<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY><!-- Converted from text/plain format --><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV id=container>
<DIV id=myForm>
<FORM id=frmArchive name=frmArchive> </FORM></DIV><IMG alt=Stand-To!
src="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto/printheader.gif">
<DIV id=date>Edition: Fri, December 28, 2007<BR><A
href="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2007-12-28">Rich-text
Version</A></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>WHAT THEY'RE SAYING</H2>
<P>"One of the tactics we implemented as a manifestation of the surge was
putting ourselves dead center in contentious areas, going where the extremist
sanctuaries were along with targeting Al Qaeda financial assets. These efforts
forced a change in the differences between this year and last year." - <B>Maj.
Patrick Michaelis,</B> an operations officer with the 1st Cavalry Division in
Iraq.<BR><BR><BR></P>
<H2>TODAY'S FOCUS</H2>
<P><B>Kitting of Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment
(OCIE)</B><BR><BR><B>What is it?</B> The Installation Management Command’s
(IMCOM) reputation is founded upon providing quality support to Soldiers and
their Families through the delivery of "best value" installation services.
<BR><BR>One of these "best value" services that IMCOM is implementing Army-wide
is the kitting of organizational clothing and individual equipment (OCIE) within
installations’ central issue facilities (CIF). Kitting is the process by which
individual items are grouped or packaged together to create a special, single
item. Based upon the unique mission requirements of the units stationed at each
installation, the OCIE kitting process is a proven technique to reduce Soldier
processing time at CIFs. <BR><BR><B>What has the Army done?</B> Each Army
Garrison has developed an OCIE kitting implementation plan which best supports
the units at their particular installation. U.S. Army Garrison Fort Bragg, for
instance, configures five kits of non-sized OCIE. Consequently, the Garrison’s
kitting process has been a major factor in reducing Soldier processing time from
28 minutes to 12 minutes. Several smaller CIFs have achieved similar results by
pre-packaging OCIE (100 percent kitting) based upon sizing sheets completed and
submitted by the Soldier at the installation’s central in-processing center.
Even CIFs for which kitting is impractical are able to bundle items on the issue
counter, rather than issue individually.<BR><BR><B>What is this important to the
Army?</B> In this period of funding and resource constraints, Army installations
are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to become more efficient, while
maintaining the focus on serving Soldiers. By decreasing the time that it takes
to issue OCIE, Army Garrisons are able to provide an enhanced level of service
to their prime customer — the Soldier.</P>
<H2>INFORMATION YOU CAN USE</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><A href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993" target=_blank>2007
Strategic Communication Guide</A> - Read the 2007 Army Strategic Communication
Guide for key messages and updates.
<LI><A href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/303879"
target=_blank>Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace</A>
<LI><A href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/216363" target=_blank>Army
Public Affairs Portal</A>
<LI><A href="http://www.army.mil/valor" target=_blank>Stories of
Valor</A></LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Field Artillery troops</B> train volunteers (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/12/27/6774-field-artillery-troops-train-volunteers/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)
<LI><B>Surveillance at its highest</B> level (<A
href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51283"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>Army using video game</B> as recruiting tool (<A
href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/1227cr-recruiting1228.html"
target=_blank>AZC</A>)
<LI><B>Final destination</B> for Pacific Army Reservists still unclear (<A
href="http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/12/28/final-destination-for-pacific-army-reservists-still-unclear"
target=_blank>PM</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaida in Diyala;</B> 12 killed, 37 detained
(<A
href="http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16072&Itemid=1"
target=_blank>MNF</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. arrests suspects</B> in case of missing Soldiers (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20071228570015.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq28dec28,1,6933324.story?ctrack=1&cset=true"
target=_blank>LAT</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. lists gains</B> in its latest battles (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20071228570048.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A href="http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/12879082.html"
target=_blank>PHY</A>)
<LI><B>U.S., Afghan forces seize 2 terrorists,</B> find weapons cache (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48533"
target=_blank>DL</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>OF INTEREST</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>NCO recommended</B> for Silver Star (<A
href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51282"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>Army Guard director looks back on 2007,</B> looks ahead to 2008 (<A
href="http://www.ngb.army.mil/news/archives/2007/12/122707-Vaughn_year.aspx"
target=_blank>NGB</A>)
<LI><B>Pentagon catches up</B> on tardy Combat Injury Pay (<A
href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51284"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>‘Ironhorse’ brigade officer</B> reflects on progress in Iraq (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48531"
target=_blank>DL</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WORLD VIEW</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>U.S. forces say Iraqi fighters</B> killed (<A
href="http://english.aljazeera.net/" target=_blank>ALJ</A>) | (<A
href="http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E1881E21-BE64-4DAE-8A22-00186BC35243.htm"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. beefs up</B> Pakistan force (<A
href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/" target=_blank>AUS</A>) | (<A
href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22977630-26397,00.html"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. war bill</B> hits $17 billion a month (<A
href="http://www.theage.com.au/" target=_blank>AGE</A>) | (<A
href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/us-war-bill-hits-17bn-a-month/2007/12/27/1198345157833.html"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. prepares to increase occupation forces</B> in Afghanistan (<A
href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/" target=_blank>ALJ</A>) | (<A
href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7686"
target=_blank>Story</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Army blogosphere</B> access (<A
href="http://www.retiredreservist.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>RRB</A>)
<LI><B>Scam artists targeting</B> military members & Families (<A
href="http://soldiersmind.com/" target=_blank>SM</A>)
<LI><B>Veterans' affairs</B> - The documentary (<A
href="http://blackfive.blogs.com/" target=_blank>BF</A>)
<LI><B>Check out "Weaponology 2"</B> on the Military Channel (<A
href="http://www.americanranger.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>AR</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
<DIV id=footer><A
href="mailto:stand-to@hqda.army.mil?subject=Subscribe">Subscribe to
Stand-To!</A> | <A
href="mailto:stand-to@hqda.army.mil?subject=Unsubscribe">Unsubscribe to
Stand-To!</A> | <A href="mailto:stand-to@hqda.army.mil?subject=Feedback">Send
Feedback</A> | <A href="http://www.army.mil/privacy/">Privacy &
Security</A></DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>