By Maj. Gen. Leslie Purser | 12/20/2013

When I first took command I asked all commanders, battalion and above, their perspectives on the 108th. I was looking for best practices as well as suggestions for improvement. I read each response and determined there is a need for more information on the future plans for the 108th in the area of force management. With ongoing reduction in the government budget and sequestration quickly squeezing every dollar out of the military budget we are in an era of tightening belts. This reduction in funding translates to a reduction in force structure. Currently the Army Reserve is at 205K end strength with a possible reduction to 185K. Depart... Read More...

Relevant Tags: training, command, reserve, army, mission, army reserve, training command, commanding general, drill sergeants, fort knox, mission requirements, generating force, leader training

By Command Sgt. Maj. Rocci R. DeRezza | 12/20/2013

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, every day 22 Veterans take their own lives. That’s a suicide every 65 minutes. Suicide prevention programs have been set in place to educate Soldiers and Families of the signs and risks associated with suicide. Additional counselors have been hired to assist Soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders. Even with all the programs and information available to Soldiers, we are still seeing a rise in suicides. Not all of us are in a position to see the signs of a Soldier that may attempt to take his life, but many of us are. Knowing when a person is a... Read More...

Relevant Tags: soldiers, command, suicide, soldier, office, sergeant major, command sergeant, suicide prevention, veterans affairs, from command

By Master Sgt. Deborah Williams | 12/20/2013

FORT JACKSON, S.C. — Even drill sergeants need training and it is consistently and effectively done at the Drill Sergeant School here. The school is not designed to take seasoned NCOs back to basic training, but to get them back to the basics. Being an instructor responsible for teaching military skills to future Soldiers is what they need to learn at the school. The students have to understand that they will be responsible for teaching the material they’ve learned to other Soldiers – Soldiers who may be heading off to the front lines. Read More...

Relevant Tags: training, sergeant, soldiers, army, military, sergeants, drill sergeant, sergeant school, drill sergeants, basic training, combat training, training command, army reserve

By Mrs. Deborah Williams | 12/20/2013

FORT JACKSON, S.C. — Drill Sergeant Class 510-13 graduated here 28 August. The ceremony began with arrival of the Official Party, Invocation and the Commandant’s remarks. Command Sgt. Maj. Michael S. McCoy, U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School Commandant, had some interesting facts to share with the graduates and the audience. Read More...

Relevant Tags: drill, sergeant, command, school, training, military, sgt, 108th, IET, drill sergeant, training command, drill sergeants, sergeant school, 108th training, command sgt, command iet, public affairs

By Capt. Matthew Moore | 12/20/2013

FORT BENNING, Ga. — On June 9th, 2013, twelve United States Army Reserve Drill Sergeants took their place along side Active Duty Instructors under the 192nd Infantry Brigade, Fort Benning, Ga. These drill sergeants were spread across three battalions and seven companies, assisting active component Basic Combat Training Companies for two weeks. As commander of the annual training increment, my job was to visit each of the command teams that my Soldiers were working with to ensure they were providing the appropriate support. At the beginning it was just introduction and the typical exchange of contact information, but half way through I... Read More...

Relevant Tags: sgt, training, drill, staff, active, reserve, army, soldiers, sergeants, staff sgt, drill sergeants, army reserve, active duty, division iet, 2nd bde, 95th training, bde 95th, fort benning

By Capt. Josiah Fisher | 12/20/2013

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — The end of the 2013 training year did not mean the end of valuable training for the 3rd Battalion, 385th Infantry Regiment Drill Sergeants who completed a three-day field training exercise (FTX) here Sept. 8. “The training and effort I saw in our Soldiers during these three days definitely exceeded our high expectations,” said Lt. Col. Michael Mikulski, commander of the unit from Edison, N.J. “Our drill sergeants are often spread out during our annual training missions. So, events like these are always great for camaraderie, morale, and increasing our knowledge base through lessons learned.” ... Read More...

Relevant Tags: training, division, 385th, battalion, soldiers, 98th, ftx, 98th training, training division, division iet, joint base, base mcguire, 4th brigade, dix lakehurst, mcguire dix, field training

By Col. Miles Davis | 12/20/2013

McCRADY TRAINING CENTER, S.C.— Set in the rolling hills and towering pines of thecentral Midlands region of South Carolina, Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 98th Division (IET), headquartered at Fort Jackson, S.C., participated in the first annual Second Brigade “Bayonet” Field Training (FTX) at the McCrady Training Center in July. The Bayonet is a grueling 17-hour competition that test the Warrior Task and Battle Drill proficiency of five-Soldier teams from each battalion in the brigade through a series of five scenario-driven, mission-oriented, Situational Training Exercise (STX) lanes. Read More...

Relevant Tags: team, training, brigade, division, sgt, soldiers, teams, division iet, 2nd brigade, 98th training, training division, brigade 98th, each team, first aid, task battle, anthony woodard, second brigade

By Michelle Tan | 12/26/2013

In one month, the new Continental United States Replacement Center at Fort Bliss, Texas, has processed almost 250 soldiers and Army civilians for their overseas deployments.   The Army consolidated its CRC operation Aug. 9, moving it from Fort Benning, Ga., to Fort Bliss. Read More...

Relevant Tags: army, soldiers, crc, bliss, birchfield, training, fort bliss, soldiers army, army civilians, army reserve, bliss texas