PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org November 9, 2023 | AUSA Extra 1 Army boosts incentives for recruiters S oldiers can qualify for several new incentives, including pro- motions and cash bonuses, if they volunteer to serve as recruiters, the Army has announced. The Army is working to bolster its recruiting force during one of the most challenging recruiting en- vironments the service has faced in decades. Soldiers who volunteer are being offered incentives along with a promise that they and their families will be taken care of, said Lt. Gen. Douglas Stitt, deputy Army chief of staff for personnel, G-1. The goal is to get 800 students into the Army Recruiting and Retention College at Fort Knox, Kentucky, over the next two months. The incentives being offered include promotions and cash bonuses. See Recruiting, Page 5 Staff Sgt. William Barnett, a combat medic working as a recruiter in York, Pennsylvania, discuss- es careers in the Army with students at Central York High School. (U.S. ARMY/SARAH ZALER) Retired 2-Star Discusses Mental Health 3 Tricare Open Season Gets Underway 4 Government Affairs Shutdown Looms 6 Chapter Highlights Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 28 NOVEMBER 9, 2023 At the end of October, there was a decrease in the number of students scheduled to attend the college, just as the Army is working to bolster its recruiting corps of more than 10,000 soldiers, Stitt said in a Nov. 1 meet- ing with Pentagon reporters. “The losses exceeded the gains, and in order to maintain that momentum that we were seeing within the re- cruiting force, we [started] to set the conditions for transformation,” Stitt said in an Army news release following the Pentagon meeting. “We made the decision this week to bump up the numbers [of recruiting college students].” In a move that Stitt acknowledged he regrets, the Army in late Octo- ber screened and selected soldiers throughout the force to report to the college by Nov. 6, some on very short notice. Stitt said the Army would contact the selected soldiers and work with their unique circumstances. “I’d like to open up and first of all apologize to the soldiers and the families that re- ceived this last-minute notification,” Stitt said. “That mistake is mine.” He said the service is working on multiple avenues to minimize the impact to soldiers and families. “It’s not lost on me, particularly at this point in time, the impact this last- minute notification, and now being on the cusp of the holidays, has on our soldiers and our great NCOs as they navigate a process to support the recruiting enterprise,” Stitt said. To qualify for the newly announced T-Mobile.com/Military-Discounts Limited-time offer; subject to change. 40% off additional line price for lines 2−6 vs. Go5G; with AutoPay discount. Verify military service within 45 days or pay up to $20 more per line per month. Qualifying service required. 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Exclusions like taxes & fees apply.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY November 9, 2023 | AUSA Extra 3 Bipolar ‘survivor’ wants to break mental health stigma R etired Maj. Gen. Gregg Mar- tin served in the Army for 36 years and deployed to combat multiple times, all while battling un- diagnosed bipolar disorder. “Bipolar disorder … is not due to a lack of willpower or character, so don’t blame the afflicted [individual]. Bipolar disorder can strike anyone,” Martin said Nov. 2 during an Asso- ciation of the U.S. Army Noon Report webinar. “My life mission now … is sharing my bipolar story to help stop the stigma, promote recovery and save lives.” A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, Martin commanded several engineer units and served as commandant of the Army Engineer School and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He details his experiences of serving as a senior leader with undiagnosed mental ill- ness in his book, Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings that in- clude emotional highs, referred to as mania or hypomania, and lows, or depression, according to the Mayo Clinic. Though Martin experienced mild mania that went undetected at West Point, Army Ranger School and throughout most of his Army career, Then-Col. Gregg Martin, second from right, and soldiers from the 130th Engineer Bri- gade Headquarters Company discuss a convoy route with a history of roadside bombs and attacks in 2004 in Balad, Iraq. (TOM SAWYER/ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD)) he struggled with his mental health after his first years as a general of- ficer. “For 12 years … I cycled into higher highs and lower lows, along with psychosis. In 2014, I shot into full-blown mania,” Martin said. “I was disruptive, bizarre, over the top, frightening and out of control.” Things came to a head when Mar- tin was forced to resign from serving as president of the National Defense University in 2014, ending his Army career. It wasn’t until 12 years after the onset of Martin’s mental strug- gles, which were triggered when he led soldiers into combat during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and psychosis. After treatment and community support, Martin recovered. “It took a team to lift me up, [my] wife, family, friends, medical