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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Classification: <U><B> UNCLASSIFIED</B></U><B></B> </FONT></P>
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<DIV id=date><FONT SIZE=2>Edition: Thu, January 25, 2007<BR><A
href="standto.php?printable&dte=2007-01-25">Printable Version</A></FONT></DIV>
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<H2>SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING</H2>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>"This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in.
Every one of us wishes that this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like
us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned and our own security at
risk." <B>President George W. Bush</B> speaking before Congress Jan. 23</FONT></P>
<H2>TODAY'S FOCUS</H2>
<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>Army Spouse Employment Partnership (ASEP)</B><BR><BR><B>What is it?</B>
The Army Spouse Employment Partnership (ASEP) is a self-sustaining and expanding
partnership that is mutually beneficial to the Army and Corporate America. The
Partnership provides Army spouses the opportunity to attain financial security
and achieve employment goals through career mobility and enhanced employment
options. Corporate Partners are provided the capability to tap into a readily
available, diverse and talented pool of candidates.<BR><BR><B>What has Army
done?</B> In October 2003 the Army unveiled ASEP by formally signing Statements
of Support with 11 Fortune 500 companies and 2 military agencies who pledged
their best efforts to increase employment and career opportunities for Army
spouses. Currently there are 26 ASEP Partners from the private sector and the
federal government. In Fiscal Year 2006, ASEP Partners hired over 5,000 military
spouses, bringing the grand total of spouses employed to 16,000.<BR><BR><B>What
continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?</B> ASEP Partners
continue to create new jobs that address some of the employment challenges
spouses face, such as affordability and availability of child care and
transportation. They have implemented on their career websites ASEP-dedicated
landing pages and specialized tracking mechanisms focused on military spouses.
Their co-branded web pages outline their commitment to hiring Army spouses. ASEP
Partners are tailoring human resource strategies to the unique needs of Army
spouses by implementing adaptive recruiting and hiring processes within their
organizations and creating employment continuity programs and career portability
with no loss in tenure or benefits.<BR><BR><B>Why is this important to the
Army?</B> The Army recognizes the importance of spouse satisfaction in family
decisions. Many Soldiers make retention decisions based on their families'
financial stability. Approximately 55 percent of Army spouses are in the labor
force and contribute between 20 to 40 percent of their families' income. The
perception of a spouse's quality of life - including financial well-being and
the ability to realize personal and professional goals - is a major factor in
the retention of high-quality military personnel. Frequent Soldier
reassignments/relocations make it difficult for spouses to sustain employment
and develop long-term careers<BR><BR>The Army launched the Military Spouse Job
Search <A href="http://www.msjs.org" target=_blank>www.msjs.org</A> on July 7,
2005 through Department of Labor's America's Job Bank. MSJS provides free access
to a résumé and job-listing database for spouses and military-friendly
employers, the ability to track spouse hires, and the capability to sort jobs by
state.<BR></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY</H2>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>
</FONT><UL>
<LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>3rd BCT's Afghanistan Deployment</B> is Extended (<A
href="http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=43059"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Crash Killed Most Guard Troops</B> in Single Incident in 50 years (<A
href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-01-24-guard-crash_x.htm"
target=_blank>USAT</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Lab Displays the Latest</B> in Army Gear (<A
href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/25/lab_displays_the_latest_in_army_gear/"
target=_blank>BST</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>8th Army Commander Speaks</B> on U.S.-South Korean Alliance's Economic
Impact (<A
href="http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=43065"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)</FONT></LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</H2>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>
</FONT><UL>
<LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Bush Plans New Focus</B> on Afghan Recovery (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070125483624.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/24/AR2007012401877.html"
target=_blank>WP</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Troops Battle Insurgents</B> in Central Baghdad (<A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/24/AR2007012401899.html"
target=_blank>WP</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Joint Operation Nets Insurgents,</B> Weapons (<A
href="http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9462&Itemid=128"
target=_blank>MNF</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>In a New Joint U.S.-Iraqi Patrol,</B> the Americans Go First (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070125483635.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/25/world/middleeast/25haifa.html?_r=1&oref=slogin"
target=_blank>NYT</A>)</FONT></LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>OF INTEREST</H2>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>
</FONT><UL>
<LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>A Winner</B> Without Winning (<A
href="http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/01/23/news/local/127572.txt"
target=_blank>BMT</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Two 1st AD Soldiers Honored</B> for Their Inner Strength (<A
href="http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=43042"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Fresh Out of Basic Training,</B> Army Pvt. Patrick Storms of Forest
Grove is Headed for Iraq, Where He Feels Called to SERVE (<A
href="http://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=116966356397423700"
target=_blank>FGT</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Missoulians Honor</B> Fallen GI (<A
href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/01/25/news/state/45-honor.txt"
target=_blank>BG</A>)</FONT></LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WORLD VIEW</H2>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>
</FONT><UL>
<LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Surgin' </B>General (<A
href="http://www.middle-east-online.com/english" target=_blank>MEO</A> | <A
href="http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/opinion/?id=19286"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>U.S., Iraqi Troops Kill </B>30 Militants (<A
href="http://www.guardian.co.uk" target=_blank>GRD</A> | <A
href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6370064,00.html"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Guard Deployment Change</B> has Ripple Effect (<A
href="http://www.upi.com" target=_blank>UPI</A> | <A
href="http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20070123-030009-5039r"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>U.S., Iraqi Troops Launch Huge Offensive</B> in Baghdad (<A
href="http://www.aljazeera.com" target=_blank>ALJ</A> | <A
href="http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=13272"
target=_blank>Story</A>)</FONT></LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</H2>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>
</FONT><UL>
<LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>From MasterGunner</B> (<A href="http://mikegulf.blogspot.com/"
target=_blank>MG</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Is Spring</B> Coming? (<A
href="http://www.bouhammer.com/nucleus/AfghanBlog.php" target=_blank>BH</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Combat Camera: </B>Charlie Company on Patrol (<A
href="http://thetension.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>TN</A>)
</FONT><LI><FONT SIZE=2><B>Combat</B> Video (<A href="http://badgersforward.blogspot.com/"
target=_blank>BF</A>)</FONT></LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
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