<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<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><IMG alt=Stand-To!
src="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto/printheader.gif"> </FORM></DIV>
<DIV id=date>Edition: Wed, February 06, 2008<BR><A
href="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-02-06">Rich-text
Version</A></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>TODAY'S FOCUS</H2>
<P><B>Army testing enlistment incentive providing home/business funds</B>
<BR><BR><B>What Is It?</B><BR>The Army has begun offering a new enlistment
incentive to prospective recruits in five test markets that provides money to
make a down payment on a home or start a business. <BR><BR>Through the new Army
Advantage Fund (AAF), people joining the active Army are eligible for up to
$40,000 for a five-plus year enlistment, and those enlisting in a reserve
component are eligible for up to $20,000 for a five-plus year enlistment. The
AAF applies only to those choosing certain military occupational specialties
(MOS). <BR><BR><B>What Has the Army Done?</B><BR>On Feb. 04, 2008 the Army
launched pilot AAF programs in Albany, N.Y.; Cleveland,Ohio; Montgomery, Ala.;
San Antonio, Texas; and Seattle, Wash. The AAF could eventually be offered
nationally should results in the test markets warrant. <BR><BR><B>Why is this
Important to the Army?</B><BR>The Army is too small to meet the nation’s 21st
century national security needs, threat environment, and ongoing global
commitments. The Army is growing, but it continues to face the most challenging
recruiting environment in the 30+ year history of the all-volunteer force. The
AAF reflects the Army’s continuing innovation in competing with private industry
and the other military branches for personnel. <BR><BR>“What we are hearing from
our young people and [their] influencers is that, although it is essential to
them to establish home ownership and get started down their chosen career path,
many times they question how they will be able to accomplish it,” says LTG
Benjamin C. Freakley, commanding general of U.S. Army Accessions Command. “The
Army recognizes these challenges, and wants to be a part of the solution by
offering young adults the proper funds which will allow them to live their
American Dream.”<BR><BR><B>How Does this Impact the Individual
Soldier?</B><BR>In its five test markets, the AAF is a new enlistment incentive
to tell Soldier candidates about and possibly earn a bonus. Soldiers and Army
Civilians can get $2,000 for each person they refer who enlists, completes basic
training, and graduates advanced individual training.<BR><BR>People in the five
test markets eligible for AAF meet the following criteria:<BR>• No prior
military service<BR>• For Regular Army or Army Reserve enlistees<BR>• Must join
for three to five years, depending on AAF bonus amount the enlistee desires<BR>•
Must choose an eligible Military Occupational Specialty<BR>• Be a high school
senior (as long as he/she graduates with a diploma) or a high school graduate
(includes home-schoolers)<BR>• Place within score categories I-IIIA for the
military aptitude test (minimum score: 50 percent).<BR><BR><BR><BR>For more
information on the Army Advantage Fund, go to: <A
href="http://www.goarmy.com/aaf/" target=_blank>Army Advantage Fund</A></P>
<H2>INFORMATION YOU CAN USE</H2>
<P>• <A
href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993?c=ZGF2aWQudmVyZ3VuMg==">2007
Strategic Communication Guide </A>- Read the 2007 Army Strategic Communication
Guide for key messages and updates<BR><BR>• <A
href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/303879">Strategic Communication
Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace </A><BR><BR>• <A
href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/216363">Army Public Affairs Portal
</A><BR><BR>• <A href="http://www.army.mil/valor">Stories of Valor
</A></P></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Odierno is tapped</B> for Army promotion (<A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/05/AR2008020502887.html"
target=_blank>WP</A>)
<LI><B>Army mapmakers key</B> for aerial missions (<A
href="http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,161482,00.html"
target=_blank>MIL</A>)
<LI><B>Army's budget</B> and Soldier request (<A
href="http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,161481,00.html"
target=_blank>MIL</A>)
<LI><B>2nd Brigade getting new motor pool</B> at Grafenwöhr (<A
href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52243"
target=_blank>S&S</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>U.S. Troops kill</B> at least 3 Iraqi civilians in raid (<A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/05/AR2008020503032.html"
target=_blank>WP</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. allies in Iraq</B> lodge complaint (<A
href="http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/15345962.html"
target=_blank>PI</A>)
<LI><B>U.S., Iraq to discuss</B> relations (<A
href="http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080206/FOREIGN/92814257"
target=_blank>WT</A>)
<LI><B>Afghanistan strains</B> NATO ties (<A
href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0206/p01s03-wogi.html"
target=_blank>CSM</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>OF INTEREST</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Dempsey nominated</B> to take helm at USAREUR (<A
href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52245"
target=_blank>S&S</A>)
<LI><B>Defense Department cites urgent need</B> for supplemental funds (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48868"
target=_blank>DL</A>)
<LI><B>Fallujah park created</B> in girl's memory (<A
href="http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,161497,00.html"
target=_blank>MIL</A>)
<LI><B>Troops and tribes</B> (<A
href="http://www.ngb.army.mil/news/archives/2008/02/020508-troops_tribes.aspx"
target=_blank>ARNG</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WORLD VIEW</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>CIA admits</B> waterboarding inmates (<A href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/"
target=_blank>BBC</A> | <A
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7229169.stm"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>Extra firepower sent to Afghanistan</B> as UK digs in (<A
href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/" target=_blank>GU</A> | <A
href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,2253152,00.html"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>NATO not winning</B> in Afghanistan: study (<A
href="http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index.asp" target=_blank>TT</A> | <A
href="http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=162740"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. 'must remain</B> in Iraq' (<A
href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/" target=_blank>TA</A> | <A
href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23165379-26397,00.html"
target=_blank>Story</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>They’re not getting the respect</B> they deserve (<A
href="http://soldiersmind.com/2008/02/05/theyre-not-getting-the-respect-they-deserve/"
target=_blank>SM</A>)
<LI><B>On the road</B> again (<A
href="http://acutepolitics.blogspot.com/2008/02/on-road-again.html"
target=_blank>AP</A>)
<LI><B>This is not</B> an episode of "24" (<A
href="http://armywivesconnected.blogspot.com/2008/02/this-is-not-episode-of-24.html"
target=_blank>AWC</A>)
<LI><B>Soldier injured</B> while saving comrade (<A
href="http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2008/02/05/soldier_injured.html"
target=_blank>SN</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
<DIV id=footer><A
href="mailto:stand-to@smc.army.mil?subject=Subscribe">Subscribe to Stand-To!</A>
| <A href="mailto:stand-to@smc.army.mil?subject=Unsubscribe">Unsubscribe to
Stand-To!</A> | <A href="mailto:stand-to@smc.army.mil?subject=Feedback">Send
Feedback</A> | <A href="http://www.army.mil/privacy/">Privacy &
Security</A></DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>