Former Army Sgt. Kyle Jerome White will receive the Medal of Honor during a May 13 ceremony at the White House, President Obama announced, today.
The 27-year-old Seattle native will become the seventh living recipient of the nation's highest military decoration for conspicuous gallantry and valor during actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.
White will receive the Medal of Honor for his disregard of his own life while trying to save the lives of a Marine and two fellow Soldiers after his team of 14 U.S. Soldiers and squad of Afghan National Army soldiers were set up and ambushed by a much larger and more heavily armed Taliban force, who engaged in a three-prong attack from elevated ground.
AMBUSH AT ARANAS
On Nov. 8, 2007, Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173 Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) "Sky Soldiers," left Combat Outpost Bella by foot to visit the large village of Aranas, Afghanistan, for a Shura meeting with village elders. The American Soldiers weren't thrilled about the mission because the villagers had been suspected of collusion in a major attack months earlier on Combat Outpost Ranch House, which resulted in 11 wounded and the closure of the outpost.
Under cover of a pitch-black sky, the team made for the American-built schoolhouse on the edge of the village, where they would bunk for the night.
At daybreak, Nov. 9, the group prepared for the late morning meeting at the mosque, but villagers delayed the get-together, saying the elders were praying for several hours. The meeting was put off until early afternoon, at about 1:30 p.m.
White recalled that village turnout for the Shura was unusually large, as were the number of questions being asked. The Soldiers were hopeful about the level of interest from the young village males of fighting age. Then the 20-year old White said the interpreter was receiving radio traffic in a language he didn't understand. The lone Marine and embedded training team member Sgt. Phillip A. Bocks then advised platoon leader 1st Lt. Matthew C. Ferrara, it was best to leave the area.
"There was one shot, you know, down into the valley, and then it was two shots, and then it was full-automatic fire and RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) ... it was coming from multiple directions," White remembered. Carrying a fully-automatic M4A1, White emptied his 30-round magazine, then loaded another, but he didn't get a chance to fire.
"An RPG hit right behind my head and knocked me unconscious ... it was just lights out ... when I woke up, I was face-down on a rock," he said, recalling that as he was awakening, an enemy round fragmented near his head sending a shower of broken rock chips and debris into the side of his face. "I didn't feel pain at all, [it was] just numb like when you go to the dentist."
More shots, more booms, more chaos ... then White realized 10 of the 14-man American element and the ANA soldiers were gone. With no cover, the remainder of the patrol had been forced to slide more than 150 feet down the side of a rocky cliff.
The only ones remaining up top were Spc. Kain Schilling, Ferrara, Bocks, the interpreter and White. Then White looked around and saw Schilling had been shot in the upper right arm and was dodging and weaving and running toward the cover of shrubs and the umbrella canopy of a single prickly tree. White made for the tree, which provided just enough shade to make the two Soldiers nearly invisible.
White pulled out a tourniquet and asked Schilling, who was grimacing with pain, if he could apply it. White could see where the bullet entered and the blood was flowing from, so he slipped the tourniquet on and instead of cranking down too hard, White said he tightened it just enough to stop the bleeding.
"As I was working on him, I had the radio on, then I rolled over and sat next to Schilling just to take my pack off, that's when I got that metallic taste, then that burning in my lungs," White said, adding that he and Kain covered their mouths with their shirts to filter whatever it was.
"Initially, I thought we were the first unlucky bastards to have chemical weapons on us ... that's what we thought initially, but then I saw a stream of smoke over my shoulder and I realized my pack was smoldering -- it was the battery from my radio burning up," he said.
White checked his radio, but it was out of the fight. Then White saw Bocks, who was badly wounded, lying out in the open, about 30 feet from the shade of the tree. He began encouraging the Marine to use all the strength he could, but Bocks couldn't make any progress.
"I knew he needed help and there was a lot of fire coming in, but it really didn't matter at that point, but by then I already had known, 'well, shit, we're not gonna make it through this one; it's just a matter of time before I'm dead,'" White said. "I figured, if that's going to happen, I might as well help someone while I can."
White sprinted the 30 feet to Bocks as rounds skipped around his feet and snapped past his head, but he made it to Bocks unscathed, but remembered thinking, his wounds were severe. He looked over at Schilling and yelled at the interpreter to attend to the Soldier, but the interpreter was pinned down and couldn't move.
"At that time, I can remember thinking he wasn't going to make it, but I knew I wasn't going to stop trying," White said. "No matter what the outcome, I'm going to do what I can with what I have."
White grabbed the buddy carry handle on the back of Bocks' vest and began pulling the 200-pound plus Marine toward cover. He realized that the enemy was now shooting directly at him and further endangering Bocks, so he ran back to cover, waited until fire died down, then ran out again repeating the process four times until Bocks was under cover.
White saw that Bocks' leg was bleeding badly, so he grabbed another tourniquet out of his pack, slipped it around Bocks' leg and tightened down until the bleeding stopped. Next he tore Bocks' shirt open, saw another wound, but it wasn't until he rolled him over that he saw the large exit wound. "Stop the bleeding" is all he thought as he stuffed bandages, clothing, whatever he could to stop the bleeding. No matter what White did, the bleeding wasn't stopping and the Marine succumbed to his wounds.
