Meghann Myers

The best and brightest from this week's Army Times

By Meghann Myers on October 15, 2012 Outside the wire

15-year retirement: QSP boards will choose which NCOs will go early The popular 15-year retirement plan used in earlier drawdowns is back, but will be limited to noncommissioned officers and officers who are selected for involuntary separation. The Temporary Early Retirement Authority allows select categories of soldiers with at least 15 but less than 20 years of active service to receive the same benefits as those who retire with 20 or more years of service, except that their retirement pay is reduced accordingly. Tougher, longer Warrior Leader Course coming in Jan. The return of land navigation, expanded counseling curriculum…

Local South Carolina police searching for Fort Jackson solider

By Meghann Myers on October 10, 2012 Outside the wire

Friends and family have set up a Facebook page to help find Sgt. Robert Larson, a Fort Jackson, S.C. soldier who has been missing since Saturday evening. Larson is recovering from a massive traumatic brain injury and is on medication for his symptoms. Local news station WACH ran a story for more information on the disappearance.

The Army as of Oct. 4

By Meghann Myers on October 9, 2012 Afghanistan, Army

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=209201801096958260450.0004cb28409ad0b49b228&gl=US&hl=en-US&ie=UTF8&ll=35.096864,-9.635162&spn=15.300316,157.816986&t=p&output=embed&w=425&h=350] If you have info on units not represented on the map, please send it to mmyers@armytimes.com.

The best and brightest from this week's Army Times

By Meghann Myers on October 9, 2012 Outside the wire

Voting is open for new PT uniforms Soldiers, sound off: Army leaders have developed an Improved Physical Fitness Uniform boasting more than 30 improvements. Now you get to choose the colors, and you’re asked to cast your vote. Voting is open Oct. 9-30. Online voting sites will open at 2 p.m. Oct. 9. Soldiers can vote with or without a Common Access Card: * To vote without a CAC, |go to https://surveys.natick.army.mil/|Surveys/ipfu.nsf * To vote with a CAC, https://ipfusurvey.natick.army.mil/ The case for common cammies The U.S. military developed at least seven new combat utility uniforms over the past…

Soldier in Afghanistan firefight viral video identified

By Meghann Myers on October 5, 2012 Afghanistan

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLHU-_OhT8g] This video, which went viral last week after its posting on YouTube, is the head cam work of Pfc. Ted Daniels of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colo., the Denver Post confirmed with the brigade’s PAO. The exchange took place in Afghanistan’s Kunar province on April 25. According to the video’s description, Daniels took four gunshots, but none penetrated his body armor and he was able to return to duty after treatment. The footage is part of an ongoing documentation effort of the war in Afghanistan. For more videos, check out…

West Point gets down, Gangnam style

By Meghann Myers on October 4, 2012 Outside the wire

It was only a matter of time. Two weeks after Annapolis released its version of YouTube’s viral video of the moment (359,713,166 views at press time) and the Air Force followed suit, the Army has answered the challenge with its own version, filmed at the U.S. Military Academy and starring Army cadets. Enjoy. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa4RLoG9234] P.S. – Marines, your move.

Deployment Map – The Army as of Sept. 27

By Meghann Myers on October 2, 2012 Afghanistan, Army, Outside the wire

Welcome to the first edition of the Army Times interactive deployment map. Click on a balloon at home to see which units are coming and going, or overseas to see who is deployed where. Just like in the paper, the map will be updated weekly. If you have info on units not represented on the map, please send it to mmyers@armytimes.com. [googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=209201801096958260450.0004ca9bfd3bc79e7a7e7&gl=US&hl=en-US&ie=UTF8&t=p&ll=45.287186,-40.2075&spn=31.934509,218.961661&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

PowerPoint Ranger, Oct. 8, 2012

By Meghann Myers on October 1, 2012 Outside the wire

The best and brightest from this week's Army Times

By Meghann Myers on October 1, 2012 Outside the wire

Crackdown: Army will purge soldiers who fail APFT, weight standards The Army is trimming the fat. Beginning Nov. 1, soldiers attending Professional Military Education must pass the Army Physical Fitness Test and meet height/weight standards. Those who fail will be given a second chance within seven to 24 days. A second failure comes with a list of consequences from ineligibility for promotion to a letter to the soldier’s first general. Army leadership for the past year has repeated the warning that unfit soldiers would be among the first to face the ax as the service begins to cut 80,000 soldiers…

Roosevelt hits PT for a postseason edge

By Meghann Myers on September 26, 2012 Outside the wire

Poor Teddy Roosevelt. 500-plus presidential races and he’s still never won. We’re talking about MLB’s Washington Nationals mascot Teddy Roosevelt, of course. The Nats are headed to their first-ever postseason this October, and with that speculation has arisen that this might be Teddy’s year as well. So who has he chosen to help him get in shape for his big moment? The U.S. Army, of course. In the Arena: #USArmy #Soldiers prep #MLB @nationals’ Racing President Teddy for post-season play. #ocpa twitter.com/Armyspokesman/…— George Wright (@Armyspokesman) September 26, 2012

Author Meghann Myers