FEWER SOLDIERS, SAME WORKLOAD * EXTENDING THE ‘GOLDEN HOUR’ ArmyTimes ‘ARMYTIMES.COM Se UE ————at = Sue a ~~ Soya ro NO-PENALTY PURGE =~ SIN NSE pg USAA® Find out wBanking fel eT res er that, ole Nese ect eget ee LS ms CC ead Uae Meee ae ne eeu eetaeat Ty Teena neue ie a aa eared Find out what USAA has for you. Pevensie to cESSS PTO ‘When Staff Sat. Dylan Kunze decided to reenlist indeft- nitely he knew he wanted to make it special. So, he took to social media with a longshot request: He wanted the vice chief of staff of the Army and the sergeant major of the Army to take part in the ceremony. Somehow, they caught wind of it, and not only that — they showed up. CORTES) aes yh ‘Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston is raising alarm bells over the “enormous strain” facing soldiers due to the service's high operations tempo. ATTA he The Army is experimenting with new ways to get blood to wounded soldiers during those vital moments right atter an injury. Enter: the walking blood bank. “i Ee RteGn eC E {fea ieee Un uae ace BLY aEy laid Ca Long-considered the front-runner to be the next chair- man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. CQ. Brown has officially boon selected. Here's what you need to know about the military's next top officer. PERO a as ‘The Army Is removing soldiers from recruiting duty, with- Many documentaries have attempted to capture and out penalty, if they're not meeting the minimum goals, Convey the immense sacrifices of WWII. Here are six that are well-worth your time. Cover photo: ‘Sat. Agustin Montanez/Army nmyrines.com wuneama 3“ 5 THE RADAR ARMY COLONEL CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY , ASSAULTING OFFICER'S WIFE e sexual contact and two speci: of conduct unbecoming an off RETIRED ese ie ST (AS ECT post in October as commander of the Ist Brigadle Combat Team, 1st from Ist y Division spokesperson Lt. Col. Jennifer Bocanegra “The charges include two specifications ARMY SERGEANT WHO KILLED BLM PROTESTER IN TEXAS SENTENCED T0 25 YEARS AUS, Army sergeant was se 25 years in prison on May 10 shooting an armed man duri Lives Matter protest in Texas, even the state's Republican governor said he wanted to pardon the man, der in April for killin Foster during the downtown Austin pro- stin July 2020. [pray to God that one day, he will get rid of allthis hate thatisin your orney Clinton Broden said in a statement after sentencing that his F snc aoes tively — for the alle mer at Fort Hood, which has since been renamed Fort Cavazos. m * client would appeal. He called Perry's conviction the product of “political prose: ction,” and said the defense team would “fully cooperate inthe pardon process. Board of Pardons and Paroles stacked with Abbott appointees — hits his desk. The board is reviewing Perr the governor's orders, but it when it will reach a decision. m unclear Pee ey Sree ARMYTIMES.COMCMa Na Cay eee ee ocd CR a Raa OW AR eee RW MCT ay tao Succeed Again. Eligible new military students can save 30% per credit toward a graduate degree oF certificate program in business, cybersecurity, data analytics, healthcare and more + 100% online and hybrid courses available « Personalized advising and lifetime career services Scan the QR code to learn more. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MBA and most graduate cyber GLOBAL CAMPUS programs start July 12 FF srrounsenvice since 1947100 SOLDIERS AWARDED RECRUITING RIBBON FOR GETTING OTHERS TO ENLIST ‘The Army has awarded more than 100 soldiers its new recruiting ribbon as the service leans on its rank and file to en- courage new enlistees to join the servic At least 5 104 were part of the soldiers were promoted and ven the recruiting ribbon as oldier Referral Program, Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Cas: tro said there have been 11,590 referrals, since May 19. Those referrals led to 232 new recruits, she added, “In 2023, the Army launched an initia- tive to turn every soldier into a recruiter JUNE 2028 and began offering: promotion points to junior enlisted soldiers (E41 to E3) for referring individuals who begin basic training,” said Castro, adding that there have been 57 promotions as a result of the program. The Soldier Referral Program began in January as a means to counter recruiting shortfalls facing the service. Last year, the Army fell short ofits recruiting goals by 15,000 troops — or 25% ots total goal. Between January and March the pro- ram produced nearly 5300 referrals. m VIETNAM-ERA MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT RECEIVES SPECIAL FORCES HONOR A legendary Green Beret added anoth- ‘er honor to his distinguished resume on May 12 when he was inducted as a dis- tinguished member of the Special Forces Regiment. Retired Col, Paris Davis, who received the Medal of Honor last year for his ac- tions leading a Special Forces team in 1965 during the Vietnam War, was ree ognized at a Special Forces Association event held at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia ‘Then a captain, Davis was leading a pre- dawn raid on an enemy camp near Bong Son, on June 18 of that year when all hell broke loose. In what became a 19-hour battle, every member of his team was wounded, But Davis disobeyed an order to withlraw and leave behind some of his, troops — he instead sprinted repeatedly into a flooded rice paddy, working his trig- ger with the pinky of a grenadeshattered hand, and rescued them one at atime. Retired sergeant major and future CIA operator Billy Waugh, whose April New York Times obituary lauded him as “Godfather of the Green Berets,” would have been captured that day had Davis, not hauled him off the battlefield on his ARMYTIMES.COM i i i 3 iIT PAYS TO BE ASTXR! e YOUR FIRST-DAY’S PURCHASES SAVE 5* ON EVERY GALLON OF FUEL 10% OFF AT PARTICIPATING EXCHANGE RESTAURANTS 2% REWARDS ON ALL PURCHASES (EXCHANGES, COMMISSARIES & ONLINE) =a ae MAUL 8 lV Ona A sty a MORE & START EARNING REWARDS TODAY!SOLDIERS UNDER ‘ENORMOUS STRAIN, SN aS TOP ENLISTED tee BY JAMES CLARK Even though America’s longest war has drawn to an end, soldiers continue to face a breakneck operational tempo, and for the time being there seems to be lit tle chance of respite as the Army is left short-handed amid a recruiting crisis, “We have an enormous strain on sol diers,” Sergeant Major of the Army Mi- chael Grinston said in mid-May. “We're now than we ever have been.” ‘The Army’s top enlisted leader issued the dire warning at the Fires Symposium in Lawton, Oklahoma, calling current strains on personnel a “huge concern” for him, according to a press release by the Association of the United States Army. The high operations tempo, coupled with the shrinking size of the force, ‘means that soldiers are being asked to do ‘more with les busi For the second year in a row, the Army missed its target recruiting goal. Ac cording to AUSA, the Army’s projected strength for fiscal year 2024 is roughly 951,800 soldiers, counting active duty, Guard and Reserve, That total marks a 20K decrease from the service's end strength in 2022, Contrary to claims that the U.S. mik itary has scaled back its operational tempo during what has been branded as 8 sre202 peacetime — a claim that overlooks the risks shouldered by service members siill serving in combat zones, and Syria — American sol selves deploying regularly for missions abroad as well as at home ‘There are advise and assist deployments in Iraq and Syria, some of which rely on de- tachments with unique capabilities, such as air artillery defense units. At home, the Army and National Guard have been called upon to serve as ducttape fixes for everything from the COVID response to support at the US.Mexico border. “The link of everything we've done has been the Army,” Grinston said, according to the release. “Whether it's COVID, hur- ricanes, forest fires, Russia, Ukraine, all the way to what we're doing today. That's why, again, I'm concerned about our op- tempo.” The tempo may be grueling, but sok diers continue to meet the high expecta tions set before them, Grinston added, “We've never said no,” Grinston said of the Army. “Tve watched these soldiers, year after year, they've said, ‘Yes, Il go do that. Grinston’s remarks at the Fires Sym- posium come on the heels of another conversation in which he raised work. load concerns of the average soldier. In April, Grinston told Miltary.com’s Steve Corn oye cur eens Fe a ea Beynon “the average "tknow how stressful this is on our families. I think it has been an incredible strain on our soldiers and our families.” Ahead of a deployment overseas, sol diers must meet a series of requirements before even beginning pre-deployment training, Individual tasks may only take a day here or there, but they pile up. This, period is followed by a monthlong pre-e ployment training evolution — often host dat the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, or the Joint Readines ‘Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana — that may be further augmented by uunitlevel exercises specific to select con mands or career fields, Atop the predeployment period, per sonnel must meet unitlevel logistical re quirements, individual preparations for necessary armor and gear, screenings, staffing and so on. Finally, when every task has been completed, the deployment and all the rigors and risks that come with, itaw: Soldiers eventually return home and are afforded a breather, albeit brief, be- fore doing itll over again. With manpow. er issues looming and a tempo that won't slow, it remains to be seen whether this cadence is sustainable — not just for the Army, but for those who fil its ranks. m ARMYTIMES.COMTransitioning with Ease Tee) urea amet ad eMC led Transitioning into a civilian can come with its mental blocks and challenges. Research supports that brain-based healing is a quick and effective way to gain clarity and focus. Meet with a highly trained practitioner to remove the blocks and optimize your Me RUC Rc UM men iy civilian world. “FREEDOM! There were a few big issues that | needed to address » and through Brain Based > Healing | was able to overcome ® those fears and issues. It was completely life-altering.” - US. Veteran OPERATION WARRIOR RESOLUTION Healing Veterans and Their Families Scan Code to Transition with Ease 4 OperationWarriorResolution.org 941-806-5722 [ityFOOD DELIVERY DRIVER DASHES INTO ARMY RANKS AFTER CHANCE ENCOUNTER “This young lady was just about ready to give up her Army journey,” Harrison said, according to ABC Columbia, a local news station, “And she came by my house todeliver DoorDash ... and she got out of the car and walked towards me and said, “Oh my God you're a sign from God.” Harrison introduced Limbaga to the Ar- y's Future Soldier Prep Course, which from the Philippines, was working for helps candidates raise their performance the food delivery company DoorDash physically or academically so they can ‘when she crossed paths with Brig. Gen. enlist. Richard A. Harrison, the deputy chief of “That afternoon, he was a clear sign staff at Army Training and Doctrine Com- the sign,” Limbaga said, according to an ‘mand, after the officer putin an order for Army release. “It was a star sign.” two Subway sandwiches. Limbaga arrived at Fort Jackson three Limbaga wanted to join the armed fore- weeks before her fellow recruits to par es, she told a pata se or Peoti. and thei BY JONATHAN LEHRFELD A fortuitous encounter between a food delivery driver and an Army brigadier general set the driver onto a path that culminated with her May 11 graduation from basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Pfe. Patricia Limbaga, an immigrant commandant of the Army’s Air Defense Artillery School, traveled from Fort Eu- stis, Virginia, to see Limbaga graduate alongside soldiers of the Ist Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment. “He guided me not as a [sloldier, but like his own daughter,” Limbaga said of Harrison's support throughout her enlis ment process. “He lifted me up and gave me hope.” Limbaga is now slated to head to Fort GreggeAdams, Virginia, to train as a culi- nary specialist. = Ce medics ae eeu enceMacn te) Oe or aera See CON ayPn JUNE 27-29, 2023 WALTER E. WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER, WASHINGTON D.C. READY, RESPONSIVE, RESILIENT | 400+ Exhibiting Companies, OBJ 1 Wargaming Convention, Briefings from Senior Leaders and DoD Personnel, Distinguished Guest Speakers including Cpl William "Kyle" Carpenter, USMC(Ret), the Latest Warfighting Innovations, and More Mesdrn Day Marin snot open to he pub. Alregitans most REGISTER provide proof of identity with a Government sued photographie ID tnd mat demonstrate that they have an identiableylatonahip"™ NOW withthe Marine Corps @ ‘The Department of Defense, the Dapartment ofthe Navy OF US. Marine Corps does not endorse any company, sponsor or thee products o services, eee oteaymaneARE “WALKING ey EET Gy COMING UU ey OS gy BY DAVIS WINKIE HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA — When the socalled “Golden Hour” is ticking away for a wounded soldier on the battle- field, every second count ‘As does each drop of blood. Massive blood loss is a leading battlefield killer, staunched only by quick first aid and rap- id replenishment, But as the Army restructures and pre- pares for a potential largescale war, the s medical planners recognize that geting patients to fully equipped hospitals in such a conflict may take days, and getting temperature-controlled blood products to the front lines might be even more difficult, Army Times attended panel at an Association of the U.S. Army event in late March about the battle to move blood during the next conflict. Pan- lists argued that training conventional