redeployment, said Master Sgt. Scott A. Spencer, National Guard career counselor. "If you get promoted out here, you have one year to find a position with that rank back home or you may end up giving up a stripe," he said.
The information provided at the meeting gave many leaders and unit representatives the opportunity to inform their Soldiers what to expect, especially during their mobilizations.
"I came here today to get some answers to finance questions," said Spc. Daniel Brown, a Company A, 367th Engineer Battalion, unit representative. "I'm also going to have the chance now to knock away some of the rumors that have been flying around about different policies."
For the questions that didn't get answered during the meeting, the ARA staff encouraged Soldiers to visit them at their office located in Motel Six on Bagram Air Base. They also stressed that they will visit forward operating bases to answer questions as well. "A lot of times we don't always get all the information," said Sgt. 1st Class Cassandra Thompson, 317th Military History Detachment representative. "As leaders, we may think we've informed our Soldiers of everything, but it's good to reiterate as well. This meeting is helping not only with that, but with giving us new information."
While another town hall meeting has not been scheduled, the ARA staff plans to make it a quarterly occurrence.
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| Date Taken: | 01.19.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2005 11:36 |
| Story ID: | 878 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 143 |
| Downloads: | 113 |
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