We have the essential information you need to know for the year ahead, including The end of Afghanistan? The nation’s longest war is slated to formally end next December, but will the U.S. maintain an enduring presence there or will the rocky relationship with Afghan President Hamid Karzai mean all troops will just pack up an leave? Plus, we have the details on the New PT test in the works and learn how Regional career assignments could change and shape your time in the Army. For this and more must-know information for 2014, including BAH rollbacks, the shrinking force and in-state…
Author Toni Rico
Seven initiatives are on the table in Congress to improve GI Bill benefits, especially for family members. What’s in store? Read more. While the GI Bill might get beefed up, Special Duty Assignment Pay is not. Thousands of enlisted soldiers will have their SDAP reduced or eliminated under a budget-driven overhaul of the SDAP program. Good news is still out there for soldiers looking to save their careers during the drawdown by switching to an understrength MOS. See the list of hot MOSs, and the latest on bonuses for critical skills, in the print issue.
Would male soldiers and the American public be more likely to accept women in combat jobs if the women were ugly? That’s the assumption one Army colonel seems to be making, according to a report by Politico. The colonel sent an email to a Training and Doctrine Command public affairs spokesman, writing that “In general, ugly women are perceived as competent while pretty women are perceived as having used their looks to get ahead.” Politico reported that Col. Lynette Arnhart, the woman leading the Army’s study on the impact the integration of women into combat arms would have on unit…
See our 2014 rankings of the top colleges for soldiers. Some of the factors we took a look at include how each college supports soldiers and vets, their academic quality and the financial aid they offer. Some good news: More traditional universities are embracing distance learning. See our 2014 rankings of the Best for Vets colleges in the Nov. 18 print issue of Army Times, on sale now. Also in this week’s issue: As the Army enters a large period of force reduction, staying in is getting harder. With the fiscal 2014 reenlistment window opening for some active duty soldiers,…
It seems that many people are offended by this photo on a billboard of an American soldier hugging a Muslim woman in a niqab, a traditional Muslim covering. And each of the offended people have their own different reason. On Twitter, people have called it head-turning and controversial, while in Britain a writer for The Guardian calls it racist. The photo features a real soldier and his girlfriend, according to a San Diego TV station, and the ad is inspired by a real married couple, according to the website of SnoreStop, the company using the ad. Yes, SnoreStop. The ad…
Welcome to the garrison Army. Some soldiers at major installations across the Army might have already encountered courtesy patrols, teams of soldiers who roam Army posts making on-the-spot corrections. Some posts are even targeting family members for dress code violations. And the Army’s top enlisted soldier is weighing in on the courtesy patrols. The Army is assessing performance on another field, the public schools near its installations. The chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Ray Odierno, says the Army will “put pressure” on officials responsible for providing education to the children of Army families. One person resisting pressure from lawmakers…
Last week top Army leaders showed little restraint as they blasted the many ways the budget crisis is crippling the service. And the problems are many: The Army secretary talked about the budget dysfunction and the Army chief of staff said only two brigades are now combat ready. Read more on how training, gear and benefits are feeling the pinch. Amid the budget cuts the Army must shrink its footprint. One top Army official says the only way to do that is with a Base Closure and Realignment Commission to oversee a new round of base closings. But will Congress…
Most soldiers outside the Washington, D.C. area won’t get a chance to attend the Association of the United States Army conference, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on some of the cool toys soldiers on the exhibit halls get a first glimpse of. Here are some soldier favorites: 1. This is my rifle. Soldiers like their weapons and the Remington booth was a major draw at the convention floor. Soldiers got to handle the range of the Remington’s M-16 type rifles, the R-4s, and the Adaptive Combat Rifle which can change calibers from 5.56 mm to 6.8 mm to…