medics on extended casualty care will ensure blood transfusions start as close to the front as possible and buoy survival rates, Enter the walking blood bag, times also called a walking blood bank. The id rely new. In fact, ac cording to a 2006 trauma studies paper, a discussion a isn't e US. military doctors have used fresh do- nor blood in every major conflict since the technique emerged during World War 1 Many military hospitals duting the Glob- 12. senezs al War on Terror tracked staffers’ blood types in case of mass casualty events that outpaced supply of other blood products. But the practice is moving closer to the front line, In recent years, the special operations community pioneered persono-person whole blood transfusions during combat, a 10minute process in which a soldier donates blood into a transfer bag and then returns to the fight while its admin- istered to their wounded comrade. The 75th Ranger Regiment, the Army's top light infantry unit, said in a release that such transfusions saved soldiers wound: ed in Afghanistan during summer 2019. ‘The panelists want the conventional Army to catch up and push toward the front. While the Marine Corps and some elements of the Army have already started training the concept, one of the Army’s top doctors wants the practice and its training, standardized and fielded across the force “We have doctrine that talks about walk: ing blood banks,” said Brig. Gen, Mark Thompson, a soon-retiring Army Medical Command logistics planner. “We do not have doctrine that talks about walking blood banks far forward.” Col, Jason Corley, who helps manage and integrate new blood product technologies said the service's Medical Center of Excel: lence is working “to develop standardized training tasks, lists and methods of nstruc- ‘A soldiegwith the 75th eget ey dibliied Advdnged Ranger ei uc as ‘blood transfusion from a ae iat tion” in addition to deciding which Army career: such as combat medies will be tasked to learn the technique. ‘Thompson said bringing such practic: es forward to Role 1 aid stations, which provide initial casualty treatment before shipping more serious cases to surgical teams, can help keep patients alive longer on a battlefield where air evacuation may someday be impossible ‘The capability integrator, Corley, noted the special operations community's work provides “a tremendous amount of lessons learned” to guide how the conventional force will embrace walking blood banks. But both he and Thompson warned that the practice won't be a cure-all, nor will it always work. The general highlighted the issue of “scale and supply.” arguing that for conventional forces “the size of the ca sualty event is likely much larger.” Corley cautioned that personnel might not always have the sterile supplies needed to pall it off, nor will units always have enough donors with a compatible blood type. Buthe argued that history shows the practice will be a key part ofthe next big war: “We've learned in past conflicts that walking blood bank is absolutely a critical capability,” he said. “[] think it will help us to overcome contested logistics .. and wwe need to ensure that all of our medical providers across all roles of care can im plement it.m ARMYTIMES.COMCAVERO STRUGGLING? NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN? WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN! SUPPORT RESOURCES ACTIVITIES A free app for service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers. Connect to peer support through text, call, or video chat. Access curated wellness tools, training, and resources at the touch of a button. Get support or give support today! WWW.OBJECTIVEZERO.ORGBY DAVIS WINKIE As the military struggles to meet its re- cruiting targets, which the Army will miss again this year, the service's recruiting chief issued a directive May 5 standard- izing recent changes to how it removes ‘underperformers ‘The memo from Army Recruiting Command's Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis im- plemented recent changes to the Army regulation governing how recruiters are assigned to —and, ifnecessary, removed from — recruiting duty. Command of ficials did not immediately respond to emailed questions from Army Times about the memo, which circulated on so- cial met One of the biggest changes: the com- mand will remove “ineffective” recruit ers without giving them a negative eval- uation, including both permanent 79R recruiters and those involuntarily. se- lected by the Army for temporary tours. Under the previous regulation, recruit- ing commanders had the discretion to slap failed Army-selected recruiters with “relief for cause” evaluations that could torpedo the recipient's career, regard- less of their competence in their primary specialty, The memo defined “ineffective recruit- cers” as those who have been assigned to the command for at least a year but have 14 une 2008 signed two or fewer recruits since Octo- ber. Davis noted that each recruiter as gned to a production role, which comes ‘with extra pay, is responsible for “atleast” fone contraet per month, Recruiting leaders must counsel and offer remedial training to substandard recruiters before tagging them as ineffec- tive and involuntarily reassigning them, according to the regulation, Davis said that over the next 90 days, the command will “immediately” sign ineffective recruiters who received the required counseling, and training, but haven't improved. Army'selected recruit cers who haven't received the paperwork necessary to justify the ineffective des- ignation “will be offered voluntary reas- signment outside of the [recruiting] com mand, without a negative (evaluation],” he added, Recruiters who haven't produced com tracts “through no fault of their own” won't face reassignment, the memo said. Such reasons could include non-recruiting tem- porary duty assignments, medical leave, pa- rental leave or holding a role that requires voluminous administrative work such as ‘commanding a large recruiting station, ‘The move to boot non-performers off recruiting duty comes amid efforts to transform how the service selects, trains and assigns recruiting personnel, One effort is a special assignment bat- tebe Se ae tery that can help offi joned officer a better fit for recruiting duty or drill sergeant duty, two of the main involuntary assignments that many staff sergeants find themselves selected for, But the new regulation also eased some assignment eligibility qualifications, re ducing the required general technical ‘and skilled-technical test score re- quirements from 95 points to 90 points. Soldiers who have a GED rather than a high school diploma are now also eligible for recruiting duty, regardless of college credits, The top general for Training and Doc trine Command, Gen. Gary Brito, told Army Times in March that the Army's recruiting school is undergoing an “over- haul” and has changed its curriculum to include an expanded real-world exercise and lessons about the practical implica tions of living farther away from a military installation, New recruiters may be better aligned with places they and their families are comfortable living and working, Davis said in recent remarks at an Association of the U.S. Army event. “We want [recruiters] to be allowed to be part of the assignment process of where they go,” the recruiting gener- al said, “We want the families to be in- volved.” a ARMYTIMES.COMSIZZLING ee SWZ. oe SAIN LESS TIME IN LINE, MORE TIME AT THE BBQ! »= shop.commissaries.com = riBY RACHAELRILEY ‘THE FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER ‘The US. Army Special Operations Com ‘mand has its first female command ser- ‘geant major, while the outgoing top enlist ced soldier will be the next sergeant major of the Army. With more than 30,000 soldiers and ci- vilians, USASOC is the higher command for the Ist Special Forces Command, John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and ‘School, Army Special Operations Aviation Command and 75th Ranger Regiment. During a ceremony May 1 at Fort Liber- ty, Command Set. Maj. JoAnn Naumann assumed responsibility from Command ‘Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Weimer. ‘Naumann most recently served as the senior enlisted leader for Special Opera- tions Command-Korea. She enlisted in the Army in February 1996 as a voice language analyst. She completed the Arabie Basic Course at the Defense Language Institute and Ad- vanced Individual Training at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas. Naumann's assignments include serv- ing as the Joint Special Operations Com- man¢’s senior enlisted advisor, command sergeant major for the 15th Military Intel ligence Battalion and command sergeant major for the Joint Special Operations ‘Command Intelligence Brigade. She has completed 14 deployments throughout CENTCOM and AFRICOM. 16 surc202 In an Army interview last year, Nau- ‘mann said she’s been with special opera- tions since 2002, “When I came into the SOF (special op. ‘erations forces) community in 2002, there ‘were very few women,” Naumann said Ahead of the May 1 ceremony, Nau- ‘mann said that being in special operations forces is more about capability “We have all different military occu- pation specialties in our formation,” she said. "We have genders and races and ev- cerything. Everyone is represented in our formation, and it's about putting every- body on the same playing field and then selecting the best athlete.” Lt. Gen, Jonathan Braga, USASOS's commander who oversaw the ceremony, said he's known Naumann for decades and described her as a trailblazer. During Naumann’s most recent assign- ment, Braga said, she worked with Kore- ‘an forces that don’t “really have females,” in its special operation forces. ‘Naumann, Braga said, showed the Ko- rean forces that she would jump with them, go to the range with them and was avalue, “Talk about changing cultures and adding to strategy and international partnerships through sheer perseverance and commit. ‘ment and leading by example,” he said, Prior to the ceremony, Naumann the best advice she received was when she was a staff sergeant and a sergeant major told her she’s done her job when her soldiers don’t need her anymore, “Itis about developing our people .. It’s not about me here today, but it's about who's going to be here behind me and who's going to be here in 10 years and growing those future leaders,” she said, Naumann said she's honored to lead the Army’s special operation forces “at an flection point,” when the Army is “chal lenged by new adversaries and rapidly advancing technology.” She thanked Weimer for his guidance. NEW SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE ARMY Weimer is leaving his position as com- mand sergeant major of USASOC to become the 17th sergeant major of the Army in August, a position currently held by Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, Ahead of the ceremony, Weimer said that he didn't start his Army career think- ing he'd become the senior enlisted lead: er of USASOC or the Army. He said men- {ors have taught him to focus on being he where is in that moment in time. “We have a tendency to always be think: ing about the next step or the next thing, and it absolutely can be distracting, espe- cially in our line of work,” Weimer said Braga said Weimer will be the first Spe- cial Forces noncommissioned officer to hold the Army's top enlisted spot and de- scribed him as having “courage, candor and commitment ARMYTIMES.COMKIDPRENEUR CAMP Calling Military Connected Teens Who Aspire To Be Entrepreneurs Lh Contact Leona Sublett for sponsorship opportunities lsublett@therosienetwork.org THE ROSIE NETWORK | WWW.THEROSIENETWORK.ORG The Rosie Network is a 501 (c}3 Federal Tax ID Number: 46-1522625 Presented By:Ti ABA aq Cope soi: BY DAVIS WINKIE Asthe Army finishesits review of botched recruiting fraud investigations that brand- ed troops with false criminal histories, the service has awarded a previously de- nied promotion to an officer who led the charge to correct the errors after they de- railed his career. Now-Maj, Gilberto De Leon was select- ed for major in 2019, However, because investigators from the Army's Criminal Investigation Division improperly listed him in criminal databases years before, his promotion was halted after an auto- mated records review found “adverse in: formation.” Even though he'd never been charged and a review board deemed him promotable, De Leon's promotion eligibit- ity expired in spring 2022 before he could pin on his new rank. Frustrated, he wrote a March 2022 op- ed for Military Times, and became the public face of thousands of troops whom CID investigated and submitted to crim nal databases without arrestor prosecu Resulting pressure from advocates and lawmakers led the Army to review thousands of cases to identify and correct improper database entries that have up- 18 senezoes ended lives. Amid pressure from Congre agency has completed it ‘will provide a detailed report to Con- ‘gress within the next month,” said Ronna ‘Weyland, a spokesperson for the Army's Criminal Investigation Division, After his promotion, De Leon will re ceive two years of back pay and medically retire in the higher grade, according to documents he shared with Army Times. But he said he doesn't believe that’s enough for what he and others endured, which included false arrest records sub- mitted to a Federal Bureau of Investiga- tion database, “Mere removal of criminal titles and reinstatement of earned ranks doe equate to achieving righteous justice or accountability,” De Leon said in a text message, adding that he wants to see con- tinued scrutiny from lawmakers and “ public apology” from senior leaders. He also criticized the