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<img src="standto/printheader.gif" alt="Stand-To!"><div id="date">Edition: Wed, March 19, 2008<br><a href="standto.php?dte=2008-03-19">Rich-text Version</a></div><div class="column"><h2>WHAT THEY'RE SAYING</h2><p>"We saw an opportunity to make a difference in our community because there are problems in the area where heroes are no longer heroes because they took shortcuts to get to the top, then were exposed for taking the shortcut, so we're trying to help guide these students. The message we're sending is based on the importance of duty, honor and country that was drilled into our heads at the academy ... doing the right thing when sometimes that right thing is not as easy as doing the wrong thing."<br>
<br>
-Carl P. Cecil, president of the West Point class of 1979, at an ethics and leadership seminar for high school students<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/03/18/7972-west-point-sponsors-high-school-ethics-conference/"><b> West Point sponsors high school ethics conference</b></a></p><h2>TODAY'S FOCUS</h2><p><b>U.S. Army Central Command Rest and Recuperation Leave Program</b><br>
<br>
<b>What is it?</b><br>
<br>
The U.S. Army Central Command (USCENTCOM) Rest and Recuperation (R&R) Leave Program provides 15 days of chargeable leave to service members and Department of Defense (DOD) Civilians who are deployed on one-year tours to contingency locations within the USCENTCOM area of responsibility in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The program provides fully funded travel from Kuwait City International Airport to the commercial airport nearest the participants’ final leave destinations worldwide. The program operates flights 365 days a year. Unit commanders determine when individuals will participate on the basis of present-for-duty levels mission requirements, and individual preferences. Effective July 13, 2007, service members and DOD Civilians deployed on 15-month tours were authorized 18 days of chargeable leave, and the unit personnel absence ceiling was raised to provide as many service members and Civilians as possible with the opportunity to participate. The Secretary of the Army is the DOD Executive Agent and delegates operational responsibilities to Army G-1, Human Resources. <br>
<br>
<b>What has Army done?</b><br>
<br>
Since the program’s inception on Sept. 25, 2003, more than 549,968 eligible individuals have taken the opportunity to strengthen and renew relationships with Family and friends and to experience the personal renewal provided by this respite from combat operations. The Army has established a network of routine and emergency life support provisions, in-transit billeting, food service, medical and behavioral health support, and 24-hour-a-day ticketing and travelers’ assistance services for all program participants. Most recently, the Army has initiated the development of a standard operating procedure for emergency medical services that will institutionalize procedures for caring for R&R participants who must deplane outside of the continental United States to receive emergency medical care.<br>
<br>
<b>What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?</b><br>
<br>
The Army program continues to enhance its transportation and support networks to provide more expeditious and cost-effective service. Policies and resourcing levels are planned to sustain this service for as long as desired by the combatant commander. <br>
<br>
<b>Why is this important to the Army?</b><br>
<br>
Congress and DOD senior leadership recognize that R&R opportunities are vital to maintaining combat readiness and capability for units deployed and engaged in intense, continuous operations. It promotes increased operational effectiveness by mitigating the effects of prolonged combat stress and Family separation.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.armyg1.army.mil/WellBeing/RRLeave/index.HTM " target="_blank"> <b>U.S. Army Central Command Rest and Recuperation Leave Program</b></a></p><h2>INFORMATION YOU CAN USE</h2><p>• <a href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993"> 2008 Strategic Communication Guide </a> - Read the 2008 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></p><ul><li><b>General welcomes home</b> U.S. training advisors (<a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49306" target="_blank">AFIS</a>)</li><li><b>For the combat Soldier,</b> a day's worth of chow (<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/18/AR2008031800597.html" target="_blank">WP</a>)</li><li><b>Army Corps postpones</b> spring rise because of flooding concerns (<a href="http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/536039.html" target="_blank">KC</a>)</li><li><b>Afghans