professionals, that gave me the hope and knowledge that I could and would recover,” Martin said. “When I was in bipolar hell, I believed I would never recover.” Martin must remain vigilant to maintain his mental health, but he now considers himself a “bipolar sur- vivor and thriver.” “My life is happy, healthy, purpose- ful, my hyperthymic personality is back, though less intense,” he said. “There’s hope recovery is possible from all mental illnesses, including bipolar. I am living proof.” Martin encouraged Army leaders to talk about mental health with their soldiers. “I would recommend that the Army leadership read the book, talk about it [with their soldiers] and … encour- age people all through the ranks … to read [the book], talk about it and gain a greater understanding, not just about bipolar disorder, but about mental illness [and] about mental health conditions,” he said. Retired Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin addresses a forum for military authors Oct. 9 during the 2023 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | November 9, 2023 Gen. Bob Brown, USA Ret. President and CEO, AUSA Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, USA Ret. Vice President, Leadership and Education, AUSA Luc Dunn Editor Desiree Hurlocker Advertising Manager Advertising Information Contact: Fox Associates Inc. 116 W. Kinzie St. • Chicago, IL 60654 Phone: 800-440-0231 Email: adinfo.rmy@foxrep.com ARTICLES. Articles appearing in AUSA Extra do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers or members of the Council of Trustees of AUSA, or its editors. Articles are expres- sions of personal opinion and should not be interpreted as reflecting the official opinion of the Department of Defense nor of any branch, command, installation or agency of the Depart- ment of Defense. The publication assumes no responsibility for any unsolicited material. Email: extra@ausa.org ADVERTISING. Neither AUSA Extra, nor its publisher, the Association of the United States Army, makes any representations, warranties or endorsements as to the truth and accuracy of the advertisements appearing herein, and no such representations, warranties or en- dorsements should be implied or inferred from the appearance of the advertisements in the publication. The advertisers are solely respon- sible for the contents of such advertisements. MEMBERSHIP RATES. Premium membership rates are $40 for two years or $75 for five years. Lifetime membership is $400 and can be paid in full or in four monthly installments. A special Premium rate of $10 for two years is open to E1–E4 and cadets only. New two-year Basic membership with select benefits is free. Learn more at www.ausa.org/join or by emailing membersupport@ausa.org, phoning 855-246-6269, or mailing Fulfillment Manager, P.O. Box 101560, Arlington, VA 22210-0860. Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY As an AUSA member, you qualify for a MetLife vision plan that can help pay out-of-pocket costs on eye exams, glasses, lenses and more. Enjoy exclusive member rates, with savings up to 60% in-network, affordable co-pays and nationwide access to discounts. For more information, please visit https://ausacoverage.com/VisionInsurance. Tricare open season gets underway for retirees, beneficiaries M ilitary retirees and eligible beneficiaries who use Tricare can soon enroll in or make changes to their health care coverage. This year’s Tricare open season be- gins Nov. 13 and ends Dec. 12. Dur- ing that time, beneficiaries who use Tricare Prime or Tricare Select can choose to stay on their plan, enroll in a plan or change plans. Any changes will go into effect on Jan. 1. Additionally, eligible beneficiaries have until Dec. 11 to enroll in or make changes to their vision and/or dental coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insur- ance Program. Known as FEDVIP, the program, managed by the Office of Personnel Management, offers a range of plans at varying costs, and coverage is not automatic, so beneficiaries must act to enroll in a dental or vision plan. Open season for FEDVIP is Nov. 13 through Dec. 11. Those who are not already in a plan and don’t enroll during open season could still receive care, but they will “only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic if space is available,” according to the Tricare website. Outside of Tricare open season, beneficiaries can enroll or change their enrollment following certain life events, including marriage, the birth of a child or retirement from active duty. Open season does not apply to active-duty service members. It also does not apply to Tricare for Life— coverage is automatic for eligible ben- eficiaries who have Medicare Part A and Part B, according to Tricare. Premium-based plans, including Tricare Reserve Select, Retired Re- serve and Young Adult, also are not impacted by open season. Eligible beneficiaries can buy these plans at any time throughout the year, ac- cording to Tricare. For more information on Tricare open season, click here. For more on the Federal Employ- ees Dental and Vision Insurance Pro- gram, click here. Spc. Lizandro Piloer-Diaz, left, assigned to the hearing clinic at Fort Drum, New York, provides information on hearing loss and protection to a