service’s communica: tion with him in a post on LinkedIn, and said he learned from media reports that the Senate had approved his De Leon, who was the firs der to be formally cleared in the Army's internal review of the recruiting fraud the review and not promotion, known sok Maj. Gilberto De Leon is a mar- ried father of six most recently stationed at Fort Carson, Colo, wwestigations, is now the firstknown sol: dier to have its negative impacts on their career reversed G-RAP, as it was known while active from 2005 to 2012, paid a private com pany to employ offduty Guardsmen as independent contractor “recruiting a tants.” The recruiting assistants received around $2,000 for each new enlisted sol dier they referred to Guard recruite and the program helped refill the Army National Guard's ranks during the bloody surge years of the Global War on Terror: But service officials abruptly ended the program in 2012 when an internal audit identified nearly one in four payments as, possibly fraudulent, kicking off one of the largest criminal investigations in Army history: CID's Task Force Raptor. The task force's personnel, many of whom were reservists and recalled re tires, worked fervently — and in some cases, unfairly — under pressure from Congress to find the alleged frau, Only 137 people ever faced criminal charges from the investigation. The CID task force, which cost around $28 mil lion, never yielded anything near the $92 ion in payments that auditors flagged as potentially fraudulent. Lawmakers ARMYTIMES.COMpushed the service to find a way to inflict administrative consequences on those who couldn't face charges due to the stat ute of limitations or evidentiary problems. “What tools do you have to make sure that ev understands that there was punishment here?” asked then-Sen, Claire McCaskill, DMo., in a Feb. 4, 2014 contracting oversight hearing with Army officials. “Even ifthey're not going to pris- (on — even if those criminal statutes) of limitations have run — I need to know what else you can do.” In response, the Army's top law en- forcement officer, Maj. Gen, David Quan tock, told the senator that the service has “many administrative tools in the [Army] Secretary's kitbag” for targeting those they can't prosecute, De Leon fell victim to that administra- tive “kitbag,” despite never being arrest- ed or charged with a crime. Investigators inappropriately added him and as many as 1,900 others to Defense Department and FBI databases, CID’s director, Gregory Ford, shared data from an initial review of 900 such cases in November. He said the agency found “the majority” of those records were incorrect and required “some form of correction For years, many who quietly received such punishments weren't aware of them, ‘Then the impacts started appearing in their daily lives — Guardsmen who worked as police officers lost their jobs, others had weapons permits and other state licenses denied, and a handful of officers had previously approved promo- tions derailed. ‘That's what happened to De Leon, who was first recommended for promotion in 2019, An impacted contracting officer fea tured in an April 2022 Army Times inves- tigation, Capt. Justin Tahilramani, was administratively denied his promotion to ‘major as well despite having passed strict ethical and background checks to enter the service's Acquisition Comps. He was entered into criminal databas- es (but never arrested or charged) over three G-RAP payments he received for ‘Texas cadets who enlisted after he gave a presentation on the benefits of joining up. ARMYTIMES.cOM G-RAP involve. ‘ment when vetting him to award and ad- minister government contracts “It was vindicating to know that they ssaw past it,” Tahilramani told Army’ last year. “They saw me for what I brought tothe table, Now, despite CID formally clearing him and removing his incorrect entries from criminal databases, he's no longer on ac- tive duty. He left because the administrative bur- den of fixing his records was pushed onto him, he explained, and he was concerned chance at promotion and involuntarily discharge him for failing to promote. “Addling] to the insane irony,” Tahilra mani told Army Times, “I got hired back as a fully remote contracting officer for Army Contracting Command...whose leadership] has stood by my side and have bent over backwards to support me.” But it's still not clear whether his mil iy records will be fixed as De Leon's So far, Tahilramani said he's received ‘no word on the status” of any promo tions ecpi ra DUR HSS IT MISSION erate amen st Tc) Seren che Oe ee as Me eet) ue recy 2 as ea Me aes Pad See ACN aa) ars. BEST FOR VETS 11 YEARS IN A ROW 888.756.9492 ecpi.edu/militaryear Seat Se eM ay ener eee Coretta PUiycuneen eich SS eT ESS Te BY DAVIS WINKIE After nearly three years of promises, the Army is still yet to deliver a long-awaited regulation to standardize how the service ‘works to prevent and respond to suicide. ‘An Army spokesperson acknowledged the holdup in producing a dedicated suicide prevention regulation, saying in an email that the service is “working ur gently but deliberately to complete this effort Army Times reported previous delays, as well as how the service blocked publ to a report cited in an April 2022 story about the wait, ‘The most recent seltimposed deadline is the end of June, according to written testimony that the service's top leaders ‘gave to Congress in May. This time, the delay is due in part to the Defense Department releasing the rec ‘ommendations of the DoD’s Suicide Pre vention and Response Independent Re- view Committee. The group released its report in February, and the delay is likely intended to align the Army's guidance with the committee's recommendations. “(The Army is working with the Office of the Secretary of Defense to address recommendations that came out in the 20 » SPIRC report,” said Army spokesperson Bryce Dubee. “The Army is also refining its draft Suicide Prevention Regulation to both support our commanders and sol diers in the field.” Is unclear at this time whether the “re fining” process will lead to another delay after years of blown deadlines. ‘The Army first declared in 2020 that it was writing a dedicated suicide preven tion regulation. But then the bureaucratic delays mounted. ‘The regulation was initially scheduled {for “publication in fall ccording to a September 2021 *Stand-To!” message to the force. Barely two months later, in November of 2021, a press release pushed the pub- lication date to “the first quarter of 2022.” After Army Times wrote about the de lays in April 2022, a service spokesperson said the regulation would arrive sometime between July and September of that year. Then that deadline came and passed, and an unsigned press release promised that itwould arrive by the end of 2022. ‘And while the bureaucracy continues to spin its wheels, soldiers take to social me- ia forums like Reddit to seek resources and guidance in the absence of overarch- ing instructions that those regulation: supposed to provide. WHY DOES THE ARMY NEED A SUICIDE PREVENTION REGULATION? Regulations are how the Army officially ts forth missions, responsibilities, and policies,” according to the regulation that defines Army regulation In layman's terms, they're how the ser vice delegates authority for tasks, as well as how it ensures that the entire force complies with policies laid out by law or the Defense Department. Regulations are also an important tool for holding lead: ers accountable for their failures; falling, short of one’s regulatory responsibilities ccan result in punishments ranging from reprimands to relief, or even criminal charges in egregiou Absent a guiding regulation, the cur rent presentation of the Army's disparate suiciderelated policies and resources could pose challenges for the junior lead ers who are most likely to directly imple- ment them, Such leaders often turn to regulations for answers on a daily basis. ‘The Army Resilience Directorate’s sui cide prevention webpage has 12 differ ent “leader toolkits,” a frequently asked questions section, a standalone Suicide Prevention Month “microsite,” and more, ‘The lack of guidelines can leave respon: bilities unclear, sometimes with tragic results According to a recent Military.com in vestigation, a soldier assigned to the Ist Infantry Division died by suicide 30 days after surviving a previous attempt. ‘The soldier's supervision at the time of his death consisted of texting the word “up” to a staff sergeant once a day, the outlet reported. While it's difficult to determine wheth. er clearer support responsibilities could have prevented that soldier’s death, their absence makes it more difficult to hold leaders who may have failed accountable. Editor's Note: Ifyou or a loved one is ex periencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, ‘you can confidentially seek assistance via the Military/Veterans Crisis Line bycalling 988 ‘and dialing 1, via text at 838255 or chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net. You don't need to be a VA beneficiary to use the service. m ARMYTIMES.COMHelp like Dave in need of ai TOP ENLISTED SOLDIER SAYS NCOS NEED TO ‘BE WHERE YOUR BOSS ISN'T BYTODD SOUTH ‘There's a classic scene, familiar to sok ders many generations, where a senior enlisted leader trails behind the com- manding officer, figuratively attached at the hip, ‘That's a good soldier, right? Maybe not anymore, “You're probably not enabling mission command if you're sitting right next to your boss,” said Sergeant Major of the ‘Army Michael A. Grinston on May 16 at the annual Association of the U.S. Army's Land Forces Pacific Symposium in Hono- lulu, Hawaii Grinston's “fireside chat” with his im- mediate predecessor, retired Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel Dailey, took place prior to a panel on the role of the noncommissioned officer in the U.S. In- do-Pacifie Command. Mission command is running military operations through “decentralized exect- tion” based on mission orders, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff definition, With Army units, even company-level and below, stretched across the widest of, distances in this pivotal region, the ser- ’s top leaders have pushed in recent years to put decision-making in the hands of lower ranks, It's a move that’s vital for the Army and 22. wre anrs other military branches to fight a new kind of fight — more dispersed, quick: cer cycles of reconnaissance, strikes, and counterstrikes. For conven gone are the days of unchecked air supe- riority and long-running planning for kill- or-capture missions. And a big push across all geographic combatant commands requires trust ing NCOs both in the US. Army and its partners and allies — another message ‘trumpeted and repeated countless times in recent years, ‘That's where a senior NC ‘crucial role, Grinston said, “Sometimes you gotta be where your bboss isn't,” Grinston said. “What are those things that you can see that he or she can't see? ‘That said, the outgoing top enlisted sok dier, warned the audience full of chevrons that it doesn’t get easier the further up the ladder one climbs. “And the higher you go, the harder this gets,” he said, Part of that function, Grinston noted, is gauging the real motivation of partner or allied forces. Much of that can be mea. sured at the NCO level, he said. “Do we think they have the will to fight? Because that’s come up alotin Russia and, Ukraine,” Grinston said. Sergeants and above need to fact check can play a or perhaps gut check what's happening at lower levels versus what top partner or al lied force officers are saying, he said, Without it, the task is nearly impossi ble. Maj. Gen. Joseph Ryan, command. ing general of the 25th Infantry Division, based out of Hawaii, put the lessons he Jearned from Afghanistan bluntly. “We've got to be honest brokers with ourselves in terms of evaluation of reli able partners,” Ryan said. “I think any- body who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan who says they didn’t question the efficacy of the Afghan Army, what we were trying to build there and what we were trying to do, not without intense, incredible, hercu- Jean effort, the fact that the partner was overestimated as a reliable partner does not escape me.” Those questions now linger as the U. itary works to build reliable part to counter China in the Pacific. In the conversation, Dailey synthesized Grinston’s comments into two words: op- rationalizing trust. Grinston shared wisdom he’s gained over his nearly four decades in the Army, noting that the larger the group of sok diers, the harder itis to build and main- tain trust and, it takes time ‘While previously atthe brigade level, he remembered calling down to one of his enlisted soldiers and requesting a staff sergeant for tasking. “T don't have any staff sergeants,” the unidentified soldier replied. “I knew that wasn't tru ston said, But rather than shouting out to find someone, Grinston understood that he was new to this brigade and this senior NCO didn’t know him well enough to trust him to use that staff sergeant for something more important than what they were needed for at the battalion lev- al “He didn't trust me to make the right decision,” Grinston said. “And it was up to ‘me at the brigade to fix that.” In another anecdote specific to partnerships, Grin- ston referred to the relationship he’s built over years with Sergeant Major of the New Zealand Army Wiremu Moffit. “Mu’ called me from New Zealand and said, ‘Ineed you to do this, if had to buy my own plane ticket, would do it” m ers ARMYTIMES.COMLearn more about our monthly giving program, Operation Lasting Support (OLS), and help our nation’s most severely injured post-9/11 Veterans. 