No sooner had White realized Bocks had passed away than he looked over to see Schilling get hit again by small-arms fire, this time in the left leg. White scrambled to Schilling. Out of tourniquets, White pulled his belt from his uniform and looped it around Schilling's leg.
"Hey man, this is going to hurt," White said to Schilling, who replied, "Just do it!"
"So, I put my foot on his leg and pulled the belt as hard as I could until the bleeding stopped," White recalled.
White next looked around for the lieutenant and noticed his platoon leader, Ferrara, was lying still, face-down on the trail. Again, White exposed himself to fire, this time crawling to Ferrara's position. The lieutenant was dead, so White moved back to Schilling where he began to use Schilling's radio until an enemy round zipped right through the hand-mic blowing it out of his hand. Now both Soldiers' radios had been destroyed.
The paratrooper moved to Bocks and found that his radio was still operational, so he established communication with friendly elements and rendered a situation report. He understood the situation well enough that he was able to bring in mortars, artillery, air strikes and helicopter gun runs to keep the enemy from massing on friendly positions.
"I heard a hiss, just a second of a hiss and then a big, big explosion and that one brought me to my knees," he said. "It scrambled my brains a little bit."
That was concussion No. 2 for the day, caused by a friendly 120-mm mortar round that fell a little short of its target.
After nightfall, White began giving the interpreter commands to relay to the Afghan National Army soldiers to establish themselves as a security perimeter. MedEvac was still a few hours away, so White kept telling Schilling to stay awake as he consolidated sensitive items -- radios and weapons in a central location to ensure no equipment would be lost to the enemy.
While trying to keep Schilling from falling asleep, White battled his own multiple concussions. He knew if he passed out, the helicopters wouldn't be able to find them or the two wounded Afghan National Army soldiers who White had also treated.
Eventually, White marked the landing zone and assisted the flight medic in hoisting the wounded into the helicopter. Only after all wounded were off the trail did White allow himself to be evacuated.
While many Afghan National Army and fellow Soldiers were injured on that autumn day nearly seven years ago, five American Soldiers and one Marine died during the battle, which White and Schilling say they have never forgotten and never will.
Each of the surviving Soldiers of the Battle of Aranas wears a stainless steel wristband with the names of those who didn't come home: 1st Lt. Matthew C. Ferrara, Sgt. Jeffery S. Mersman, Spc. Sean K.A. Langevin, Spc. Lester G. Roque, Pfc. Joseph M. Lancour and Marine Sgt. Phillip A. Bocks.
AFTERMATH & LIFE TODAY
The only child of a Vietnam era Special Forces Soldier and his wife, White first wanted to join the Marine Corps, in 2006. His father convinced his 19-year-old son -- who grew up hunting, fishing and snowboarding -- to go Army and to be a paratrooper. In February 2006, he signed on as an infantryman.
Following airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga., White was assigned to Vincenza, Italy, with 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, as a grenadier and rifleman. While with the 503rd, White was deployed to Afghanistan as a platoon radio telephone operator, from May 2007 until August 2008. He next served as an opposing forces sergeant with the Ranger Training Battalion at Fort Benning.
He separated from the Army on July 8, 2011, and used his G.I. Bill to attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, from which he received a bachelor's degree. Today, he works as an investment analyst at The Royal Bank of Canada in Charlotte.
Schilling who was shot twice, credits White with saving his life. He said before White patched him up with two tourniquets, he didn't think he had a chance of getting out of the ambush.
Today, he's well and serves as an armed security officer in Palo, Iowa. Like White, he was also just 20 at the time of the battle. While White and Schilling were friends before the battle, they've become even closer friends who experienced a major trauma and the horror of war.
"Kyle still comes up once a year because he knows I have a family and it's hard for me to break away, so he comes to me ... that's really cool," Schilling said, adding that he'll be at the ceremony. "I consider him my best friend. We're still very close after these seven years."
Schilling said that while White didn't actually get hit by any enemy rounds, his pack was shot up and his weapon was also shot more than a few times.
"I just want people to know, the fire he moved through was just absolutely ... I can't even describe how intense it was, that's what amazed me, how he went to get Bocks so many times -- faster than a speeding bullet -- he's definitely lucky.
http://www.army.mil/article/124011/Former_sergeant_to_receive_Medal_of_Honor_for_Afghanistan_actions/
Retrieved on 16 April 2014.
Written by J.D. Leipold, ARNEWS
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Aviation Operations Specialist (15P)
The aviation operations specialist is primarily responsible for scheduling and dispatching tactical aircraft missions. They help operate one of the largest fleets of aircraft in the world and keep them running safe and efficient.
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Job Duties
- Process local and cross-country flight clearances
- Check accuracy of flight plans and coordinate them
- Maintain flight logs on incoming/outgoing flights and individual flight records
- Alert crash crews of emergencies
- Interpret and post weather reports
Army Simulated Helicopter Visits Joplin and McDonald High
An Army adventure –semi will visit Joplin High School and
McDonald County High School this week. Students and staff will operate Army
simulated helicopters, learn about Army careers, and take the Army chin-up
challenge. For event information contact Sergeant First Class Collins at
417-623-7966.
