Soldiers can look forward to a 3.9 percent pay raise in 2009. Under the new pay tables, a sergeant with five years of service would see an increase in monthly base salary of about $88 dollars. A captain with nine years of service would see nearly $200 a month extra. (Photo illustration)
Josh Danis, an 11th grader from Portland, Maine, and his grandfather, Ralph Danis, of Arundel, Maine, lay a wreath at the base of a veteran's headstone in Arlington National Cemetery, Dec. 13, 2008. The elder Danis was a Korean War veteran with the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard. Some 10,000 wreaths were laid in Section 12 of the cemetery as part of "Wreaths Across America," an annual event now in its 17th year.
Brig. Gen. Gary H. Cheek, director, Army warrior care and transition, spoke Nov. 7 about the Army's 36 Warrior Transition Units. He said care provided to Soldiers in the units is something the Army should be proud.
The remote base stations, part of the Exportable Instrumentation System, can be placed around a training range to act as signal repeaters to feed information back into the EIS.
Soldiers learn to use Force XXI Battle Command for Brigade and Below, also known as FBCB2, while attending Digital University. Learning the system in a classroom means they don't have to spend valuable time learning it in theater.
Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, and Thomas R. Insel, director, National Institute of Mental Health, sign a memorandum of agreement Oct. 23. Under the MOA, the NIMH will conduct a research study for the Army that will focus on the mental and behavioral health of Soldiers, with particular focus on the multiple determinants of suicidal behavior.
Paul Cianciolo, an analyst with L-3 Global Security and Engineering and a major in the Washington D.C. Civil Air Patrol, learns about Tactical Unmanned Ground Sensors from SFC Kenneth Kolbeck, a Training and Doctrine Command capabilities manager for Future Combat Systems. The TUGS were on display during the 2008 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct. 6-8 in Washington, D.C.
Pvt. Michael Hartz, a member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry at Fort Myer, Va., learns about the Micro Air Vehicle from Dan Fouts, of Honeywell, during the 2008 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct. 6-8 in Washington, D.C. The MAV is one of the "surrogate" technologies currently in Iraq. The MAV is strikingly similar in appearance to the Future Combat System's Class 1, Block 20 unmanned aerial vehicle. Though the MAV lacks some of the communications capability the FCS UAV will have, it was developed from FCS technology.
During a ceremony at the Pentagon Oct. 10, the Army presented 2008 Shingo Prizes to six Army materiel Command organizations and presented additional Lean/Six Sigma awards to an additional seven Army organizations.
Nicholas D. Chabraja, chairman of the AUSA council of trustees; the Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, former United States Secretary of State; and Gen. (ret.) Gordon R. Sullivan, USAA president and chief operating officer, were on stage at the closing dinner, Oct. 9, at the 2008 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition. Sullivan presented Albright with the George C. Marshall Medal during the dinner.
During an address at the 2008 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, which runs Oct. 6-8 in Washington, D.C., Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey said the noncommissioned officer corps is what keeps the Army together.
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli; Spc. David R. Obray, U.S. Army Reserve Command; and Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston were on stage Oct. 6 during a lunch at the 2008 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition to announce the winners of the 2008 Army Best Warrior Competition. Obray was named the Army's Soldier Officer of the Year for 2008.
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter Chiarelli; Staff Sgt. Michael T. Noyce Merino, Army National Guard; and Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston were on stage Oct. 6 during a lunch at the 2008 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition to announce the winners of the 2008 Army Best Warrior Competition. Obray was named the Army's Soldier Officer of the Year for 2008.
Spc. David R. Obray, Army Reserve and Staff Sgt. Michael T. Noyce Merino, Army National Guard, practice adjusting the head spacing and timing on an M2 .50 caliber machine gun during the Army's Best Warrior Competition Sept. 29-Oct. 30 at Fort Lee, Va.
Spc. Jonathan Stark speaks with Tim Virgilio of the Veteran's Administration Atlantic Health Care Network at the transition resource center during the Heal, Help, Hire conference Sept. 22-27, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. During the transition resource center, Soldiers could talk with representatives of 45 various federal agencies, civilian companies, assistive technology companies, healthcare providers, universities and schools provided Soldiers with information about options in the civilian world.