retiree. (U.S. ARMY/WARREN WRIGHT)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY November 9, 2023 | AUSA Extra 5 Apply today! Visit navyfederal.org/cashrewards. Our Members Are the Mission Navy Federal is federally insured by NCUA. 1 Offer valid for cardholders issued new cashRewards credit card accounts. To be eligible for the $250 cash back, you must make $2,500 or more in net purchases within 90 days of account opening. Rewards are earned on eligible net purchases. “Net purchases” means the sum of your eligible purchase transactions minus returns and refunds.Eligible purchase transactions do not include, and rewards are not earned for, the following transactions: cash advances, convenience checks, balance transfers, gambling, or fees of any kind, including finance charges, late fees, returned check fees, ATM cash advance fees, and annual fees, if any. Cash-equivalent transactions, such as the purchase, loading, or reloading of gift and prepaid cards (e.g., money orders, GO Prepaid Cards, and other cash-equivalent gift cards), may not be eligible purchase transactions and may not earn rewards. Please allow up to 8 weeks after the 90-day period for the bonus cash back to post to your rewards balance. Account must be open and not in default at the time the bonus cash back posts to your rewards balance. Limit of one promotional offer at account opening. Offer valid for accounts applied for from 10/4/23 to 1/1/24. 2 One-time statement credit of $98 when you pay $49 or more for an annual Walmart+ membership. Excludes monthly Walmart+ membership. Annual Walmart+ membership must be purchased within 1 year from cashRewards credit card account opening date to receive the one-time statement credit. Please allow up to 30 days after the annual Walmart+ membership fee posts to your account for the $98 credit to post. Your annual Walmart+ membership will auto-renew annually following enrollment, and your credit or debit card on file will be charged for an additional term at the fee(s) in effect at the time. You may cancel your annual Walmart+ membership by calling Walmart Customer Care at 800-924-9206 or through your Walmart account. Walmart is a registered trademark of Walmart Apollo, LLC. © 2023 Navy Federal NFCU 14256 (9-23) We’re Spreading Cheer With $250 Bonus Cash Back¹ When You Spend $2,500 Within 90 Days of Account Opening PLUS, YOU CAN GET A ONE-TIME $98 STATEMENT CREDIT WHEN YOU PAY $49 OR MORE FOR AN ANNUAL WALMART+ MEMBERSHIP. 2 With Walmart+, you’ll enjoy: Free delivery from your store Savings on fuelExclusive early access to promotions & events Recruiting From Page 1 incentives, soldiers must be in the grades of E-5 to E-7 and have a minimum four years in service. The incentives include immediate promo- tion to staff sergeant for eligible sol- diers reporting to their fi rst recruit- ing assignment, and graduates of the school who enroll in the Army Re- cruiter Course by February will re- ceive a one-time lump sum of $5,000. The promotions to staff sergeant will be conditional, and the soldiers will have to meet their professional military education requirements. Staff sergeants who volunteer will be eligible for promotion to sergeant fi rst class if they fi eld 24 signed en- listment contracts and all 24 recruits attend Basic Combat Training over a maximum 12-month period, accord- ing to the news release. Current re- cruiters who extend their three-year assignment will be awarded $1,500 a month for up to 12 months. The service also will consider reas- signing soldiers slated to attend the Army’s Drill Sergeant School at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to the Re- cruiting and Retention College, and Army Human Resources Command will work with the soldiers’ chain of command and career counselors on a case-by-case basis to ensure that recruiter candidates have a smooth transition, Stitt said. To further build recruiting momen- tum, Stitt said, Army leaders are working closely with Army Recruit- ing Command to outline required knowledge, skills and behaviors for the Army’s new recruiting MOS— 42T, or talent acquisition specialist. Army Secretary Christine Wor- muth announced Oct. 3 that the re- cruiter career fi eld will shift from a temporary position to a permanent MOS. A pilot program will soon be in development. For now, the Army hopes to attract enough volunteers for the recruiting mission and has asked commanders and leaders throughout the force to encourage soldiers to volunteer. More than 600 current and future ser- vice members receive the oath of enlist- ment from Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George Nov. 5 during an NFL game in Atlanta, Georgia. (U.S. ARMY/LARA POIRRIER)www.ausa.org6 AUSA Extra | November 9, 2023 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Shutdown threat, budget delays remain top concerns Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, left, speaks with an attendee at a reception for lawmakers and congressional staff during the 2023 AUSA Annual Meeting. (AUSA PHOTO) O n Capitol Hill, things remain fluid and uncertain, with much work remaining for Congress before the end of the year— and before government funding runs out Nov. 17. The appropriations process con- tinues to be a challenge. The Senate and the House of Representatives