Josh,

Typically, you are authorized travel time, mileage, and per-diem from your home of record.  However, because of your TDY, you may not receive the travel time, but, you should still receive at least the mileage and per diem.  It’s best to check with the transportation office where you are to confirm.  In the meantime, here is a link that mi…[Read more]

Micah,

Some good stuff on your document, a few of them I did not think about when I made my 3 DITY moves.

One other thing I would add is to make sure you have a load plan.  For example, I did not plan to unload EVERYTHING the first day we arrived so I made sure that I loaded some things last, like the kid’s bed stuff, pet supplies, some pots…[Read more]

Another way to go about this is to explain a couple of ways that you are going to the organization and then ask for specific feedback on those COAs.

This is not to say that you are presupposing that you will ‘fix’ anything in the organization, but that you have certain talent sets and you are aware of your future organization’s mission and…[Read more]

Oh…where do I start?

So much will be covered with leveraging your AGRs, and standard command stuff like inventories and readiness, so I will give my opinions on what I believe helped me succeed:

Command.  Don’t let the full time force run things.  Stay involved.  Don’t buy a rubber signature stamp so they can sign things and not “bother yo…[Read more]

For those who are not sure how the new “Blended” retirement system differs from the current system, I’ve attached a 1-page PDF to help explain it.  Additionally, here is a link to a story that explains it more deeply.

For those who are not sure how the new “Blended” retirement system differs from the current system, I’ve attached a 1-page PDF to help explain it.  Additionally, here is a link to a story that explains it more deeply.

Answer to your final question: both.

Two thoughts: they volunteered and know the commitment, but we need to lessen the disruption in the name of readiness when we can. I’m in a period of 3 ATs in May/June in a row, all starting in or crossing over finals. When we sell the reserve and guard components, especially in a state like NJ where you have…[Read more]

Responsibilities would include informing all of DOD and local policies formally (even make it part of the onboarding process), and actively enforcing the policy as every other. Due to host nation sensitivities to posting, geotagging, and content, I would check common hashtags and pull the Soldier in when there were violations of the policy. Some…[Read more]

I just came out of the Simulation Operations Course at Belvoir. You want to talk about advocating for branch? We could all take a lesson from how close that community is and how they advocate for their branch (57A). From the chief through the proponent officer and assignment officer, everyone spoke not only of their love of the branch and it’s…[Read more]

I’ve got a JAG NCO in my state that publishes so much that it almost seems like spam with the LinkedIn article links…

I think we are seeing a sea change in NCO publication opportunity as we see upper level PME open to senior NCOs and the ease of publication mass market with Army University Press, LinkedIn, Task&Purpose, etc.

So how we…[Read more]

Hmm…advice on this one is tough. Opinion is easy, however.

My experience is that politics plays a huge part of what we see in the guard, however, I will temper that with generally the politics are “fair” when you know the dynamic. Example: 2 middle of the road LTs, all things being equal if one is AGR and the rater/senior is bumping up against…[Read more]