Maj. Gen. Don T. Riley, Matt Keiser, Sue Bobby, Geoffrey G. Prosch, Rhonda Q. Hayes, Jim Rich and Bill Mysliwiec met Sept. 19 at the Pentagon. Four employees, Keiser, Hayes, Rich and Mysliwiec were recognized during a ceremony then for having helped develop the partnerships that are allowing the Army to rebuild its housing portfolio through the Residential Communities Initiative. During the ceremony, Geoffrey G. Prosch, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations and environment, presented each of the civilians with the Army Commanders Award for Civilian Service Medal.
Lt. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle, deputy chief of staff G-1, met Sept. 12 with Conny Camerer, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Library librarian, and Edwin Burgess, Combined Arms Research Library director. Camerer and Burgess were recognized by the Army G-1 as representatives of their individuals libraries, both recently named as best libraries within the federal library system.
Lt. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle, the deputy chief of staff G-1, spoke with some of the dozens of Soldiers, Army civilians and family members who had gathered to attend a memorial ceremony for G-1 and Manpower and Reserve Affairs employees who died during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon.
A replica of the Wright Model A aircraft was on display Sept. 6 at Conmy Hall, Fort Myer, Va., as part of the centennial of military aviation celebration there. Elements of the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own" participated in the event.
A replica of the Wright Model A aircraft was on display Sept. 6 at Conmy Hall, Fort Myer, Va., as part of the centennial of military aviation celebration there. Elements of the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own" participated in the event.
Lou Wood and son Elliott Wood, of Manassas, Va., listen as Cyndi Messick of "The Wright Experience" explains how she helped build parts for a replica of the 1908 Wright Model A aircraft during the centennial of military aviation celebration Sept. 6 at Fort Myer, Va., as part of the centennial of military aviation celebration there.
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren recently took time to reflect on the progress the Army has made in 25 years since beginning of the Army Family Action Plan. The secretary, Delores Johnson, director of Family Programs for the Family, Moral Welfare and Recreation Command and the spouses of several Soldiers met Sept. 4 to answer questions for military bloggers about how the Army cares for Soldiers, their families, and veterans.
Soldiers train on the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase, Romania. Some 900 Soldiers are now in Romania, as part of Joint Task Force - East, to conduct training there with members of the Romanian military.
The remote base stations, part of the Exportable Instrumentation System, can be placed around a training range to act as signal repeaters to feed information back into EIS. The EIS is a training enhancement tool that will be used for the first time August 4 in Hammelburg, Germany.
Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. administers the oath of enlistment to 16 Soldiers during a ceremony July 1 in the courtyard of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. The ceremony was held to commemorate the 35th year of the "all volunteer force." Since 1973, the U.S. military has been manned by those who volunteered to serve, not by those drafted into service. During the ceremony, the chief of staff also administered the oath of enlistment to 15 young civilians who have opted to joint the Army for the first time.
Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. administers the oath of enlistment to enlistees, July 1 in the courtyard of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. The ceremony was held to commemorate the 35th year of the "all volunteer force." Since 1973, the U.S. military has been manned by those who volunteered to serve, not by those drafted into service. The 15 young civilians have opted to joint the Army for the first time.
Tactical and Urban Unattended Ground Sensors are part of Future Combat Systems equipment expected to be fielded to infantry Soldiers by 2011, as part of an FCS acceleration announced June 26 at the Pentagon.
A Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle rests on the stairs of the south parking lot catwalk to corridor three in the Pentagon, June 13. The SUGV is part of Future Combat Systems and was one of several pieces of FCS hardware on display at the Pentagon.
Prototype 1 of the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon was unveiled Wednesday on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. A total of eight such prototypes will eventually be delivered to Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., by 2010. There, Army scientists will put the prototypes through rigorous testing to ensure they meet performance requirements. U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe from Oklahoma, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., viewed the system. Casey said the unveiling is a milestone in Future Combat Systems development. "We have been talking and briefing and telling people about the FCS, and right here today it is real. After a decade of hard work and planning and effort, it is real," he said. The NLOS-C is one of the eight manned ground vehicles in Future Combat Systems.