866.787.6677 OUR MISSION To build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. HFOThas been evaluated as one of Amerle' Top Rated Veterans and Miltary Charities.NSS ee EXERCISES, Se BYTODD SOUTH ‘The most junior soldiers serving in the US. Indo-Pacific Command train in more exotic locales and use more futuristic tech in their first assignments than even graying sergeants majors saw over de- cadestong careers. ‘That’s the distillation of remarks from a panel of highly placed senior noncommis- sioned officers in the Army who spoke on ‘May 16 at the annual Association of the US. Army Land Forces Pacific Sympo- sium in Honolulu, Hawaii ‘The combination of putting junior sok ders and NCOs into a variety of exercis- es, the main thrust being the annual Pacif ic Pathways exercises, and handing them new technolo equipment to new drone and strike capa- ilties, continues to grow. ‘The program began in 2014 under then- Gen, Vincent Brooks, US. Army Pacific commander during the U.S. strategic “piv- ot” from US. Central Command-based operations to an Asiafocused effort, That effort was focused on moving the service away from training for the types of oper- ations that were ubiquitous in Iraq and Afghanistan — such as striking terrorist leaders or talking with tribal elders — and toward the sorts of missions they may face inalarge-scale conventional conflict, which ran range from targeting enemy ships with sophisticated drone-sensor combos to de- 24 sure ozs from communications tecting social media chatter aimed planting information in an ally’ elections. What started with a brigade or less in a handful of Pacific nations for a few weeks or more has grown significantly In 2018, then Gen. Robert Brown an- nounced the program would see longer duration deployments, running four to six months, That “Pacific Pathways 2.0" ver- sion began with emplacing soldiers for a four-month rotation in Thailand, the Phi ippines and Palau in 2019, Beyond the training, soldiers now have some of the new technology, such as the first long-range hypersonic weapon field- ced to the Ist Multi-Domain Task Force at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington earlier this year, due largely to modern- ization work that’s spanned everything from new field uniforms to missiles and pocketsized “Black Hornet” drones, in recent years. ‘Command Sgt. Maj. Shawn F. Carns, the senior enlisted NCO for I Corps, which oversees Army units in the Pacific and the Pacific Pathways military exercise pro- gram out of Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington, spoke candidly about his own Army experience regarding joint and partner exercises, “Inever got that opportunity until was a sergeant major,” Carns said It wasn't until he served on sepa rate assignments, one with Joint Task ForeeBravo in Honduras and the other Orne Sate ae earn ec paren oro NA PreWeeTal with Combined Joint Task ForceHorn “I didn’t understand joint,” Carns said. But he’s seeing that change at the low: est echelons within his own unt, I Corps. “Now we are getting that experience tothe soldier, that private just coming out of (Ad- vance! Individual Training) and he or she a couple of months later going over to Sings pore, going over to Australia, going aver to Indonesia and doing some ofthese exercises that are joint and mulation,” he said. US. Navy Fleet Master Chief David Isom, the senior enlisted leader at IN DOPACOM, had a similar observation in the same panel “Lsee NCOs strengthening our posture and building those relationships every day across the theater and it’s fantastic,” Isom said ‘A reabworld example came in a sepa rate panel, eld on May 18 on training for future warfare In that panel, Lt. Gen, Romeo Brawner, commanding general of the Philippine told the audience that when his country, which has been in the crosshairs of Chinese military provocations and in fluence operations in recent years, saw ‘what was happening in Ukraine “We saw in the Ukraine Russia conflict how effective Stingers and Javelins are when it comes to this type of land war- fare,” Brawner sadam ARMYTIMES.COM i E ‘EARLY BIRD BRIEF By the editors of Defense News & Military Times Wake up with our quick morning round-up of the day's top national security stories GT pn oy ARE TTT SA Sse ETaD= 26 sure aors (UU i ALWAYS ; FIGHTING GRAVITY” Uages, ea maT Ce a Ae say aviation is on the right track BY DAVIS WINKIE. 1m Drew knows his way around a helicopter or two — he’s qualified to fly nine cur- rent and former Army airframes. He pinned his pilot's wings in 1983 as a warrant officer flying the AH-1 Cobra. However, for the past three years or so, the two-star general has been on a human re- ‘sources holiday, first with the service's Talent Management Task Force and now as the leader of Human Resources Command. Despite his new assignment, Drew finds himself at the center of one of many controversies currently agitating the service's aviators: a debate over pilot service obligations amplified by the revelation that nearly 200 flyers left the Army before their commitments were complete, Spring 2023 presented further challenges for the Army's aviation community: a spate of deadly accidents and personnel issues grabbed national headlines and ultimately led to a fleet wide operations halt. In turn, current and former soldiers have found themselves. asking: What is going on with Army aviation? Army Times spoke with the service's top officers, and other senior officials in the branch, like Drew, who argued that the state of Army aviation is strong despite recent difficulties. ‘As evidence, they pointed to stable pilot retention and years-long reductions in acci- dent rates, even including the recent crashes. ‘And beyond recent events, officials say they are excited about the Army's progress ‘on major modernization efforts, The Army recently selected Textron’s Bell to build its Future Long Range Assault Aircraft based on its V-280 Valor tiltrotor technology demon- strator, Leaders also said they believe recent safety stand down events will yield informa- tion that wll help the service maintain its years-ong trend of safer flying. ‘The Army is now working to adjust doctrine, training and force structure to integrate the titrotor aircraft when it hits hangars by the early 2030s. “L see a very bright path for our aviators and those who work on aircraft,” declared Gen, James McConville, the service’s chief of staff and a pilot himself, ina phone inter- view with Army Times. ARMYTIMES.COM, onA COMMUNITY AT A CROSSROADS Much like the rest of the Army, the avi- ation branch will evolve in the decade ahead as the service retools and reorge- nizes to compete with and, if necessary, fight against adversaries like China or Russia McConville said the service is at an “in flection point” and must transform after two decades of counterinsurgency and ‘combating extremism. ‘The Army's embrace of multi-domain operations as its guiding fighting concept will dive much of the shift — an October 2022 update to the service’s operations field manual laid the groundwork for hhow it plans to integrate space and eyber effects into the traditional air, land and sea domains of warfare, That triggered updates to sincereleased or in-progres nearly 370 other publications. ‘The Army's helicopter force isn’t ex: ‘empt, explained Maj. Gen. Mac McCurry, who leads the Aviation Center of Excel lence at Fort Novosel, Alabama. “We're currently in the process of pro- ducing the next iteration of Army aviation operations [doctrine] that is in line with that,” he said, And the demands of the future battle- field will require aviators to step their tactical game up after two decades of combating extremism around the world, ‘even if that mission hasn't entirely disap: peared, ‘The branch is “acutely focused on sharpening tactical and technical skills for our young leaders,” McCurry said. Re- vamped or expanded training courses like the Advanced Warfighting Skills course for warrant officers or the Air Cavalry Leaders Course are “really getting deep” ‘on understanding enemy systems and tac- ties, he added. ‘The general said officials are devel oping a new advanced tactics course in- tended to create advanced flyers who can mesh flying techniques with aerial small unit tacties and then go back to their units to train those methods with junior pilots. ‘The other services have similar courses already, McCurry added, and the Army needs its own version “applicable to how wwe fight.” But the biggest change looming for ARMYTIMES.cOM any wi eS, ‘ Cpl. Bradley Pat @CH-47 Chinook | Tepairer assigned to the 4th Battalion, 3rd | Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation r tS on the back of aChinook ing Immediate Response 23, in Nort “Macedonia; May 26. ©) = the Army's aviators is technology-based, ‘The Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, should Bell's tiltrotor live up to expects tions, is intended to gradually replace the UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter as the Army's “doitall” workhorse — but with superior range and speed. MoConville said the new long range air craft will ease the complex refueling cal culations that have bedeviled even “some of the recent operations that were run, with our special operators.” Prototypes for a next-generation attack helicopter, meant to replace the venerable AH-64 Apache by the early 2030s, are ready for testing as well once delayed next-gener tion engines are completed for them. McCurry, the aviation chief, acknowl edged that the new platforms will require changes to “doctrine, operations, lead: ership, personnel, facilities, policy” and ‘more. But he said he's optimistic that the service will find solutions by the time the helicopters hit the force. Meanwhile, the Army is working with the defense industry to concoct upgrades to existing aircraft. Officials say the famil- iar Apache, Black Hawk and CH-47 Chi- nook cargo helicopter could all remain aloft into the 2060s. Classic airframes sometimes have is- sues, though. In 2018, the service paused deliveries ‘of new Echo model Apaches from Boeing for a few months because of corrosion problems in the “strap pack” nut that in- directly held the rotor blades on the he- licopter. Maintainers spent thousands of hours replacing the nuts across the fleet ‘Then after Army depots took over en: gine parts ordering for the CH-7 Chi- nook in 2019, maintainers installed incor- rect O-rings, leading to a series of engine fires, The entire fleet was grounded in August 2022 in order to install the correct, parts But that isn't the only grounding for the Army's helicopters in the past year. AVIATION page 23 vuneroes 27AVIATION page 27 SAVING A SAFETY STREAK ‘McConville ordered an Army-wide safety stand down for early May after a series of helicopter crashes killed 14 soldiers and ended arguably the safest three-year pe- riod in the Army’s recent flying history. After more than two years without a fa tal accidental helicopter crash, two Ten nessee National Guard warrant officers jed Feb. 15 when their Black Hawk went down near Huntsville, Alabama. Then nine Army aviators died March 29, when a pair of Black Hawks collided and crashed during a night training event out. side of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Three more were Killed April 27 after their Apache attack helicopters collided while “redeploying” from a training exer- ise in Alaska, according to a preliminary Army report. One pilot survived While mourning the fallen aviators, Army officials told Army Times that fis- cal 2023 remains one of the safest years ‘on record in terms of total “Class A mis- ps,” oF accidents that lead to the loss of, an aircraft or a crewmember. ‘An official from the Combat Readiness Center, which investigates all such inci dents, noted that fiscal 2010 saw 23 Class A aviation mishaps, adding, “We have driven these numbers down to where now cone or two mishaps is significant.” ‘The chief of staff emphasized the risk inherent to even training fights. “Aviation is always at combat, whether ‘an enemy is firing bullets at you or not, because you're always fighting gravity,” MeConville said ‘The safety stand down, McConville said, was intended to reset the Army’s flight units and look for ways to prevent any fur ther accidents. It was the first such move since 2015, when Army Forces Command ‘grounded all aircraft in the wake of three deadly crashes that killed eight aviators overa ten-day span. When the recent pause was ordered, at nisi ph = Army official told Army Times that accom panying mandatory training events would require the participation of installation commanders. The training, which con. ‘cluded by May 5 for active duty troops and May 31 for the Guard and Reserve, cov- ‘ered mult:-ship operations safety planning, risk assessment, mainten programs, aircrew training and more. Another key aspect of the stand down, the official said, was inviting junior troops in aviation units to speak up and “inform aviation unit leaders on unitspecific ac tions” they can take to improve safety practict McCurry, who serves as the command- er of Fort Novosel in addition to his role leading the aviation schoothouse, led his ‘post's stand down event. Although he noted that the s still compiling the forcewide findings from the event, he said that the Novo- sel stand down emphasized the need for regular training meetings within aviation units. McCurry highlighted them as a re iting setting, where experienced troops like instructor pilots and maintenance pl toon sergeants need to offer “bottom-up feedback” to leadership in order to refine The stand down's compiled findings were not complete and available for Army ‘Times’ review ahead of this article's pub- lication deadline. Whatever it