OCR Text |
Show w I ' : r B1the SAMPLER- - , 'V'" ;' ? 0 ; VV'.: . i : 7 Increasing ago. Today, RESHAPE is the standard managnient program for all of DARCOM, and other Army agencies are following suit with similar programs. DARCOM is the most in; dustrial of all Army mands, responsible for developing and supplying all Army equipment and weapons systems, within a nationwide network of research facilities, proving grounds, laboratories, depots New "Im sorry, but you aren't eligible for Soldiers considering staying on another hitch in the Army may hear those words if they aren't aware of the latest re-enlistm- standards. New 20-ye- self-hel- affordabil- p, and ity, planning effort found a way to accomplish more work without increasing manpower authorizations or its budget. The RESHAPE program reaches into the individual offices, labs and directorates throughout the command, encouraging managers to find creative ways to increase proIndividual ductivity. RESHAPE projects may port modest increases in and if adapted "workyears, enlistment might have prevented rejection simply by checking on their status. Hawley explained that soldiers should have their records screened by their comNCO at pany least eight months before their ETS date to find out if they are evne eligible to p and to find out what they need to do if they are not. "In some cases soldiers may need some kind of or may waiver, to re-u- guide- lines now make staying in tougher and more competitive. It's no longer available to any soldier who decides to even someone just stay in a short tour away from retirement. In fact, roughly one of every three troops reaching ETS this year will find themselves denied further Army employment, no matter how strongly they want to stay in. j source, ar . "Of all soldiers who come up to their ETS, nearly one-thir- d are ineligible to re- enlist for one reason or another, said Sgt. Maj. James Hawley, the Army's senior NCO retention official. "In 1983 we'll have about 90 thousand first term soldiers come up for ETS. Only about 62 thousand will be eligible for Some of those deemed nt. eligible and denied ..'', . comfor to can enormous lead mand, Last fiscal year, the; command added up to RESHAPE programs through make a total of 18,000 work-year- s like gietting a gained 16 percent- increase in the commands workforce. in- re re-enli- st, have to be retested to raise their aptitude scores, Haw- ley said. "Some first term soldiers will have to appear before a screening board. Whatever the soldier may need to do is going to take time. These things need taking care of as soon as possible. The need for soldiers to take early precautions stems, form new guidelines that clearly stress a return to basic soldiering skills. Since last October, the Army requires soldiers wanting to p the physical readiness the FT test, and weapons qualifications tests. "Soldiers need to understand that there is no waiver "allowed for those who are mation and new technology projects offered counseling to re-u- to-pas- s A new Army weapon system, among the most effective for air defense, made its debut early this month at Irvine, California. The first production model of the Sergeant York air defense gun system was rolled out in ceremonies conducted "RESHAPE is nothing ' the (AAFES) facilities. regular work force; even lion in price reductions at Army and Air Force exchanges worldwide between October 24 and Christmas - control. The only thing in common between all the projects, the officials explain, is that all in- we should be doing all along, and reminded them not to lose sight of the programs original goal of seeking ways to reduce workload. jointly by the Army and Ford Aerospace and Communications Corp., prime contractor for the system. Special guest of honor for the occasion was Mrs. Gracie Loretta York, widow of Sergeant Alvin C. York, the World War I Army hero for whom the new weapon is named. Mounted on a modified the Sergeant York's armored turret M48A5 tank chassis, contains two 40mm guns with search and track radar, a fire control center with laser and a digital range-finder, computer and combat infor- mation 'display. It is designed to defend forward maneuver battaltions,- Ml. Abrams tanks, and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles against attack by fixed and rotary wing aircraft. - Sergeant York batteries will be part of the air defense battalion in each of the Armys armored or median--is, ized divisions. The first scheduled for deployment in the The new weapon system is being produced. under con- tract to the ArmamenLMuni- press releases. (ARNEWS) the future. is . ciency reports, and military and civilian education but also what the soldier has done toward "Also, if a soldier cant fire his weapon because he or she is physically incapable of firing it, either because of a profile or because the Army cant Hawley explained. "The philosophy is that we don't need to keep a soldier beyong his or her first term if we don't feel that soldier has the potential to become a good middle-grad- e or senior NCO ip the future. "The NCO Corps, also must understand that because we are bringing in and keeping a very high quality of soldier today that they must keep themselves proficient in their skills, Hawley said. "It's very embarrassing for NCOs to try to lead soldiers who know more than they provide the opportunity to fire it thats one issue. But if a soldier is able to fire a weapon, does fire it, and doesn't quality, then there are not waivers allowed. "There are career soldiers who think because they've reached their 18th year of service the Army can't or ; wont put them out, Hawley said. "These people are just kidding themselves. Alth- . do. ough there are waivers avail-able for some thigns, soldiers The new thinking may first-terwho are