Meghann Myers

The best and brightest from this week's Army Times

By Meghann Myers on April 22, 2013 Army

Unfit or nondeployable targeted for separation — over 25,000 this year The Army is cutting its ranks more quickly than expected as it works toward its eventual goal of 490,000 active-duty soldiers. In addition to natural attrition, most of the reductions the Army will make this year will come from two places: Officials project as many as 15,000 soldiers could be booted for misconduct or not meeting the required standards, such as physical fitness and weight control. The Army also estimates it will separate as many as 11,000 active-duty soldiers who have been backlogged in the military’s disability evaluation system.…

Duh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh BAGRAM BATMAN

By Meghann Myers on April 18, 2013 Army

There are a lot of things to remember when you’re deployed. Always carry your weapon. Don’t smoke near flammable materials. Don’t plug your USB devices into government computers. Lock your vehicles. Don’t steal from the PX? (Really?!) Luckily, the troops at Bagram Airfield have a not-very-friendly, though highly motivational, neighborhood superhero to remind them when they slip up. In his latest act, he reminded a certain Taylor Swift fan to keep his ears open when running. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSjr24zl85o] The rest can be found here, if you’re in the mood for a safety briefing. And aren’t you always?

Fort Bragg to hold remembrance ceremony for missing soldier

By Meghann Myers on April 17, 2013 Army

It has been a year since Spc. Kelli Bordeaux went missing from Fort Bragg, N.C. She was last seen leaving Froggy Bottoms in Fayetteville with a registered sex offender. The 601st Area Support Medical Company will hold a remembrance ceremony for members of Bordeaux’s unit and family April 19 at Pope Field on post. “We’re doing this for members of the battalion to bring hope to the soldiers and to make it known that Spc. Kelli Marie Bordeaux lives in our hearts,” 1st Lt. Annie Davis, of the 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, said. “I am Bordeaux’s platoon leader so it’s…

The Army as of April 11

By Meghann Myers on April 15, 2013 Afghanistan, Army

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=209201801096958260450.0004da2c36841eadc4bd0&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=25.799891,-20.039062&spn=98.64545,189.84375&z=2&output=embed&w=540&h=350] If you have information on units not represented on the map, please send any updates to mmyers@gannettgov.com

The best and brightest from this week's Army Times

By Meghann Myers on April 15, 2013 Outside the wire

2014 budget calls for smaller raises, higher fees Military leaders have wrapped their hands around personnel funds and are starting to squeeze hard, with a 2014 defense budget proposal that calls for the smallest military pay raise in decades, cuts in funding for bonuses and incentive pays, and dramatic hikes in health care costs for retirees. The most visible change — though hardly the most devastating — is the proposed 1 percent pay raise for 2014 that defense officials announced this year. If enacted, it would be the smallest raise in more than five decades and the first since 1999…

Fort Bragg cancels 4th of July shindig

By Meghann Myers on April 11, 2013 Army

Fort Bragg commander Lt. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn announced Thursday that the post will not be holding its famed Independence Day celebration this year due to sequestration budget cuts. In addition to vendors and supplies for the event, Allyn emphasized that the $120,000 in overtime hours for employees make the event too expensive under current budget constraints. The event is more than 30 years old and draws more than 50,000 people annually, officials said. In other news, command is looking into cutting weekend controlled burns and landscaping contracts to pinch a few more pennies.

Special Forces vs. the Dolphin Cheerleaders in "Call Me Maybe"

By Meghann Myers on April 11, 2013 Afghanistan, Army

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H96-TwrwY7M] The Miami Dolphins cheerleaders felt like perking up the troops in Afghanistan, so they made a “Call Me Maybe” music video and sent it downrange. Some special forces operators got a hold of it and decided to thank the ladies with a reply video, imitating them almost movement-for-movement. It’s impossible to tell which unit they’re with because they doff their blouses for the duration, but the beards and long hair at least give away their MOS.

The Army as of April 4

By Meghann Myers on April 9, 2013 Afghanistan, Army

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=209201801096958260450.0004d9dd3ef1a6f23f8cc&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=27.371767,13.007813&spn=97.866897,184.570313&z=2&output=embed&w=525&h=350] If you have information on units not represented on the map, please send any updates to mmyers@gannettgov.com.

The best and brightest from this week's Army Times

By Meghann Myers on April 8, 2013 cyber warfare, Outside the wire

Be an Army hacker: This top secret unit wants you Army Cyber Command is looking for computer-savvy troops to turn into crack cyberwarriors. Rapid, substantial growth inside and outside of the command is coming as demand for cyberwarfare skills — both offensive and defensive — become a greater focus of the nation’s security strategy. For soldiers, that means opportunity. One projection has 3,000 uniform and civilian positions dedicated to Army cyber over the next four to five years, according to an Army official close to the effort. Precise numbers are unavailable, in part because the size of some of…

It's their party and they'll cancel it if they want to

By Meghann Myers on April 3, 2013 Army

The Army is just going to stay in and have a quiet family dinner on its 238th birthday this year. Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno and Secretary of the Army John McHugh have canceled this year’s Army Birthday Ball (originally scheduled for June 13) in an effort to rein in unnecessary Pentagon expenditures. “This action supports the department’s overall effort to reduce spending of appropriated funds,” they explained in a joint statement. This only applies to the Army’s big Washington bash, though. The following smaller observances will still take place: June 10 Mount Vernon June 12…

Author Meghann Myers