finds, McCurry and other Army officials say they are confident that, the service's top leaders are prepared to address them appropriately. AVIATION page 30 aoSoldiers with the 3rd Squadron, 6th Caval- ry Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, ist Armored Division, took part in Griffin Claw at Powidz, Poland, March 15. aye ; ees 7 y _ a s ge a" eet a ead a ha - “AVIATION page 28 PENDING PERSONNEL PITFALL, Even as the service projects confidence over its modernization and safety im- provement efforts, a personnel issue is fueling dissatisfaction among mid-career pilots. Army ‘Times previously reported how the service's Human Resources Com ‘mand, led by Drew, informed more than 600 commissioned officer aviators that their service contracts are up to three years longer than previously thought. The notifications began in mid-April In interviews and statements made to ‘members of Congress obtained by Army Times, impacted aviators were confused about “branch of choice active duty ser- vice obligation” contracts that they had accepted in return for becoming pilots. Many believed their additional three years would be served simultaneously with their flight school training obliga tions. Adding to the chaos, aviation com- mitments are handled differently than those for any other officer career field. Officers who entered active duty be- ‘tween 2008 and 2020 were able to commit to the contracts while they were West Point or ROTC cadets pining to become pilots, though it wasn’t guaranteed wheth- er the Army would apply the contract when selecting them. After top graduates from West Point received their first choice career fields, the lowersanking grads were prioritized accept an extra three years in uniform. For highly-competitive fields like avia- tion, a smaller proportion of ROTC-com- missioned lieutenants received their top choice without incurring the extra time. Although the contracts state that avi tors’ additional three years were to come after the end of their flight school obli- gation, which is enforced by federal law, briefing materials and messages from Hu- man Resources Command officials dis- tributed to pilots throughout their careers contradicted the contraet’s language. It’s not clear when the misunderstand- ings began, but the Army realized the error in the fall of 2022 when pilots who entered active duty in 2015 began sub- mitting resignations when they believed their service obligations to be complete. Human Resources Command audited resignations from previous year groups and realized that 195 aviation officers hhad voluntarily departed the Army be- fore their branch of choice obligation should have been complete, according to Drew and briefing, materials prepared for members of Congress obtained by Army Times. Four pilots told Army Times that offi cials instructing them on branch applica- tions told them the three-year branch of choice commitment would run simultane- ‘ously with their fight school obligation if it was accepted. Others, in their letter to Congress, claimed that the Army failed and sorted based on their willingness to (NS Bete ce eee ce ge ead ae a irae as sa isa jump. to alert them that their branch of choice commitment had been applied and that the service also did not upload the exe- cuted contracts to their personnel files. Drew and McConville both acknowl edged that the Army failed to properly ‘communicate the contract’s terms with pilots throughout their careers. They also said the Army could have done a better job of contacting impacted pilots. “I did a poor job last fall in communi- cating this to the Army and to these in- dividuals, which created some of the... bbuzz that you've seen surrounding the {commitments],” said Drew. “We didn't really have an accurate accounting [then, but] I think we are very accurate in our audit now." McConville, the service's top officer, said, “We should have made sure that there was a clear understanding of the additional service obligation for their branch.” However, the leaders stopped short of committing to a blanket waiver of all re- maining branch of choice obligations, despite the years long systemic failures in tracking and communicating them. aaa Cae)US. soldiers parti er eee a Ce atadene mete 'm not going to disadvantage some of fier who raised their hand to serve in an Army at war [who] got told one thing by us, HRC, for years that, ‘No, it’s concur rent, don't worry about it,” Drew com- mitted, “That’s what we communicated to those officers], and because we did that, Tam taking every one of these cases. And if they truly didn't know that, I'm approv- ing their [exception to policy],” to leave the Army when they thought they could doso ‘The chief of staff expressed concern about officers highly ranked in ROTC who didn’t know they'd had an additional three years applied, adding that “the in- tents to honor the agreement we made. “We have to take a look at each inclvid ual case,” he noted, Yet when asked by Army Times wheth er the communication failures warrant ed servicewide action, McConville de- murred and expressed skepticism that the pilots didn't understand that their branch of choice obligation was intended to be served after their flight school ob- ligation rather than simultaneously when signing their contracts as cadets. “Take a step back [and imagine] you're ARMYTIMES.cOM a cadet at West Point or ROTC, and you want to go aviation but you don't qualify based on where you stand in the order McConville posited. “So you say you'll take an additional service obligation to go into that branch...if you could take a [branch of choice] and it was concurrent, then why wouldn't everyone do that?” Impacted pilots reached by Army Times said that was their exact thought process: the officials explaining the contracts to them said they would be served concur rently to their fight school commitment, so they believed that signing the branch of choice obligation would only in effect add a few months or a year. For some non-scholarship cadets with shorter com: joning obligations, they believed their branch of choice commitment could potentially have no impact at all, McConville said he has “complete trust and faith in” Drew to make the right calls on a case-by-case basis, And despite — or perhaps in a sense because of — the commitment confusion, Drew said that mid-career pilot retention, remains on par with historical levels in contrast to the endemic pilot shortages that afflict the other services. “T've not seen some significant jump in attrition at those critical [mid-career] ranks,” he added. Over his more than 40 years as an Army aviator, the general noted, he’s “seen the ebbs and flows” of ‘manning levels, Drew cautioned, though, that the Blended Retirement System, which al lows personnel to leave the military before retirement and still retain gov- ernmentmatched contributions in their individual retirement accounts, could potentially harm retention over the long haul, And manning the future aviation force will require plenty of experienced pilots. “currently don't see a problem,” said the career aviator. “That doesn't mean there aren't storm clouds on the horizon.” Despite his worries, Drew described the impending modernization era as an “exciting” one. mm way too old to hang around,” he chuckled. “But if was a young aviation sol dier or pilot — there's a bright future.” w — Defense News land reporter Jen Judson contributed to this report wunezme 31Na AVAXHOME?ene ea OTL De ee eee ee Soa ae eee Unlimited satisfaction one low price Cheap constant access to piping hot media Protect your downloadings from Big brother Safer, than torrent-trackers 18 years of seamless operation and our users' satisfaction RE tert Brand new content Celta AvaxHome - Your End Place We have everything for all of your needs. Just open https://avxlive.icuer Un ean om eee Peed eect es ee sn SU Sy UU Holding theline, ahedd of Ukraine’s BYTOM MUTCH BAKHMUT FRONTLINE, UKRAINE — “Ready! Fire! Glory to Ukraine!” an ar- tillery officer with Ukraine's 80th Air Assault Brigade shouts before he theatr- cally swings a large stick that looks like a baseball bat and the D-30 122 mm how- itzer next to him fires. For months, this storied brigade, one of Ukraine’s most elite units, has been holding the line in and around the city of Bakhmut — and doing so with decades-old weaponry from Ukraine’s Sovietera stockpiles, buying time for high-tech weaponry promised by the West to arrive for the much-vaunted spring offensive, For a split second, a burst of flame en- gulfs our field of vision as the shell hur- tles towards Russian positions just a few miles to our east. We are on the northern flank of the battle for Bakhmut, the focus of Russia's renewed assault on the Don- 32. sve bas region of eastern Ukraine. The battle for the city has lasted roughly 10 months, with devastating casualties, and i’s be- come a symbol for both sides despite its relative strategic insignificance. For the Russians, it has become a fix- ation, a point on the map to win to show Moscow that they can. The Ukrainians have used that Russian obstinacy against them, forcing them to waste tens of thou sands of troops, and tons of ammunition, to take an industrial town that’s not near any key road or waterway. The Biden White House estimates the Russians have lost 100,000 troops since December, in- cluding some 20,000 dead, Byllate May, theRussiansclaimed they'd taken the town, after forces traded fi a deadly waltz, winning and then losing the same pieces of bombed and battered territory — apartment blocks and facto- ries smashed into ruins, gardens turned into amaze of trenches. The locals largely counteroffensive hhad been driven out, ifthey were lucky, or left lying dead in the ruinous crossfire. A few hundred civilians remained hidden in bunkers and basements, some too terri fied to leave, alongside others who were ‘genuinely pro-Russian and believed in the Kremlin’s promised ‘liberation.’ This artillery duel between Ukraine and Russia's antique Soviet arsenals has been a costly exercise for both sides. This, brigade — along with other experienced Ukrainian units such as the legendary 93rd Hollodny Yar Mechanized Brigade and the 4th ‘Tank Brigade — held as much of the city, for as long as possible. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zel enskyy said launching the much-touted counteroffensive was a matter of waiting for promised new equipment to arrive, but Kyiv’s apparent performance anxi- ety has surely been driven by the West's MEE UKRAINE page 34 ARMYTIMES.COMMO SOC Cote ere Po enc iet aeaCE CnC) Cae ent aus rae ame etm aces Title Sponsor Presenting Sponsors USAA Battelle Oshkosh Defense Pratt & Whitney Prudential Patriot Sponsors Valet Sponsor The Arthur M. Blank BAE Systems Health Net Lockheed Martin The Krivo TriWest Healthcare United Concordia Family Foundation Federal Services Family Alliance Eagle Sponsors Fiserv General Dynamics Humana Military -LeonardoDRS_- «== The Rina & Bharat SAIC Mission Systems Parikh Foundation Liberty Sponsors Freedom Sponsors Applied Information Sciences GM Defense ‘TAPS Board Member Association of Miltary Intemational Stability Gane cesta tierseae Lis (Eat Banks of America Operations Association Cohen Veterans Network Bob Woodruff Foundation Michelin North America DSA Ine. Bridge Development Group NBA DG. Yuengling & Sons Capital Bank, NA, New York Life Foundation Disabled American Veterans Cigna Service Credit Union Magelian Federal GE Aerospace SCI/Dignity Memorial Veterans United Giant Food Amy & Andy Sulvan Sponsors as of March 2, 2023 For more information on the TAPS Honor Guard Gala, visit TAPS.org/Gala.UKRAINE page 32 ——— high expectations. Analysts like Michael Kofman, of the Center for Naval Analyses, estimated that the Ukrainians likely will only have enough weaponry and ammuni- tion, and time, to launch one major offen- sive this year before winter sets in, using their newly arrived Western supplies and ‘employing thousands of troops trained by the US. and UK among others. PUSHING RUSSIA BACK The 80th Air Assault Brigade is one of the most battle-hardened groups of soldiers in Ukraine's entire armed forces. Dating from the Soviet era, the unit has fought Russian-backed proxies in Donbas since 2014. It gained fame for its clever use of scouting drones and artillery to destroy ‘two Russian battalion tactical groups that ‘were attempting to cross the Sivirsky Do- nets river with pontoon bridges near the town of Bilohorivka, In a battle lasting eight days, Ukrainian forces destroyed around 70 Russian armored vehicles and Killed up to 550 Russian soldiers. ‘These feats were impressive — but in the conditions of Bakhmut, they were hard to replicate. Russian forces, includ- ing the Wagner Private Military Group, sent waves of troops into the trenches on veritable suicide missions, with apparent Iylittle heed to the human cost. 34 suve2008 Ukraine's top regional commander, Cok onel General Oleksandr Syrsky admitted the city was largely under Russian control by late May. But the fierce battle served a purpose, miring Moscow's troops during Zelen- skyy’s weeks of shuttle diplomacy. His shopping list keeps expanding: more HIMARS ammunition, longer range mis- siles, more armored vehicles and dozens of FG fighter jets European leaders, fearful of a political upset in Washington, have been answer- ing with billions in new promised aid. In the meantime, the 80th held the line around Bakhmut with Soviet castofis and former Warsaw Pact state hand-me- downs. When I visited one of their post tions near the north flank of Balkhmut, the Soviet-era D-20 howitzer being fired was of a model that first entered service in 1960. Itis a reliable workhorse, an ar tillery equivalent of what the AK-I7 is for