help U.S. Soldiers</b> train deploying troops on Fort Riley (<a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49303" target="_blank">AFIS</a>)</li></ul><p></p><h2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</h2><p></p><ul><li><b>Training the Iraqi army</b> (<a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/03/training_the_iraqi_a_1.php" target="_blank">TLWJ</a>)</li><li><b>260 returning Iraqi families</b> receive aid (<a href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/03/18/7984-260-returning-iraqi-families-receive-aid/" target="_blank">ARNews</a>)</li><li><b>U.S. bridging gaps</b> between Baghdad, provinces (<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88431904" target="_blank">NPR</a>)</li><li><b>Iraq faces a fragile future</b> (<a href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5631348.html" target="_blank">HC</a>)</li></ul><p></p><h2>OF INTEREST</h2><p></p><ul><li><b>Former POW Jessica Lynch</b> recalls her captivity in Iraq (<a href="http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/iraq/2008/03/18/jessica-lynch-recalls-her-captivity-in-iraq.html" target="_blank">USN</a>)</li><li><b>Elvis Presley Army years</b> (<a href="http://hiram7.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/elvis-presley-army-years/" target="_blank">WDP</a>)</li><li><b>DOD releases</b> sexual assault report (<a href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/03/18/7982-dod-releases-sexual-assault-report/" target="_blank">ARNews</a>)</li><li><b>Thousands of immigrants</b> in U.S. military (<a href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5631347.html" target="_blank">HC</a>)</li></ul><p></p><h2>WORLD VIEW</h2><p></p><ul><li><b>Iraq: Five years in</b> (<a href="http://www.iht.com/" target="_blank">IHT</a> | <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/19/news/19fiveyears.php" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li><li><b>Opinion:</b> Iraq's new army and Britain's soldiers (<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk" target="_blank">TEL</a> | <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/03/19/do1903.xml" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li><li><b>Iraq marks 5th anniversary</b> of U.S.-led invasion, bloody war (<a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/" target="_blank">INQ</a> | <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20080319-125690/Iraq-marks-5th-anniversary-of-US-led-invasion-bloody-war" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li><li><b>Cheney says U.S. </b> will complete mission in Iraq (<a href="http://about.reuters.com" target="_blank">REU</a> | <a href="http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2008-03-18T131846Z_01_L18823307_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-CHENEY.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C3-politicsNews-2" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li><li><b>Russia, U.S. talks </b>on missile defence ends without agreement (Roundup) (<a href="http://news.monstersandcritics.com/" target="_blank">M&C</a> | <a href="http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1395918.php/Russia_US_talks_on_missile_defence_ends_without_agreement__Roundup_" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li><li><b>Russia-U.S.</b> missile talks 'stalled' (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/" target="_blank">BBC</a> | <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7302037.stm" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li><li><b>Lavrov says </b>Russia and the U.S. still have differences over missile defense (<a href="http://www.iht.com/" target="_blank">IHT</a> | <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/18/europe/EU-GEN-Russia-US.php" target="_blank">Story</a>)</li></ul><p></p><h2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</h2><p></p><ul><li><b>Bad voodoo's war</b> (<a href="http://gocomics.typepad.com/the_sandbox/2008/03/bad-voodoos-war.html" target="_blank">GC</a>)</li><li><b>Deterring terrorism</b> (<a href="http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/blog/blog.aspx?id=1801" target="_blank">WPR</a>)</li><li><b>We are appreciated</b> and supported (<a href="http://awtr.blogspot.com/2008/03/we-are-appreciated-and-supported.html" target="_blank">LAS</a>)</li><li><b>Five years burning</b> down the road (<a href="http://badgersforward.blogspot.com/2008/03/five-years-burning-down-road.html" target="_blank">AG</a>)</li><li><b>Did you know? </b> (<a href="http://www.spousebuzz.com/blog/2008/03/did-you-know-2.html" target="_blank">SBz</a>)</li></ul><p></p>
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