Stand-To!- 2009: The Year of the Non Commissioned Officer - January 5, 2009

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

Edition: Mon, January 05, 2009
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SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING
“As I travel around the Army and I look at what we've accomplished  
over the past seven years at war, it's clearer and clearer to me that  
it is our noncommissioned officer corps that is providing the glue  
that's not only holding this force together at a difficult time, but  
enabling us to accomplish the near impossible every day. And that's  
why next year we will celebrate their contributions to our Army.”

- Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey Jr., October 2008.

Chief says NCO corps glue holding Army together

TODAY'S FOCUS
2009: The Year of the Non Commissioned Officer

What is it?

In October 2008, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren announced that 2009  
would be designated as "the Year of the Noncommissioned Officer."

In noting his gratitude and support for noncommissioned officers  
(NCO), Secretary Geren remarked that NCOs have provided invaluable  
service and continually proven their dedication and willingness to  
sacrifice. With our nation at war for seven years in Afghanistan and  
then Iraq, and the security environment more ambiguous than ever, our  
military is stretched thin and out of balance. We have a plan to  
restore balance by 2011 and to set the conditions for the future--  
the NCO Corps is the key enabler to attain those objectives. The Year  
of the NCO is a time to
enhance
the education, fitness, leadership and pride in service of our NCOs  
through programs that sustain and grow our NCO Corps, to
recognize
their leadership, commitment and courage, and to
inform
key audiences about the responsibilities and quality of service of  
our NCOs.
How important is this to the Army?

Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and the Chief of Staff Gen. George  
W. Casey believe that strategically, it is critical for the Army to  
continue its investment in NCOs and their families. In 2009, the Army  
will demonstrate its commitment to enhance and accelerate the growth  
of our NCOs through initiatives that emphasize the need for improved  
education, fitness, leadership and pride in service programs.  
Honoring the service of NCOs to the nation enables the Army to  
showcase its NCO’s as a national asset, educating members of Congress  
and the American public about the roles and responsibilities of  
today’s NCOs.

What is the Army doing?

Support for Year of the NCO is oriented on three major axes:

•	Enhance: Enhance NCOs’ education, fitness, leadership development,  
and pride in service through implementation of programs and policies  
that sustain and grow our NCO Corps.

•	Recognize: Recognize the leadership, professionalism, commitment,  
courage and dedication of the NCO Corps.

•	Inform: Inform and educate the American people, Congress, and  
government institutions of the roles, responsibilities and the  
quality service of our NCO Corps.

Nationally, the Army will focus on four distinct strategies: increase  
national level awareness/recognition of NCOs, tell the story through  
distinguished NCO alumni, conduct a campaign launch event, and engage  
blogs and other social networks. Regional/MACOM and installation- 
level programs will follow a similar strategy, but tailor it to their  
specific organization, mission and audience.

Important Web Links:

Defenselink: Army secretary announces 2009 will be ‘Year of NCO’

ARNEWS: Chief says NCO corps glue holding Army together

INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
• 2008 Strategic Communication Guide - Read the 2008 Army Strategic  
Communication Guide for key messages and updates

• Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace

• Army Public Affairs Portal

• Stories of Valor

• Speaker's Toolkit

• Information Papers with " 2008 Army Posture Statement"

A CULTURE OF ENGAGEMENT
The Army Community Relations Calendar

Blogger's Roundtable

Iraqi village welcomes new partnership and sustainer friends

CALENDAR
2009: Year of the NCO

January 2009: National Eye Care Month

Jan. 3, 2009
: Army All-American Bowl

Jan. 20, 2009
: Presidential Inauguration

SOCIAL NETWORKING
Army Media Player
Flickr: Army images
YouTube: Army videos
Twitter: Army updates
del.icio.us: Army links
NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY
The road ahead in ’09 (AT)
Related articles under Army Sports: East defeats West during All- 
American Bowl (ARNews)
Two LI Soldiers honored at Army bowl game (ND)
To boost recruits, U.S. Army relaxes weight rules (CSM)
Urban tool in recruiting by the Army: An arcade (NYT)
WAR ON TERROR NEWS
Sons of Iraq transfer New Year's Day (ARNews)
Bomber kills 40 at Shiite shrine in Baghdad (WP)
Iran warns Iraq over U.S. pact (SFC)
For U.S. Soldiers at a remote base in Afghanistan, lots of combat but  
no clear gains or losses (USNews)
Undeterred by Taliban threats, Afghans showing up to get voter cards  
(S&S)
Taliban bans education for girls in Pakistan's Swat valley (WT)
OF INTEREST
Sources: Lynn emerges as likely pick for DepSecDef (DN)
Pentagon chief sees opportunities in Russia and the war on terrorism  
(WP)
Bring rifles and books: College on a U.S. base in Baghdad (WP)
Don’t ask too fast (NW)
Opinion: Coming to the battlefield: Stone-cold robot killers (WP)
WORLD VIEW
Baghdad bomb kills Shia pilgrims (BBC | Story)
It will take humanity as well as guns to beat the Taliban, says  
General David Petraeus (TO | Story)
Israeli troops close in on Hamas stronghold (LDT | Story)
Mahathir blames U.S. for Gaza war (AJ | Story)
India hands Mumbai terror attack evidence to Pakistan (GRD | Story)
WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS
Heaps selected for 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl (ST)
Sending a child to war (SM)
The blog of war (MG)
Combat Camera Video: EOD team destroys munitions; Baghdad, Iraq (TT)
Guard & Reserve: 2009 Freedom Award nominations open (SSM)
External Links Disclaimer
ARMY SPORTS
Sports at a glance

Top Army football stories

Armed Forces Bowl puts military might on display

Photo Gallery: Army All-American Football Game

Army hockey team upsets second-ranked Miami of Ohio

UT recruits clash in Army all-star bowl

Army upends Miami

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