have each passed several bills to fund the government, but it is clear that a stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution, will be needed to prevent a shutdown when funding ends Nov. 17. The length of any potential con- tinuing resolution is unknown, but Congress will need time to pass any remaining ap- propriations bills and then conference and pass final legislation. A lengthy shutdown or a long-term continuing resolution is deeply damaging to national securi- ty—a point that the Association of the U.S. Army’s Government Affairs team emphasizes consistently on Capitol Hill. It is possible that supplemental national security funding for Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, the de- fense industrial base and U.S. border Government Affairs security may be enacted soon. How- ever, it is unclear what could pass both chambers of Congress. Additionally, negotiations sur- rounding the National Defense Au- thorization Act and the authoriza- tion process continue, but a formal conference has yet to begin. AUSA’s Government Affairs team remains hopeful that the NDAA, which pro- vides policy and program guidance for DoD, will be enacted as it has been for more than six decades. You can help build momentum for swift enactment of appropriations bills and the NDAA by contacting your representatives and senators. Another area of concern involves dozens of senior Army personnel who are among the hundreds of military leaders who still have not been con- firmed by the Senate. This delay con- tinues to have a significant impact on readiness, units, Army families and national security, but a quick resolu- tion to the current impasse on nomi- nations is not readily apparent. On a happy note, AUSA’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Exposition in October was a successful event for the Army, AUSA and the associa- tion’s Government Affairs team. As always, we seek to educate, inform and connect while advocating for the Total Army and fostering relation- ships with lawmakers and through- out Washington, D.C. We will continue to monitor these and other developments closely as we advocate for the Total Army with Congress. Mark Haaland is AUSA’s Government Affairs director. AUSA continues to advocate for swift passage of increased funding for the Army, the De- fense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs. (ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL PHOTO)N early 60 service members and veterans participated in the inaugural Weekend with Warriors Pheasant Hunt in Rolla, Missouri, sponsored by the Associa- tion of the U.S. Army’s Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri chapter. From currently serving drill ser- geants to a lieutenant colonel who has been retired for nearly 40 years, those who attended the event in Oc- tober had more in common than they might have thought. For these different generations of service members and veterans, the weekend was as much about cama- raderie as it was about hunting. “You’re connecting with like-mind- ed people,” said Eric Hawes. “It’s not just a military connection but love for the outdoors.” Hawes, an active-duty soldier, was among those from the Fort Leonard Wood area selected to join the free pheasant hunt sponsored by the AUSA chapter. The hunt was made possible by Cliff and Sandy Flem- ing with Fleming Farm and Kennels and the planning of retired Air Force Master Sgt. Pitts Lesesne. The Flemings and Lesesne worked together to organize the hunt to pro- vide a local, outdoor experience and an intentional connection for the veteran and service member partici- pants. Miguel Barahona, another active- duty soldier, participated in the sec- ond day of the event. “It was honestly one of the most memorable moments of my life,” Barahona said. “This reminded me how important it is to care for one another.” The AUSA chapter and Fleming Farm and Kennels were not the only organizations involved in making the weekend events happen. Several community businesses and local vol- unteers stepped up to help ensure its success. www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY November 9, 2023 | AUSA Extra 7 Chapter sponsors pheasant hunt for soldiers, veterans Service members and veterans show their spoils following a pheasant hunt sponsored by AUSA’s Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri chapter. (AUSA PHOTO) Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri Following a welcome and safety meeting, participants spent the morning in the field before returning for lunch and then finishing up their hunt. “I had a great time and enjoyed the opportunity,” retired Lt. Col. Al Parsons said. “It was a great hunt.” Lesesne said he intends for the event to grow and plans to invite dif- ferent veteran hunters each year. Many of the participants, who all were able to bag roosters during the hunt, said they are willing to help as volunteers during future events. “I thoroughly enjoyed the day,” said participant Stephen Clymer, a re- tired soldier. “I am willing to volun- teer for these events.” Brittany Raines is the secretary for AUSA’s Fort Leonard Wood-Mid- Missouri chapter. All of the nearly 60 participants in the inaugural Weekend with Warriors Pheasant Hunt were able to bag roosters. (AUSA PHOTO)Next >