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and an Army youth at the Fort Myer, Va. Child Development Center, exchange glances following an exchange of birthday cards, June 9. Children at the center created the cards in honor of the Army's 233rd birthday and presented them to the Secretary. After, the Secretary read to the children a new book, by Army Youth Services, called "Happy Birthday Army." The book was part of an effort to better include Army youth in the service's 233rd birthday celebrations.
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and an Army youth at the Fort Myer, Va. Child Development Center, exchange glances following an exchange of birthday cards, June 9. Children at the center created the cards in honor of the Army's 233rd birthday and presented them to the Secretary. After, the Secretary read to the children a new book, by Army Youth Services, called "Happy Birthday Army." The book was part of an effort to better include Army youth in the service's 233rd birthday celebrations.
Lt. Gen. Stephen M. Speakes, deputy chief of staff, G-8, spoke to the Soldiers and Army civilians gathered June 3 at the Army's Combined Logistics Excellence Awards.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., spoke April 23 at Georgetown University about the developing trends that will shape the global environment in coming years, and how America's military must be ready to adapt.
Lt. Gen. Stephen M. Speakes and Lt. Gen. N. Ross Thompson III testified April 10 before the House Armed Services Committee subcommittee on air and land forces. The discussed such issues as equipping the Reserve component, Army transformation and Future Combat Systems.
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren presented the "Rising Star" for Outstanding New Broadcaster award to Spc. Nathan Jones as part of the Keith L. Ware Awards ceremony held during the 2008 Worldwide Public Affairs Symposium in McLean, Va. Jones is assigned to American Forces Network-Bavaria as a broadcast journalist. His morning radio show there reaches an audience of about 80,000. Five other Army public affairs professionals were also honored during the ceremony.
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren shakes hands with Sgt. 1st Class Brad A. Bond following the 2007 Secretary of the Army Career Counselor and Recruiter of the Year Awards March 26 at the Pentagon. Bond was named the 2007 Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention NCO of the Year.
President George W. Bush speaks to a group of military members March 19 at the Pentagon, on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.
Julie Smith, a food technologist with the Department of Defense combat feeding program, provides MSG (ret.) Dwight W. Burton with a piece of chocolate cappuccino cake during the combat feeding demonstration, March 5, at the Pentagon. The demonstration featured a history of various combat feeding options dating from the Civil War through Desert Storm. It also highlighted the technology, quality, taste and variety of combat food options currently being developed or newly fielded by the Army. The chocolate cake will be available in 2009 as part of the "Unitized Group Ration - A" combat feeding system.
Sgt. 1st Class Mark Smalley, TCM-FCS, Fort Bliss Texas, demonstrates use of the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle during the Association of the United States Army's Institute of Land Warfare Winter Symposium and Exposition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The SUGV is part of Future Combat Systems.
Lt. Gen. Jim Campbell retires March 1 after nearly 37 years of Army service. During his career he amassed a collection of baseball memorabilia that includes everything from baseball cards, to bats, to jerseys. The general says after he retires he will travel south to watch spring training with the Atlanta Braves.
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren met Feb. 6 with Col. Carmen Rinehart, director of Munson Army Health Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and Sgt. Maj. Maurice Riley. During his visit Geren also visited with Soldiers assigned to the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Leavenworth.
1st Lt. (Ret) Jason Gladney, Capt. (Ret) Wesley E. Fine, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, Capt. Tim Hornik, Channcelor Robert Hemenway of the University of Kansas, Capt. Kristin Facer, and Capt. Gates Brown attended a ceremony Feb. 6 on the campus of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth to announce the start of the Wounded Warrior Education Initiative.
As part of its fiscal 2009 budget request, released Feb. 4, the Army hopes to purchase additional Stryker nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaissance vehicles, like the one displayed Dec. 17, at the Pentagon. The Stryker NBCRV is an NBC testing lab on wheels. It is intended as a replacement for the Fox NBC Reconnaissance System.
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren; Pvt. Michael Raleigh Fehl, of Porter, Minn.; Pvt. Damien L. Jones, of Jennings, Mo.; Pfc. Matt Millen, of Overland Park, Kan.; Pvt. Jonathan Wight, of Lavonia, Ga.; and Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, director, Army National Guard, met Jan. 10 during a press conference at the Pentagon to highlight the success of the Army National Guard's "Active First" program. Under the program, young men and women are recruited by the National Guard to complete a term of service in both the Active and National Guard components of the Army.