overweight, have cause many troops or have bars to to find themselves before a , refused to comply with as? similar to a promoboard tion board to explain why signment orders may be further service. they want to remain a soldier. i denied Much of the change and first-ter, soldiers who All have not made the standing' 'turmoilinvolved with process is a direct promotion list for 5 must of result the a before board of senior Army's changing go a feeling that NCOs who will evaluate them philosophy now is the in a position Army under what is called the ensure to it has quality that "whole person concept". The with a gradual build-u- p to 1 1 per month by the end of 1985. The system rolled out this month is undergoing tests at a remote California site and will be delivered to the Army in October. The Sergeant York is the first major Army weapon system to be named for an enlisted soldier. Its namesake, Alvin C. York, killed 25, knocked out 35 machine gun nests and captured 132 enemy soldiers. He was decorat- ed with the Congressional Medal of Honor and the French Croix De Guerre. (DARNEWS) . 611-82-- two years of Army service can voluntarily request re- ' classification into another "First term soldiers who over-streng- MOS th when' they complete two . years of service should seriously consider requesting reclassification to another MOS if they have any intention of making any Army career, or even of progressing on to 4 or Hawley said. "You have to reclassify into a shor tage skill though. We wont let you reclassify from an overage skill to another over -- E-- there-enlistme- nt E-- 5, E-- . . In 1981, APG won DAR-CO- M and Departmen tof the Army environmental quality awards and was runner-u- p for tiie Department of Defense award. In 1982, White quirements, whichever are more stringent. Environmental quality control require- ments vary from state to . The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command is responsible for safeguarding moi'e than six million acres of real estate. This acreage includes arctic tundra, tropical rain forests, eastern deciduous for- state, adding tothe complexity of compliance requirements. According to James F. Butanis, environmental pro-- : tection specialist, TECOM operations at the Tropic Test Center, Fort Clayton, Republic of Panama, follow both Panamanian and U.S. requirements. Regardless of the location, however, TECOM environ- portant mission does not mand (DARCOM) regulations. maintained. TECOM tests proposed onmental Quality Control Office insures that this imun-necssari- ly. or adversely interfere with the ecology of TECOM's nine installations and activities in the United States and the Republic of Panama. According to Maj. Thomas J. McNeil, chief of the Envir- onmental Quality Control Office, there are two sides to the TECOM environmental at ment and Readiness Com- estate. Potential problems must be dealt, with before testing begins. Each TECOM installation and activity has at least one e person working on part-tim- environmental quality. Throughout the ecommand and there are 12 ftill-tim- five part-tim-e persons work- ing in the environmental quality program. Army policy directs com the continental United the considerations for the semi-annu- al Environmental Quality Control Office. "Each TECOM installation has its own unique situations which it must address, such as the bald eagles at APG or the wild horses at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, McNeil said. "Deserts, cold regions and wetlands dont recover well from environ- projects to protect its environment. The headquarters office reviews that report and supports the projects through the funding process, McNeil said. 'TECOM controls the largest real estate area Army-widMcNeil said. e, "A lot of these areas are uni- que and unspoiled, such as the wetlands area of Aber--. ! -- States, Alaska and the Republic of Panama multiplies reprepares a port to program corrective . in the competition. on the environment and certainly not cause any damage that is irreversible. All human acts affect the environment. Our goal, is to minimize that effect. TECOM's dispersal across good shape. Each TECOM installation reviews the to assessment developer's determine its adequacy and accuracy and to evaluate whether testing of that sys- p regulations to protect the environment; "We now have to be aware that protection of the environment is part of the Army and the TECOM missions;" McNeil said. "We try to minimize adverse effects rules get tightened up while others are relaxed; You cannot get too smug about compliance because the requirements might change. All in all, our installations are in . runner-u- McNeil traced the Armys efforts in this area to the environmental awakening of the' late 1960s, which led to the promulgation of major "The rules keep changing, Butanis said. "Some TECOM tem or item would mise environmental laws or adversely affect TECOM real Army-wid- e tions. has the responsibility to ef-- Army weapons and equipment The commands Envir- ests, deserts, and tidal estuaries. The ecological integrity of these environments must be properly and was constantly knowledgeable of the laws and possible viola- these environmental laws. Each materiel developer assess the environmental fects of every system proposed for Army consideration. This evaluation is a routine part of the development process, McNeil said, and is accomplished through an environmental documentation process mandated by of the Army , Department (DA) and Materiel Develop- Sands Missile Range, N.M., won the DARCOM award mental personnel must be to ensure that our testing programs do not violate might be hard to understand and hard to acmroe for than a few cept soldiers in the field, they point out the door is always open for those who sincerely want to be