Stand-To!- Army Enlistment Incentives Program Enhancements - February 13, 2008

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 Stand-To!<http://www4.army.mil/news/standto/printheader.gif> 
Edition: Wed, February 13, 2008
Rich-text Version <http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-02-13> 

SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING


"It's our obligation to move the process forward, to give these people their
rights. We are going to give them rights. We are going to give them rights
that are virtually identical to the rights we provide to our military
members, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who fight in the
battlefield, and I think we'll all agree are national treasures."

Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Hartmann, legal advisor to the convening authority in
DoD's Office of Military Commissions, regarding the death penalty case
against six detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Defense Department Seeks Death Penalty for Six Guantanamo Bay Detainees
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/02/12/7399-defense-department-seeks-death-pe
nalty-for-six-guantanamo-bay-detainees> 


TODAY'S FOCUS


Army Enlistment Incentives Program Enhancements

What is it?
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2006 approved changes in
enlistment bonus ceilings, modified some existing bonuses, expanded the
scope of the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), and instituted a Thrift
Savings Plan (TSP) pilot test. NDAA 2007 changed the interservice transfer
bonus amount and authorized payment of an Officer Candidate School (OCS)
enlistment bonus.

What has the Army done?
As authorized in NDAA 2006 (January), the Regular Army implemented a $40,000
enlistment bonus program, precisely doubling the previous enlistment bonus
ceiling. In the same legislation, the Army Reserve and Army National Guard
implemented a twofold increase (from $10,000 to $20,000) in their non-prior
service enlistment bonus. To these changes was added statutory authority for
an interservice transfer bonus of $2,500. 

The statute governing student loan repayments for the active component was
expanded to permit more flexibility in the types of loans that the services
were allowed to repay. That expansion permits repayment of education loans
from commercial banks or credit unions, pension plans, and state loans, as
well as federally recognized student education loans. This expanded
authority was implemented on Oct. 19, 2006. 

Subsequent legislation also mandated that the Army institute a TSP matching
test to gauge its feasibility as a recruiting tool. Authority to match
dollar for dollar up to three percent and 50 cents on the dollar up to five
percent was implemented on June 1, 2006, for selected enlistments in
critical skills. This pilot test will continue through FY07. 

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future? 
The Army received authority in NDAA 2007 to implement an OCS enlistment
bonus with provisions retroactive to April 2005. The Army's Officer
Accessions Division has drafted policy to fully implement this authority
upon legal review. NDAA 2007 raised the $2,500 interservice transfer bonus
to $10,000, and this new ceiling has been implemented. NDAA 2006 (section
2171) approved an expanded SLRP for the Regular Army, but the statute
governing reserve-component bonuses (section 16301) did not change. The Army
is actively pursuing a FY08 change to section 16301 that will provide a
similar student loan repayment authority for the reserve components. The
success of current and pending Army pilot projects (Recruiter Incentive Pay
and others) will determine further needs. 

Why is this important to the Army? 
Incentives provide the Army with the tools needed to effectively recruit and
sustain the force. It is essential that the Army remain competitive with the
other services and with Civilian alternatives. A strong incentives package
supports the Army's ability to attract the best talent available.

For more information: GoArmy.com <http://www.goarmy.com/> 


INFORMATION YOU CAN USE


* 2007 Strategic Communication Guide
<https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993?c=ZGF2aWQudmVyZ3VuMg==> - Read
the 2007 Army Strategic Communication Guide for key messages and updates

* Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace
<https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/303879> 

* Army Public Affairs Portal <https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/216363> 

* Stories of Valor <http://www.army.mil/valor> 


CALENDAR


You already know how lethal you can be...how non-lethal can you be? FM 3-0.
Coming Feb. 28.


NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY


*	Guard joins fight against Virginia wildfires (ARNews
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/02/12/7408-guard-joins-fight-against-virgini
a-wildfires/> ) 
*	Video addresses military suicides (USA
<http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-02-12-suicide_N.htm?loc=interstiti
alskip> ) 
*	Report faults mental care for Iraq veterans at upstate base (NYT
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/nyregion/13drum.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=mental
&st=nyt&oref=slogin> ) 
*	With Gates's shift on drawdowns, little reprieve ahead for U.S. Army
in Iraq (CSM <http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0213/p01s05-usmi.html> )


WAR ON TERROR NEWS


*	The man on both sides of air war debate (WP
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR200802120
2692.html> ) 
*	Rules for lawyers of detainees are called onerous (WP
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR200802120
3042.html> ) 
*	Australia says NATO needs new strategy in Afghanistan (NYT
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/world/asia/13australia.html?ex=1360558800
&en=a541feaa448faaba&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&st=cse&sq=Australia+Says
+NATO+Needs+New+Strategy+In+Afghanistan&scp=1> ) 
*	Making a case for a pause in troop cutbacks in Iraq (NYT
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/world/middleeast/13military.html?scp=1&sq
=Making+A+Case+For+A+Pause+In+Troop+Cutbacks+In+Iraq&st=nyt> )


OF INTEREST


*	African-Americans have legacy of military service, sacrifice (AFIS
<http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48936> ) 
*	U.N. weighs a ban on weapons in space, but U.S. still objects (NYT
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/world/europe/13arms.html?scp=4&sq=space&s
t=nyt> ) 
*	Putin threatens Ukraine on NATO (WP
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR200802120
1658.html> ) 
*	U.S. military aid found effective in separatist clash (WT
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080213/FOREIGN/47694648> )


WORLD VIEW


*	Russia, China submit draft treaty on barring arms race in outer
space (IT <http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/>  | Story
<http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=12361657&PageNum=0> ) 
*	Revealed: Islamist extremists have penetrated the heart of Britain
(DM <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/>  | Story
<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id
=513771&in_page_id=1770> ) 
*	Israel: Iran building nuclear arms (AJ
<http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8580A6C7-AAE8-4388-B47F-3E422151A7A6
.htm>  | Story
<http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8580A6C7-AAE8-4388-B47F-3E422151A7A6
.htm> ) 
*	Commentary: The dangers of political Islam (AA
<http://www.alarabiya.net/english.html>  | Story
<http://www.alarabiya.net/views/2008/02/12/45538.html> )


WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS


*	The cost of war in Iraq vs. the cost of illegal immigration (SM
<http://soldiersmind.com/2008/02/12/cost-of-war-in-iraq-vs-cost-of-illegal-i
mmigration/> ) 
*	ANA commandos capture key Taliban IED facilitator (SAG
<http://soldiersangelsgermany.blogspot.com/2008/02/ana-commandos-capture-key
-taliban-ied.html> ) 
*	Afghan Taliban leaders nabbed in Pakistan (LWJ
<http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/02/afghan_militants_nab.php> )

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