Stand-To!- Sustain - March 3, 2008

[stand-to at www.lists.army.mil]

Edition: Mon, March 03, 2008
Rich-text Version
SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING
"The Army cannot expect to continue funding its growth, modernization  
and sustainability using supplemental budgets."

-Acting Under Secretary of the Army Nelson Ford.

Acting under secretary: Army stretching budget to limit
TODAY'S FOCUS
This is the fourth of an eight part series highlighting critical  
elements of the 2008 Army Posture Statement. While the Army remains  
the best-led, best-trained and best-equipped Army in the world, it is  
out of balance. The combined effects of an exceptionally high and  
sustained operational tempo have resulted in our readiness being  
consumed as fast as we can build it. Therefore, our top priority over  
the next several years is to restore balance through four  
imperatives: Sustain, Prepare, Reset and Transform.

Sustain

To sustain our Soldiers, Families and Army Civilians, we must  
maintain the quality and viability of the all-volunteer force and the  
many capabilities it provides to the nation. Sustain ensures our  
Soldiers and their Families have the quality of life they deserve and  
that we recruit and sustain a high-quality force.

Goals for Sustain:

•	Offer dynamic incentives that attract quality recruits
•	Provide improved quality of life and enhanced incentives to retain  
Soldiers and Families
•	Continue to improve the quality of life for Army Families by  
implementing the Army Family Covenant and other programs
•	Continue to improve care for wounded warriors and warriors in  
transition
•	Continue to support Families of our fallen with sustained  
assistance that honors the service of their Soldiers

Sustain our Soldiers, Families and Civilians

This is the first time in our history when an all-volunteer force has  
been engaged in conflict for this long. We have taken a hard look at  
how we take care of our most valuable resource—our people—to  
determine what needs to change in terms of support and services. Our  
objective is to ensure our Soldiers, our Families, and our Civilian  
workforce have meaningful programs available to them and that the  
Army community affords the quality of life they deserve for the  
service that they render to the nation.

Sustain begins with recruiting high-quality Soldiers and Civilians,  
and then retaining them and their Families by providing a lifestyle  
that eases the challenges of military life and acknowledges the  
special sacrifices involved with service to the nation. Sustain also  
demands that we ensure our wounded, ill, and injured warriors in  
transition receive the care and support they need to reintegrate  
effectively into the Army or civilian life and that we, as an  
institution, never forget our moral obligation to assist every spouse  
and Family who suffered the loss of their Soldier or Civilian in  
past, present, or future conflicts.

We require sustained, predictable funding in our base budget to  
support programs like the Army Medical Action Plan and to turn around  
shortfalls addressed in the Soldier-Family Action Plan. Our focus  
will help bring the Army back into balance by enabling us to meet our  
manning objectives, both quantity and quality, as we grow the Army.

For more detailed information, see 2008 Army Posture Statement
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
• 2007 Strategic Communication Guide - Read the 2007 Army Strategic  
Communication Guide for key messages and updates

• Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace

• Army Public Affairs Portal

• Stories of Valor

WEEKEND SPORTS WRAP-UP
Endurance runner named Army male athlete of year

Maryland-Baltimore County defeats Army 8-4

Army secures fourth seed following 59-47 setback at Bucknell

Army wins AHA regular season championship

Patriot League Women's Basketball Tournament bracket revealed

Buffalo edges Army, 4-3, in women's tennis

Gymnastics team falls to William & Mary

Stephen Scherer tied for first place in AR after day 2 of Olympic trials

Army tops Long Island, 5-2

Army finishes 12th at ECAC Swimming & Diving Championships

Army rally falls short in 4-3 loss for men's tennis

Black Knights blast UMBC 23-0 in weekend series finale
NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY
Acting under secretary: Army stretching budget to limit (ARNews)
Army to revolutionize healthcare with whole-person concept (ARNews)
Soldiers more than understand full-spectrum operations (ARNews)
Army forms Contracting Command, campaign plan (ARNews)
WAR ON TERROR NEWS
U.S. plan widens role in training Pakistani forces in Qaeda battle (NYT)
Abu Ghraib’s reality: Progress isn’t enough (S&S)
Gen. Petraeus describes factors affecting Iraq assessment (AFIS)
Iraq needs strides in economy and governance to cut attacks, a top  
general says (NYT)
OF INTEREST
Military divorces remain at 3.3% (AJC)
Guard team responds to toxic ricin in Vegas (ARNews)
Army manual stresses nation building (WT)
Iranian leader, in Baghdad, hails 'new chapter' in ties with Iraq (WP)
WORLD VIEW
An Iranian in the Green Zone (BBC | Story)
Ahmadinejad accuses U.S. of spreading terror in Iraq (JP | Story)
Chávez sends forces to Colombian border (IHT | Story)
Opinion: The war everyone forgot (AA | Story)
WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS
Military life is not an episode of "Army Wives" (WIZ)
Quick withdrawal from Iraq would wipe out security gains (SM)
Let's show the sky Soldiers some love (SAG)
You deserve this (GC)
When royals go to war (BW)
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