soldiers. All others simply need not apply. "As long as a soldier is a soldier and does his job as a professional, the Army will be a good place for. him, Hawley said. "When a soldier quits being a professional, tiie Army will quit keeping him on the payroll. (Adapted from an article in the Pentagram News, Military District of Washington.) ARNEWS pliance with state, federal and local environmental re- Who cares about the TECOM environment nts -- line of work, but only if it is into a shortage skill. are in an 3, thinking about switching to a different specialty. Any sodlier with m quality, sold and hazardous waste disposal, etc., McNeil said; TECOM has the' additional, unique requirement . under-strengt- ent . every Army installation must comply with appropriate environmental laws governing air and water . tronic warfare crypto repairman MOS, and the 97B or C and 98 series intelligence analyst MOSs. A list of these h and other DA is in circular specialties which is usually updated once every quarter. While Army leaders at the Pentagon realize the new Some soldiers, Hawley pointed out, may better their chances for and advancement in the Army by materiel development and' cations. The Army plans to acquire 618 Sergeant York units. Initially, the production rate for the system is two per month telligence skills, Hawley plained, such as the 33S elec- nt. A soldiers disciplinary record will also weigh heavily. Those with any article 15s in their officials files will need a waiver to extend their Army careers. mand (AMCCOM), Rock Is-- , land, Illinois, a major subordinate element of the Armys ut age skill, or even from an overage to a balanced skill. The Army is particularly interested in seeing soldiers move in to "high tech or in- soldier's SQT scores, effi? self-improveme- western installations. Butanis added, 'TECOM has some of the more environmentally unique property in' the Army and perhaps the most aggressive protection Development and Readiness awareness of the importance program in the Materiel efforts to the TECOM's Command, higher headquarters. tif s . . : .. -. -- nation-wid- e of the natural environment and its limitations. . 7 i i Ever since the Clean Air Act was passed in 1967, federal and state governments have approved numerous laws designed to protect the environment. Beyond the legal requirements, however, McNeil and Butanis credit TECOM's additional - I mental insult. deen Proving Ground and the deserts of our south- ' it Browning. board will not only check the medically fit but don't pass the PT.test, Hawley said. "Soldiers who can have the test waived are only those withi profiles that say. they cant take the test. soldiers in its ranks far into program. "The physical facilities t. The boards action in reducing prices recognizes the pinch military personnel and their families will encounter due to the delayed pay raise which previously arrived in time for holiday shopping. In addition, AAFES will do everything possible to hold the price line in the services it offers according to General "We wanted to do something extra to show our customers how much we appreciated their patronage, said LTG George M. Browning, Jr., USAF, chairman of the AAFES board of directors. "In addition to the price reduction, we .anticipate (Adapted from DARCOM i . Eve. crease manpower and make room for additional work a trait beneficial for all levels of todays army. Individual RESHAPE projects, DARCOM officials explain, are often totally differ & 3 million to the two gave services for activities such as gyms, libraries, hobby shops and child-car- e centers. The AAFES board of directors has authorized $12 mil- more found ways to save labor by restructuring work flow and management agers that the program is "just good management that i welfare funds, Browning added. Last year's AAFES - e, sources and managment for DARCOM. Speaking at a RESHAPE seminar last March, Bergquist told man- y nual contribution to Army and Air Force morale and Force Exchange Service tions and Chemical Com- readiness command. Brigadier General Charles Adsit, of AMCCOM, is Sergeant York project manager. From initial development contract award in January 1978 to roll-oof the first system, less, than six years have elapsed. Considered a very short time for complete development of a major system, this record was made possible in part through inno- vative use of several mature components and subsystems adapated from earlier appli- - AAFES will increase its an Soldiers and airmen will receive a $12 million "bonus for shopping in Army and Air . troubled employees to increase their productivity. Other projects have had part-timtemporary and trainee personnel augment new, said Lt. Gen. Robert L. Bergquist, former chief of re- m ' extra $12 million in shopping sa vings to reduce workload. Other - em-phas- 's board votes an AAFES Some infrom each volved employees in "quality circles to encourage suggestions for better productivity. Many took advantage of auto- gains. "Right now the Armys is on the quality of our soldiers rather than on how many soldiers we will have, j, 0. , - Sergeant York air defense gun system debuts mid-1980'- s. Lm philosophies make staying in not automatic re-u- p by Sp4 Ray Hegwood I some 113,000 civilian more than any workers other agency in the Depart-- ' ment of Defense. In searching for a better way to manage such a mammoth operation, DARCOMs command came up with RESHAPE standing for re- it Mews RESHAPE program helps Army management and arsenals. It employs ent other. productivity usethroughout the the amount of work an emis a chalployee can do faced both lenge by industry and government. Taking the challenge head on, the Army's material development and readiness comor mand, DARCOM, launched its "RESHAPE program some three years ft X, - - . |