assault rifles. The other heavy guns the soldiers told me they use — the BM21 “Grad” Multiple Launch Rocket System, and the 2S1 Gvosdika “Carnation” 122 mm howitzer and closerange 120 mm ‘mortars — are also old Soviet relics ‘And most Ukrainian units in the region have been largely dependent on Soviet era T-72 tanks, whether from Ukraine's old stockpiles, former Warsaw Pact mem- bers like Poland, or captured Russian ve- Pena rigade fires at Russian eee ce Res yee) hicles. When I visited the 3rd Tank Bri- gade in the Kharkiv region, most of the tanks were modified 1.72 variants, many from the former Yugoslav army, that were decommissioned after the Balkan Wars and passed through Romania, ‘These are the kinds of weapons and fighting US. troops would face, should NATO ever be drawn into a direct fight with Russian forces, “The strategic goal ofthe 80th Air Assault Brigadeis to make itimpossible for the Rus- sians to surround Bakhmut, or to cut it off” jd Kateryna, a spokesperson who accom panied Military Times during the waning battle. ‘The troops knew they might ultimately lose, but in holding the land, they forced the Russians to use troops Moscow might have used on a second offensive this year — an offensive that U.S. Director of Na- tional Intelligence Avril Haines said is unlikely now due to Russia's high casu- alty rate and “personnel and ammunition shortages, dysfunetion within the mili tary’s leadership, exhaustion, as well as morale challenges.” “We are fighting for every meter,” said 2 32-year-old local commander who gave is name as Misha. “Of course, their guns can reach us here easily, but we are not scared,” he said, "We are never scared when we are ‘on our own land.” ARMYTIMES.COMa a cre DOWNLOAD OUR APP CHOOSE BRANCH Oise Marine Corps Times & Navy Times TOP STORIES cre anne oat CS eg tesa a cy eT ea Sr ae Save your favorite articles to revisit later, CEO! SS eRe Wc eau Coe aU eal FEATURED CONTENT INCLUDES: aa er retry {] Scan me DOWNLOAD OUR APP s and thei families rely on ‘Available on the ts App Store MilitaryTimes SCigaeere neato ceca CCIE toric vecud eee Greer ae ace BY STEPHEN LOSEY Gen. CQ Brown stared into the camera. It had been several days since Minne- apolis police officers murdered George Floyd. Protests and civil unrest over rac- ism and inequality had spread across the country. Brown, then commander of Pacific Air Forces, was days away from a Senate vote that would determine whether he would be the Air Force's next chief of staff — and become the first Black person to serve as a service chief in US. history. He began to describe “how full am with emotion” for Floyd and many other Black people who suffered similar fates. Known for his reserved countenance, his lower lip quivered — bat only for an instant, be- {ore his usual demeanor returned, He was initially “on the fence” about what he should do or say. His young- est son, Ross, was also struggling. And when Ross called his father and mother, Sharene Brown, to unburden himself, he asked his father a question that crystal lized the matter, 36 sve 202 a it What CQ Brown would bring as Joint Chiefs chairman * ‘Hey Dad, what is Pacific Air Forces going to say?” Brown told NPR. “As the commander of Pacific Air Forces, that was kind of code to me of: Dad, what are ‘you going to say?" Over the next few days, Brown made a video the Air Force posted in the early hours of June 5, 2020. In it, he spoke for nearly five minutes about his experienc as a Black man in the United States and its military. It was a rare commentary ‘among senior leaders — and for someone siill awaiting Senate confirmation “Tm thinking about wearing the same flight suit, with the same wings on my cchest as my peers, and then being ques tioned by another military member: ‘Are you a pilot?” Brown said, “I'm thinking ‘about how I sometimes felt my comments were perceived to represent the African American perspective, when it was just my perspective informed by being African American, “Tm thinking about being a captain at the [officers’ club] with my squadron and being told by other African Americans that I wasn't ‘Black enough’ since I was spending more time with my squadron than with them.” In his video, Brown also challenged himself to meet the historic moment, which he called a “heavy burden.” “I can’t fix centuries of racism in our country, nor can T fix decades of discrim- ation that may have impacted members of our Air Force,” Brown said, But he also thought “about how I can make improvements personally, profes sionally and institutionally, so that all air- men both today and tomorrow appreciate the value of diversity and can serve in an environment where they can reach their full potential” ‘The video went viral online and brought the nation’s debate over racial injustice squarely into the military community. “That took a lot of guts.” retired Air Force Gen. Larry Spencer, a former vice chief of staff who is also Black, told De- fense News. “He hadn't been confirmed yet. He made a video that was very heartfelt, knowing probably some people weren't going to like it. ... It was som thing that needed to be said at the time.” ARMYTIMES.COMBrown, 60, could soon have another historic opportunity: He has been select ed to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Joe Biden ‘announced May 26 he has chosen Brown to succeed Army Gen. Mark Milley as the nation’s top military officer. Brown is widely respected by service leaders and outside observers as one of the military's most thoughtful and trans- formative leaders. In his two-and-ahalf years leading the Air Force, Brown sought to rapidly reshape its structure, move off old and outdated aircraft ill-suited for a future war, and change how the service prepares for a possible war against China — an effort he calls “Accelerate Change or Lose.” confirmed, Brown would be the most senior ranking member of the U.S. armed forces. He would advise the president on military matters, including the defense of ‘Taiwan, and collect top military leaders’ opinions on matters such as strategy, op- erations and budgets in order to presenta range of advice to the president. Over the last year, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has rallied at lied nations and their militaries to support Ukraine, which is fighting off a Russian invasion. Brown would surely continue Milley’s efforts supporting Ukraine, if confirmed for the position, In interviews with Defense News, for- mer military leaders who served with Brown said his years in command in Asia, Europe and the Middle East prepared him well to advise the president and guide the military as it transforms. Brown's quiet and thoughtful person- ality, sharp intellect and professionalism, they say, makes him the ideal person to advise Biden on military matters and Duild relationships with other nations’ military leaders around the world Brown's style is also markedly different from that of the blunt, tough-talking Mit ley, A skilled F-16 pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, including 130 hours in com- bat, Brown's selfdescribed introverted demeanor contrasts with the stereotypi- cal image of the brash "Maverick”-esque fighter pilot from popular culture. Former Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson described a 2018 meeting of se- ior Air Force leaders — shortly after Brown took command of Pacific Air Fore- cesand received his fourth star — where a sensitive topic was debated at length with- out agreement. “He was very quiet until well into the conversation,” Wilson said in an interview with Defense News, “Then he spoke up, and he spoke for probably less than 60 seconds. And the debate was over. “He changed the course of the discus- sion by not jumping in and trying to make his points early, but by synthesizing and then suggesting what the best path for- ward should be,” Wilson added. “He was able to get others to agree with him and not feel left out. He found the consensus and was respected for doing so.” But John Venable, a defense policy ex- pert at the conservative think tank Heri tage Foundation and a retired F-16 pilot, said in an interview that Brown has not been aggressive enough to challenge the service's ingrained attitudes and mind- sets, and to make significant change: preparation for a potential war In Venable’s view, Brown has not done ‘enough to turn around aireraft readiness shorttalls, insufficient flying hoursto keep pilots sharp, and the lagging procurement of fighter jets and other aircraft that might be needed to win against China, Instead, Venable said, Brown has gone along with the service's instinct to spend more money on research and develop- ‘ment of future weapons that likely won't enter service until wel into the 2090s — if they even work — which might prove too late, AFAMILY IN UNIFORM Brown grew up in an Army family, the oldest of three children and the son of a now-retired colonel who served in Viet- nam. Like many military families, the Browns frequently moved, but he spent some of his elementary and middle school years in San Antonio, Texas, and considers the state home. Instead of heading to the Air Force Academy, he attended Texas Tech Uni- versity on an ROTC scholarship. But as a young man, Brown never thought his EEE. BROWN pace 38 Aa Your coverage, their future. To learn more about how we can help protect your loved ones with life insurance, visit NavyMutual.org/Get-a-Quote or call us at 888-300-9331. Active Duty / Veterans / Spouses rent of Defense. The DOD dees notBROWN page 37 military career would last as long as it did — or even get off the ground. Speaking at the ceremony where he as- sumed command of the Air Force, Brown. said he originally planned to only serve four years in uniform, and that he almost quit ROTC after his first semester “Tm in awe that I'm even standing here as the 22nd Air Force chief of staff Brown said during the August 2020 change of command ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, His father — who Brown called “the ‘most influential mentor in my career” and originally encouraged his son to apply for the ROTC scholarship — talked him ‘out of quitting the program. He ended up sticking with ROTC, and that decision set hhim on a path to become a pilot. During a summer camp, he took an incentive flight in a T37 trainer that sparked his love of flying. He became a tinguished graduate of the program in engineer: 1984 when he received his ¢ ing degree. And his father was there to commission him as an officer The next year, he began undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. In 1986, he began learning to 38 wv fly the fighter that would define his career =the F-16— at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Brown excelled as an F-16 pilot. He spent a year and a half flying at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea before returning to the US. to become an pilot. In late 1992, he became an i tor at the Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada — a job reserved for the best Retired Gen. Hawk Carlisle, former head of Air Combat Command, first met Brown at Nellis around that time. Carlisle recalled being immediately struck by the young pilot’ talent and confidence. In the cockpit, Brown was able to think and make decisions swiftly, Carlisle said, And when students struggled to learn something new, Carlisle said Brown knew how to simplify the concepts. In a March 7 interview with Defense News, Brown said he still tries to lead others by helping them break down prob- lems in that way. That's often the only means to achieve “stretch goal the “Accelerate Change or Lose” transfor: mational effort, he noted. “Tm not afraid ofa big challenging prob- lem,” Brown said. “If you try to take down the whole elephant at one time, you're not lots, such as are Ree ene) Pee ec) RSS eae TTL) Seater U Cen going to be able to do it” GAINING A WIDER PERSPECTIVE Brown returned to the Pentagon in 2004 as a lieutenant colonel, where he worked directly for Carlisle in the Air Force's pro- grams directorate to build the service's classified budget. “You could tell he had matured in the way that he carried himself and inter acted with the most senior levels of the Air Force,” Carlisle said. “There was no doubt in your mind that he knew how to be at the Pentagon.” From then on, Carlisle said, Brown broadened his worldview beyond “the fighter tribe.” Brown grew to understand how to manage the dynamics among dif ferent major commands, the nuances of dealing with Congress and international relations, and the varying components of the Air Force, such as mobility, space and acquisition, Carlisle added. That broadening of Brown’s perspec: tive will pay off as chairman, Carlisle said, where the general would have to take into account the bigger picture encompassing the entire military He next began to take on senior roles with U.S. Air Forces Central Command and U.S. Central Command. He assumed ARMYTIMES.COMcommand of the former in summer 2015, directing the air war against the Islamic State group. The following year he be- came deputy chief for U.S. Central Com- ‘mand under Army Gen. Joseph Votel ‘The stakes were high, as the war against the Islamic State group, dubbed Operation Inherent Resolve, was coming toa head, The antiSIS coalition of Amer- ican and allied troops, the Iraqi military, and the Syrian Democratic Forces were planning major campaigns to drive the nilitant group out ofthe critical cities of Mosul, Iraq, and Ragga, Syria. With the campaigns to being in a few months’ time, and Votel often traveling, Brown became a vital partner to the general. “He's a steady hand,” Votel said. “Easy to get along with, calm on the surface, but there's tension underneath. There's sense of