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<DIV id=date>Edition: Thu, August 09, 2007<BR><A
href="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2007-08-09">Rich-text
Version</A></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>TODAY'S FOCUS</H2>
<P><B>Temporary Change of Station (TCS) /TDY Policy Changes</B><BR><BR><B>What
is it?</B> The Army is putting the “temporary” back into Temporary Change of
Station, or TCS. TCS is the status of Soldiers who are deployed away from their
home stations to support a contingency operation. TCS assignments were
appropriate following the 9-11 attacks because it appeared that these duty
assignments would be short-term in nature. But the fact that we are engaged in
an environment of persistent conflict requires us to reassess the use of TCS
status. Following a review of TCS management, the Army has determined that many
short-term assignments have evolved into long-term requirements and different
approaches to meeting these requirements should be used. (In this context,
long-term means assignments for more than 180 days.) <BR><BR><B>What has the
Army done?</B> In a recent review of the management, administrative, and
financial aspects of the TCS program, the Army identified challenges that must
be addressed with revised policies and procedures. The challenges included:
<BR><BR>• No predictability in managing positions<BR>• Above average expenses
<BR>• Government lodging and meals underutilized, resulting in unusually high
cost in travel claims<BR><BR>In an effort to reduce costs while maintaining
operational support, the Army conducted a program review which identified
potential cost reductions the Army could realize if it altered the way it pays
allowances for lodging and per diem. Since operational support is necessary to
sustain forward operations and the Soldiers serving in these mission essential
positions are providing vital support, the Army will introduce a new policy
which is expected to have minimal impact on operational support, Soldiers and
their Families while presenting the Army with significant long-term cost
reduction.<BR><BR>The Secretary of the Army directed the Army Staff to develop a
TCS Action Plan to fix the identified challenges so the 16,000 Soldiers
currently on TCS orders and their Families have a process that makes sense, is
predictable, and honors their willingness and commitment to serve in long-term
positions. After thorough coordination and discussion, the Secretary approved
the Action Plan developed by the staff. These changes are intended to make TCS
orders the exception rather than the rule for Soldiers deployed in validated
long-term assignments. <B>The revised policies do not apply to Soldiers in the
combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area.</B><BR><BR><B>What’s next?</B>
Effective Aug. 15, 2007, long-term TCS /TDY assignments will not be authorized
unless a waiver is approved by the Assistant Secretary of the Army(Manpower and
Reserve Affairs). Units will submit waiver requests through the chain of
command, endorsed by a major general or above. The objectives of the policy are
to limit TCS status to periods of 180 days or less and to use PCS or long-term
TDY assignments for contingency requirements lasting longer than 180 days.
Incumbents will be offered PCS. In addition, Soldiers who are granted waivers
for TDY beyond 180 days will be reimbursed at a reduced per diem rate of 55
percent of the maximum daily locality per diem rate.<BR><BR>Between Aug. 15 and
30 Sept. 30, the Army will instruct the field to take actions to document, or
eliminate directed missions. If the Soldier does not accept or is not offered
either PCS or long-term TCS, the Soldier will remain in a TCS status until the
current order expires or until Jan.31, 2008, whichever is earlier, and then be
released from active duty.<BR><BR>If the Soldier accepts PCS, he or she will
receive a housing allowance based on the permanent duty station (PDS) to which
he or she has been ordered. Soldiers who are granted waivers for TCS beyond 180
days will use government lodging solutions if available. Soldiers in this
status, using government lodging solutions, will receive full reimbursement for
meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) unless government dining facilities are
available.<BR><BR>In implementing these changes to how it fills long-term
contingency requirements the Army will take great care to eliminate or minimize
the impact on operations, and on Soldiers and their Families. The present
strategic environment clearly shows these requirements will remain over time.
Hence, the Army needs an efficient and responsive system to continually validate
these requirements, and to sustain them. <BR></P>
<H2>INFORMATION YOU CAN USE</H2>
<P>• <A href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993" target=_blank><B>2007
Strategic Communication Guide</B></A> - Be Army Strong, and Army Smart. Read the
2007 Army Strategic Communication Guide.</P></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Army Corps of Engineers</B> helps with I-35W bridge collapse (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/08/4335-army-corps-of-engineers-helps-with-i-35w-bridge-collapse/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)
<LI><B>Soldier disputes</B> murder charges (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070809535591.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2007/08/09/soldier.html"
target=_blank>AJC</A>)
<LI><B>Landstuhl outpatients to move closer</B> to facility (<A
href="http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=47970"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>Soldier earns berth</B> in World Rowing Championships (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/08/4345-soldier-earns-berth-in-world-rowing-championships/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Top U.S. general for north moves battalion,</B> predicts pullout
timeline (<A
href="http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=47959"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. attack kills 32</B> in Sadr City (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070809535542.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/world/middleeast/09iraq.html?_r=1&oref=slogin"
target=_blank>NYT</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. Soldiers partner with Iraqi troops</B> in Mahmudiyah (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46990"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)
<LI><B>Analyst urges patience on Iraq,</B> seeing chance for some gains (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070809535551.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802302.html"
target=_blank>WP</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>OF INTEREST</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Artist creates giant rendition</B> of Purple Heart Medal (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46988"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)
<LI><B>Gen. Petraeus blames bookkeeping</B> for missing weapons (<A
href="http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=47956"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>Soldiers help Iraqi boy</B> get surgery (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/08/4342-soldiers-help-iraqi-boy-get-surgery/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)
<LI><B>Justice Department drops</B> Dragon Skin body armor recommendation (<A
href="http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=47963"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WORLD VIEW</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>U.S. Army accuses Canadian-owned magazine</B> of printing lies about
Iraq war (<A href="http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/" target=_blank>PGC</A>
| <A
href="http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=101750&Itemid=162"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>Roadside bomb kills 1 U.S. Soldier,</B> wounds 4 in Baghdad (<A
href="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/" target=_blank>CD</A> | <A
href="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007-08/09/content_6018135.htm"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. uneasy</B> as UK plans Iraq pullout (<A
href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/" target=_blank>TT</A> | <A
href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2007/08/09/2003373379"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>Another embarrassing revelation:</B> U.S. losing track of Iraq weapons
(<A href="http://www.aljazeera.com/" target=_blank>ALJ</A> | <A
href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=25380"
target=_blank>Story</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>The Purple Heart </B>- August 7, 1782 to August 7, 2007 (<A
href="http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>GAF</A>)
<LI><B>Maliki or Petraeus?</B> Easy choice (<A
href="http://blackfive.blogs.com/" target=_blank>BF</A>)
<LI><B>Attending the Sturgis Motorcycle rally</B> …. from Iraq (<A
href="http://soldiersmind.com/" target=_blank>SM</A>)
<LI><B>Iraq report: Pressing Al-Qaeda in Diyala</B> and the north (<A
href="http://billroggio.com/" target=_blank>BR</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
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