Stand-To: Procedure prior to first light to enhance unit security, a daily compendium of news, information, and context for Army leaders.

"Every Soldier ... knows and understands the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. Sgt. 1st Class Monti not only knew these values, he lived them every single day. And, on that last day, he demonstrated to the young Soldiers in his patrol exactly what those values mean in a difficult and dangerous environment."

- Vice Chief of the Army Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli at the Pentagon ceremony where Department of Defense and Army officials inducted fallen hero Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes

Newest Medal of Honor recipient honored at Pentagon

Year of the Noncommissioned Officer

"Just remember, every Soldier just wants to be heard. Listen to them - it's our job to mold them, to teach them everything we know. They will look back one day and say 'my NCO taught me that.' That's when you know you were successful."

- Sgt. 1st Class Charise Kelly, Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) Observer Controller for Headquarters Company Joint Multinational Readiness Center Falcon Team, emphasizes the importance of 'listening' to be able to make a difference to the lives of the Soldiers

NCO uses diverse experience to train Soldiers for combat

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Year of the NCO

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September 2009

Medal of Honor recipient SFC Jared C. Monti, microsite

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Completing a Successful BRAC; Collaborating with Best Practices

What is it?

A successful Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) occurs when a command can achieve seamless relocation and transparent communication throughout the process. The United States Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) has offered a list of recommendations and insights to assist in the smooth transition for all future BRACing commands.

What has the Army done?

Having recently undergone a BRAC, USASAC demonstrated that preparation and early communication produce positive results. USASAC developed and continually enhanced an automated tool that assisted permanent change of station (PCS) employees in their relocation. Compiled onto compact discs, this information served as a resource and reference for all employees, and included:
• Checklists for PCS preparation
• House hunting tips
• Interactive maps of the new city and surrounding area, providing valuable insights about schools, home prices, crime statistics, hospitals and other similar features.
• USASAC placed a great deal of emphasis on its employees unable to relocate, holding Find-a-Job Workshops that included resume assistance and job swaps.
USASAC communicated with the workforce throughout the BRAC. USASAC recommends the following communications tactics:
• Hold open-forum meetings that include:
o Group introductions and open discussion forums
o Detailed instructions of the PCS process
o Handouts with maps, area information, emergency numbers and in-processing information

What is planned for the future?

• USASAC is developing a dynamic training module to provide to all employees via its employee intranet site, reaching specialized personnel, ensuring that employees are effectively trained in the skills required.
• Uphold direct and constant communications with employees through multiple means (email, phone, in person)
• Utilize modern technology, by launching a Web site, blog or creating accounts on Youtube, Twitter or Facebook dedicated to providing information about the BRAC.

Why is it important to the Army?

As the Army continues to improve the quality of life for Soldiers and families by providing excellent facilities for barracks, recreation, family housing and health care, the importance of BRACs is increasingly evident. The numbers of BRACing commands continue to rise, while the need to retain talented and experienced employees is more important than ever. The Army benefits from well-executed BRACs by keeping valued employees, properly training new employees and providing the entire workforce with improvements in its quality of life. As the Army seeks to find balance and recruit more talent, strong transparent communications in all areas is essential. Collaboration and the sharing of lessons learned and others' best practices, makes the Army stronger.

Resources:

United States Army Security Assistance Command

U.S. Army Materiel Command

USASAC BRAC Information