urgency.” In summer 2018, Brown made his next move, taking command of Pacific Air Forces; in March 2020, he was nominated to succeed Gen. Dave Goldfein as chief of staf. Brown has the right personality to run the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to Ar- nold Punaro, a retired Marine general and former Senate Armed Services Com- mittee staff director. CHAIRMAN BROWN’S ROLE? As chairman, Punaro said, Brown would need to play a key diplomatic role — not just building and strengthening alliances th the militaries of friendly nations and dealing with potential adversaries, but also with the American people. With the military struggling to recruit and public trust falling, Punaro noted, it will be important for Brown to talk to the nation's population about the role the mil- itary plays in today’s democracy. “The world is more dangerous and un- Stable than [it was during] the peak of the Cold War,” Punaro said. “He's going to have to try to help educate the Ameri- can people of the challenges that we have with China” While Brown regularly emphasizes the need to prepare for a possible fight against China, he speaks carefully and avoids hyperbolic language that could be seen as saber rattling — and he expects his subordinates to take similar care, ‘At the Warfare Symposium on March 7, Brown delivered an unusually public re- Duke of one of his top officers, Air Mobil- ity Command head Gen, Mike Minihan. ‘The general wrote a memo that predicted ‘war with China in 2025. In the document, leaked online in late January, Minihan used provocative language such as “aim for the head” to describe the need for “unrepentant lethality” in preparing for conflict. “There's aspects of that memo I was dis- appointed in,” Brown told reporters in a roundtable at the conference. “It detract- ced from the key message of the sense of urgency that is required.” Spencer, the former Air Force vice chief of staff, said that if Brown is nom- inated and confirmed as chairman, he ‘would likely make himself more visible to EEE BROWN pace 40 2023 SUMMER READING AT YOUR LIBRARY! ; Your Voice! For more information about DoD MWR Libraries Summer Reading for adults, teens, children, and families, visit: ila.org/DoDSummerReadingBROWN page 39 <<< the public than Milley or other previous chairmen, Brown would also be an effec- tive “diplomat” to represent the military services for the American people, particu larly as they try to solve lingering recruit- ing challenges, Spencer added. Brown brings much more to the table, Spencer noted, because he speaks his mind and doesn't “sugarcoat” things, while his amiable personality when deliv. ring hard truths means “the media will flock to him.” But before Brown took command of the Air Force in 2020, becoming the first Black person to serve as a US. service chief, he felt compelled to speak out. As a result, he found himself drawn to the spotlight in an unexpected way. “THE RIGHT THING TO DO’ On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police killed a Black man named George Floyd during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill to buy cigarettes. Offi- cers pinned the handcuffed Floyd on the ground, and video later showed that ‘one white officer kneeled on his neck for ‘more than nine minutes. Floyd repeated: ly said he could not breathe, but the po- lice did not let him up. Video of Floyd's death swept across the country and generated outrage, prompt: ing mass protests against police brutality and igniting a nationwide conversation about racism and inequality ‘The debate spread in the military as well. Then-Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright, who is Black, on June 1 posted a lengthy message on so- al media on racial injustice. At one point in his post, Wright wrote: Floyd.” In his own video, Brown spoke about what it was lke “living in two worlds” — both as a Black man and as an officer in the US. military His speech invoked the ideals of equal: ity in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution “that I have sworn ‘my adult life to support and defend.” But he also spoke about the history of racial issues in the country he loves and serves, and discussed “my own experi- ences that didn't always sing of liberty and equality.” To Spencer, what made Brown's video strike a chord was precisely the plainspoken nature for which the general is known. He comes across [in the vid- co] as, ‘Tm telling you facts here,” Spencer said. “Tm just telling you how I feel, how a lot of folks feel” ‘Tam George After the video went viral, Spencer said “HE'S A STEADY HAND ... EASY TO GET ALONG WITH, CALM ON THE SURFACE, BUT THERE'S TENSION UNDERNEATH. THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY. — Retired Army Gen, Joseph Votel several retired three- and four-star gene als he had served with called to ask about it, wondering whether Spencer had simi- Jar experiences to Brown's “Absolutely I di white counterpart “opened up, even though it was a short window ... a dialogue that I thought was very healthy.” Four days after the video hit the web, the Senate unanimously voted to approve Brown as Air Force chief of staff. In the December 2020 interview with NPR, Brown acknowledged the video could be challenging for his career, but said even if he had sacrificed his chane- 8 of becoming Air Force chief of staff to speak out, it would've been worth it “L thought it was more important than, in some cases, confirmation,” Brown told NPR. “If confirmation had been withheld for some reason, I knew in my heart of hearts I did what I thought was the right thing to do. And that's the way I approach life.” m ARMYTIMES.COMee eS Pes ee YOUR INBOX fete RUT R ol Roi Melek ORL mle ey Service members and their families rely on Military Times as a NN trusted, independent source for news and information on the - most important issues affecting their careers and personal lives. \ Ue ond TSR ec ela te)Maj. Tanya Bras ‘operation in the of Basra, Iraq, on BYLEO SHANE IIL Rep. Don Beyer was skeptical when his new chief of staff, Tanya Bradsher, urged him to call over to the Pentagon in sum ‘mer 2019 to follow up on a constituent’s request for military records that had been ignored for months. “We had been making no progress, and the rest of the staff didn't think we'd get anywhere,” the Virginia Democrat remem bers. “But I got on the phone, and I told them that Tanya said I should try again, And the immediate response was, ‘Oh, Tanya needs that? Welll get it done right away. I had to drop her name to get attention.” Colleagues call Bradsher, the current chief of staff for the Department of Vet erans Affairs, a behind-the-scenes star in Washington, D.C., someone known to get things done quickly without leaving bruised egos in her wake. Now the Army veteran is set to step into a more visible — and historic — role. President Joe Biden has nominated her to serve as the next deputy secretary for VA, the second highest post at the depart- ment with the secondlargest budget in all of federal government. If confirmed, she'll be the first woman to hold the role full time; three others have served as acting deputies. Bradsher, who is Black, would also be the first woman of color to 92 wna ‘ever hold the post. And if VA Secretary Denis McDonough opts to step down from his leadership post before the 2024 presidential election, Bradsher could become the first woman ever to oversee the country’s veterans support programs, a moment nearly 100 years in the making, “I do not believe that deputy secretary Will be her last leadership stop,” said Jeh Johnson, former Homeland Security Sec- retary, who picked Bradsher as his Assis: tant Secretary for Public Affairs in 2014 “It’s no surprise to me to see her being chosen for these roles.” But before those future responsibilities Bradsher has to survive the Sen firmation process, which has become a contentious mess in recent months. She has testified before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, but how long a final vote on her confirmation to the leadership post will take is likely dependent more on political infighting on Capitol Hill and less ‘on her own long list of credentials, BRADSHER’S BACKGROUND Bradsher, 53, is a fourth-generation sol dier, serving in the Army for 20 years before retiring as a lieutenant colonel. A native of Virginia, she enlisted in 1993 af: ter graduating with an American History degree from University of North Caroli- na at Chapel Hill, and completed Officer Candidate School a year later. Her service included four years in South Korea and a yearlong deployment to Iraq 2008 and 2009, working as a public af fairs officer with the 4th Infantry Division. Colleagues call her a fast riser, someone who seemed to be at the center of big de- cisions and important moments. After her Iraq deployment, she stepped into senior press management roles at the Pentagon, including working as the main media point of contact for questions on the controversial Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility. She “She was one of the most disciplined people I've ever met,” Johnson said. “ meetings, she was always candid and forthright. She could cut right to the im- portant wellliked. ‘Those attributes were what led him to pull her over to the Homeland Security department in 2014, plucking her fros her role as the White House lead for Ve erans, Wounded Warrior and Military Family Outreach, “When we had White House events with veterans and military families, you could always see the people who hung around the big names and who spent time with the families,” said Valerie Jarrett, se- nior advisor to President Barack Obama throughout his eight years in office. ints, but she was also always ARMYTIMES.COM“Tanya was the one who always had her arm around one of those visitors, a making sure everyone felt welcome.” Bradsher and her family — she has three children with her husband, retired Army Col. John Bradsher ¢ White House military have been fixtures at and veterans events over the years. Beyer said when he hired Bradsher as chief of staff, he was thrilled to have some one as welkrespected and wellconnected as her, But he also knew it wouldn't last. “The Biden administration stole her for their transition team in 2020, which we all saw coming,” he said. “I was heartbro- ken, because she was a terrific chief of staff, But I knew she'd be sought after by alotof folks. Insiders said MeDonough hand-picked her to serve as VA chief of staff when he took over the department, a role with sig nificant expectations given McDonough ‘own background as White House chief of staff for Obama's second term, Veterans ad vocates said they have a good with her, which has not always been the clationship “SHE WAS ONE OF THE MOST DISCIPLINED PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET. IN MEETINGS, SHE WAS ALWAYS CANDID AND FORTHRIGHT. SHE COULD CUT RIGHT TO THE IMPORTANT POINTS, BUT SHE WAS ALSO ALWAYS WELL-LIKED.” — Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson cease with VA leaders in recent years, ‘She’s serving the country as much now as she was when in uniform,” said Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghan- {stan Veterans of America. “She really is a public servant at heart.” CONFIRMATION CONCERNS As deputy secretary, Bradsher will be charged with looking at racial disparities within VA's operations and benefits deliv cry, the latter of which is already the sub- ject of an ongoing lawsuit Bradsher was also among 149 Black Americans who served in the Obama administration to sign a 2019 letter de crying racially charged comments made by former President Donald Trump, and promising to fight for “equitable access to health care, housing, quality schools and employment. It could be an attack point for some Re publicans loyal to the former president who have denounced the Biden adminis tration’s focus on diversity training. But blocking Bradsher without clear reasons risks backlash too, especially among vet cerans groups. “It’s huge to be able to this high of like you,” said Jaslov. Donald Remy, the former VA deputy secretary she would replace, said her most valuable experience is her own background as a veteran and military family member. “She knows the issues to a leadership level who looks keep her eyes on, because she has lived them.”= EE ae uC Rl mr ll (tse Now, let us support your. family. PFLAG Connects: Military Community eo LER A safe, virtual, moderated space where Due aci Mune“ ihe et eeu acid each month for support, education, and more. Pea ciation reed Se ea A Cae awe e Tae Ly CONNECTS LX For purchase or download at pflag.org/AtEaseif ring teh oie i Au LOST OPPORTUNITIES Lawmaker wants commanders held | accountable for timely transition assistance BY KAREN JOWERS: ‘The vast majority of separating troops are not starting the Transition Assis tance Program early enough to ensure a smooth exit from the military, and some lawmakers are seeking more accountabil ity from unit commanders and the De fense Department. ‘Timely TAP completion should be in- ccorporated into unit commanders’ perfor- mance metrics, to ensure service mem bers have time to start the process at least ‘one year before their separation date, as is required by law, said Rep. Derrick Van Or- den, RWisconsin, chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs economic opportunity subcommittee, during a May 24 hearing. “T strongly recommend you do that,” ‘Van Orden told the DoD official who over- sees TAP. “These service members and the Department of Defense will not take this program seriously until command- ers are held accountable, which means they're not getting promoted,” he said. ‘The fullyear requirement was imple- mented with the fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act; before that it had been 90 days. But in December 2022, the Government Accountability Office reported that between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, 70% of service members had not started the transition assistance process a year before separating. ‘The result of that failure is lost oppor- 9A sve 2 tunities, which can make a difference to service members’ future success, said Dawn G. Locke, GAO's director of strate. aie issues, in her testimony. For example, troops who start the pro- ccess late may not be able to participate in DoD’s SkillBridge program, which provides omthejob training with civilian employers during the last six months of military service. They may also miss the chance to apply for a disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs and possibly get a decision about their disability benefits before leaving active duty, she said, GAO auditors were given a variety of reasons for the delays, including deploy- ments, lack of commander support and medical discharges, Locke said. ‘The idea to include TAP compliance in ‘commanders’ performance metrics came from the field, Locke said. GAO didn’t look at data on whether commanders were being held accountable, but at five installations they visited, auditors were told they were not. Another suggestion auditors heard was to incorporate TAP into DoD's mission, “I'TAP were part ofthat mission, it might be given a higher priority,” she said. ‘The Transition Assistance Program is administered by the department, but a number of federal agencies work together to deliver and assess the program. Both DoD and the VA deliver part of the core curriculum, The TAP interagency gover- nance structure includes senior officials from DoD and VA, the departments of Education, Homeland Security and Labor, the Office of Personnel Management and the Small Business Administration Alex Baird, acting director of the De- fense Support Services Center, said the department and the services were in the process of implementing the one-year mandate when the pandemic hit. They then had to shift from mostly in-person training to virtual training online. “Each service is working to get back on track,” he said Part of each service's corrective action plan is to make ita commander's program and determine how to hold commanders responsible, he said, “[need to get all of our commanders to the 365 days” (before separation to start ‘TAP), he said, adding that he also needs IT infrastructure in place to help re- searchers assess the effectiveness of TAP and measure long-term outcomes. ‘There's not enough information to determine if TAP is successful, Locke agreed, and DoD needs to make better use of the data, DoD and its partners are sponsoring a number of studies on TAP outcomes, she said, which will help them determine how quickly service members get jobs and how much they earn. ‘Van Orden questioned whether just one lead agency should be accountable for the program. “There needs to be a captain of the ship,” he said, and asked Baird wheth- er he would be opposed to having. VA be the lead agency. “We work as a team,” Baird said, “I don't think it makes. difference who you make lead.” Four of five leaders of private entities that work closely with veterans, who tes tified in a second panel, said they would support having VA as the lead agency. Rep. Mike Levin, D-California, pressed Baird on which agency's mission state ‘ment makes more sense for program lead- ership: DoD’s mission to provide the mi tary forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation’s security; or the VA's mission to care for those who served in the military, their families, caregivers and survivors. 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Draude Drawing fro perience in the military and business, Draude highlights how understanding fatigue, fear, fallure, and feelings is crucial for successful leadership in any sector, SS OR YOU HAVE AUTHORED A 200K OM.Aetrires an hey eNO ass Me BY KAREN JOWERS AAs inflation continues to eat away at your wallet, you may have noticed prices for insur- ance have also risen, But there may be some way’ to trim your costs for vehicle, home and other types of insurance. Keep in mind, though, that ine flation is affecting prices across the board, so make sure you have enough insurance to cover any losses of personal belongings, your home or your vehicle. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, asof April, the cost of motor vehicle insurance hhad risen by 15:5%in the past 12 months. The increases reflect the rise in vehicle prices and the costs of repair. ‘Material, labor, supply chain and medical costs have all gone up. Rates, which vary by area, can also be affected by increases in time, lke vehicle thefts. “Big picturewise, the insurance industry is losing billions of dolar” said JJ. Montan- aro, a certified financial planner with USAA’s military advocacy group. “There's some lag time in rate increases, he noted, as companies have to file with their slate insurance departments for approval of rate increases. So, vehicle insurance rates are likely to keep rising in 2023, according to Bankrate. com, which notes that, on average, Amer ccans spend about 3 percent of their income (on car insurance. Overall, the costs of in- surance might be 58 to 10% of an average AB sure coos Tet ‘consumer's spending, That might be a small slice of the pie, but its covering some big: ticket items. And your life insurance covers ‘much more for your loved ones in the event something happensto you. Rates depend on many factors, to include location. Military members often find that the cost of their vehicle insurance goes up or down when they move to anew duty station, so be prepared. Other factors determining cost of vehicle insurance are the age of the driver, how much you drive, driving record and credit history. The kind of car you drive also makesa difference, soit'sa good idea to do some research on how much youll pay forinsurance, even before you buy a vehicle. Do some comparison shopping between different insurance companies, and service members should always ask ifa military dis- ‘count is available, HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE Most homeowner insurance policies have ‘an inflaion guard builtin, but you should review your coverage annually to make sure there aren't any gaps in coverage, said Me. lissa Miller, assistant vice president of sales for Armed Forces Insurance. You should also know what you would pay out of pocket if there's aloss. “Wind and hail losses, particulary to roofs, have been on the rise.” she said, “It's not un ‘common for wind and hail claims to require unique deductible, typically a percentage of the home's insured value” re are some ways military members can ama eXye) LT aes ‘So, you should review your policy and tall {o your insurance company so you know ‘what to expect before you're in a situation where you need to file aclaim, she said Inadditon, “all insurance companies’ rates vary... overtime, so it's always a good idea tocheck back with your agent each year for apolcy review,” she said. Just as vehicle prices and the cost of vehi- cle repairs have risen, so have the costs of construction materials and the cost of labor, “which have led to price inereases in home- owner policies. “This is an ongoing trend we are seeing happen now in the industry as a whole,” Miller sai. ‘And while environmental changes don't directly affect insurance costs, Miller said, “there is generally a direct correlation be- tween storms arising from climate changes, thus higher claims costs. Climate changes may also contribute to higher flood risks around the country” Homeowners insurance policies don't cover flooding. For more information about the National Flood Insurance Program, visit worfloodsmart gow RENTERS INSURANCE If you are renting your residence — wheth- er you'e in the local civiian community or in military privatized housing — you need renters insurance. Your landlords insurance INSURANCE page 48 ARMYTIMES.COM =ee [rox ARE YOU AN OFFICER SEPARATING OR RETIRING FROM ACTIVE SERVICE? The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Active Service Discharge CM en PACS nete aU ET service provides you with important benefits, vicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGL. But when you transition from active uniformed serv SGLI ends. This could leave your family unpr if something happens to you and you don't have life insurance n place. Ifyou are a member of MOAA transitioning uniformed service, you have access guaranteed option to help replac MOAA's Active Service Discharge Group Term Life Insurance Plan. With this plan, you are guaranteed acceptance if you enroll within 180 days after leaving active service (as long as your discharge is not health or disability related), No medical ‘exams, blood testing or extensive health reviews required! You would be hard pressed to find another plan in the market offering this coverage on a guaranteed acceptance basis to military officers As the country’s leading organization protecting the benefits of military servicemembers and their families —you know you can count on MOAA. Enroll online at moaainsurance.com/discharge or Call 1.800.247.2192 GUARANTEED ACCEPTANCE %& NO MEDICAL EXAMS Additional features include: IK Benefits up to $250,000 available ifunder age 50 ($100,000 for age 50») 3k Compare our affordable group rates. to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) IK Spouse coverage up to $125,000 available on a guaranteed acceptance basis, too, ifyou enrol! IK Covers you 24/7/365—even if you're flying in a military or civilian aircraft 3 Additional features such as travel assistance, funeral planning, advanced benefits and ‘more included* Coie UTS Cau STU Ec LrgCe ee es eee ee) eat tute) Se uci Oe ere Peeler Rete tion Institute, fa car is worth less than Sod san Laid Precursor Toner On tor cd Pe aaa cag foe mane et ogee og things you may no longer need, but be Coie eae cis Peer rue a ad eae erty Montanarro nated that, at one point, decided to drop rental car coverage. Rta aunts Cea uae t SO cuta eta etal ea Sao eee eer a) Ret meee act changes so that you're not leaving your- POT ait Peanut ee eu en ete ee a cae owner's, renter's or vehicle insurance. Recut at cts Mee Seen Mele coun) ERE rue cetcnt ete tee SUC ted mathe pee a INSURANCE page 46 ‘wont pay for your Toss ia fire ora major weather event damages the building. You are responsible for getting insurance coverage for your personal belongings. According tothe National Assocation of Insurance Commission crs the average cost of enters insurance is about $15to $30 month. Do an inventory of your belongings, and if you have high value items lke jewelry or antiques, ask your insurance company about ‘your best options for coverage: Consider whether you want actual cash value coverage or replace- ment cost coverage. Actual cash-alue coverage will reimburse you for the cost of the personal property atthe time ofthe Toss, minus depreciation and your deductible. It doesnt reimburse you for the replacement cost LIFE INSURANCE Inflation may not have increased the cost oflife insurance inal cases, Dutt has affected how people are thinking about life insurance, said retired Army Brig. Gen. Mike Meese, president of American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association, AAFMAA has been able to keep insurance premiums level, he sai. “But what we find is that people who might have gotten $100,000 in coverage are now getting $500,000, up to $800,000, to cover family 98 sve 200 With children, especially if the spouse isn’t working,” he said. Thisis| in addition to their Servicemembers Group Life Insurance, oF SGLL INCREASES IN SGLI/VGLI ‘The big news on the SGLI front this year was the automatic in- crease to $500,000 of coverage, the first time that amount has increased since 2005. “The increase to $500,000 for SGLI and [Veterans’ Group Life In surance] was important and necessary, especially considering infla- lion,” Meese said. “The standard $500,000 is probably adequate for most single service members, but we find that those with families, especially those with children, seek to supplement the standard ‘$500,000 with additional life insurance.” “For a young family, the biggest single expense they're probably ‘worried about is being able to have the funds to send children to cok lege,” he said. “And the rate of college inflation has gone up even higher than standard inflation.” In March, all service members automatically got the inereased cov erage, incuding those who had previously reduced or dectined their SGLI. The boost in coverage applies to all those eligible for SGLI, including active duty, Guard and reserve members. ‘Troops pay a premium of $31 per month for $500,000 worth of cov- ‘erage, which is deducted from their pay. The monthly SGLI premium is the same regardless of the service member's age or other factors. ‘The rate hasnt changed; the costs still 6 cents per $1,000 of insur- 'SGL is widely recognized as a strong benefit ata reasonable cost {or service members. But for service members leaving the military, SGLI canbe converte to the Veterans’ Group Life Insurance pro- ‘gram within a year and 120 days. VGLLis more expensive than many other insurance programs, Yet its important to remember that everyone leaving the military with 11 coverage qualifies for VG, reganless of health. I you sign up for VGLI within 240 days of separation, you dont need to prove you're in good health. Premiums for VGLI increase every five years For thse who are 29 and younger, the monthly premium is $35 for $500,000 of cover- ‘age. But by age 6 that monthly premium inereases to $195; by age ARMYTIMES.COM