'Ms. Veteran America' uses title to tell Army story, support homeless female Veterans
When Staff Sgt. Allaina Guitron volunteered for recruiting duty, little did she know how her title of "Ms. Veteran America" would be a perfect fit to showcase her Army story.
When a close friend approached the Montgomery Recruiting Battalion non-commissioned officer about the competition, she thought it was a typical pageant. Then she found out the charitable beneficiary of the Ms. Veteran America competition is Final Salute Inc., an organization that provides homeless women veterans safe and affordable housing.
"The real question became, 'How could I not compete?'" said Guitron. "I am already part of the Army and I am already a Soldier. To accomplish something beyond being a Soldier is more than I could ask for."
For this 13-year veteran, the platform was personal. Guitron's mother dealt with homelessness most of her life, and Guitron grew up in foster homes. In 2000, her life changed when she enlisted in the Army.
"I knew the Army would be challenging and would provide opportunities for me to better myself," she said.
Guitron entered the competition when she was in the 55th Signal Company, at Fort Meade, Md. Her year-long stint as "Ms. Veteran America" started when she arrived to recruiting duty in Crestview, Fla., in October 2013.
"It was an easy decision to let Guitron compete," said Maj. Kyle Yates, then 55th Signal Company commander. "After learning about the Ms. Veteran American organization and its mission, I was extremely proud of her desire to represent our service beyond the uniform."
Yates said Guitron lives the Army Values in her military and personal life.
"She successfully led and took care of Soldiers as a non-commissioned officer in the Army's most deployed Signal Company, supported her Soldier-husband during his deployment, transitioned to Recruiting Command and provided for her extended family," he said.
The extended family that Yates referred to was Guitron's brother, Christian, who she was sole provider for, from 2005 until she reported to recruiting duty.
When invited to speak as "Ms. Veteran America," Guitron includes her personal biography about her job as a recruiter. She also mentors a few teens and young women.
"I try to be the voice of reason for them, even though sometimes it is hard for them to hear, but they know I have their best interest in mind," said Guitron. "It is important that female Soldiers see a strong, positive, resilient and selfless leader they can emulate. Therefore, I choose to lead by example in everything I do."
Crestview Center Commander Sgt. 1st Class John Carroll said Guitron is one of the most dedicated Soldiers with whom he has worked.
"I have witnessed a Soldier who gives everything to being a Soldier," he said. "She strives to be the best at everything she does. She embodies the Army Values and is a sterling example both personally and professionally of what is expected of a Soldier in the U.S. Army."
In Guitron's community, she is involved with Fisher House at Eglin Air Force Base. Because of her personal story, she also speaks with local mayors, veteran's organizations and Chambers of Commerce to bring light to the homeless women veterans' issue.
Guitron takes to heart the Army Values and applies them to every aspect of her life.
"In her role as 'Ms. Veteran America,' Guitron brings the same passion and desire to help others," said Carroll. "She shows that with hard work and dedication there is nothing they cannot achieve."
This perfect fit is the reason she volunteered for recruiting.
"I wanted to share my life experiences with people," she said.
http://www.army.mil/article/123923/_Ms__Veteran_America__uses_title_to_tell_Army_story__support_homeless_female_Veterans/
Retrieved on 15 April 2014
Written by Cathy Pauley, USAREC
When a close friend approached the Montgomery Recruiting Battalion non-commissioned officer about the competition, she thought it was a typical pageant. Then she found out the charitable beneficiary of the Ms. Veteran America competition is Final Salute Inc., an organization that provides homeless women veterans safe and affordable housing.
"The real question became, 'How could I not compete?'" said Guitron. "I am already part of the Army and I am already a Soldier. To accomplish something beyond being a Soldier is more than I could ask for."
For this 13-year veteran, the platform was personal. Guitron's mother dealt with homelessness most of her life, and Guitron grew up in foster homes. In 2000, her life changed when she enlisted in the Army.
"I knew the Army would be challenging and would provide opportunities for me to better myself," she said.
Guitron entered the competition when she was in the 55th Signal Company, at Fort Meade, Md. Her year-long stint as "Ms. Veteran America" started when she arrived to recruiting duty in Crestview, Fla., in October 2013.
"It was an easy decision to let Guitron compete," said Maj. Kyle Yates, then 55th Signal Company commander. "After learning about the Ms. Veteran American organization and its mission, I was extremely proud of her desire to represent our service beyond the uniform."
Yates said Guitron lives the Army Values in her military and personal life.
"She successfully led and took care of Soldiers as a non-commissioned officer in the Army's most deployed Signal Company, supported her Soldier-husband during his deployment, transitioned to Recruiting Command and provided for her extended family," he said.
The extended family that Yates referred to was Guitron's brother, Christian, who she was sole provider for, from 2005 until she reported to recruiting duty.
When invited to speak as "Ms. Veteran America," Guitron includes her personal biography about her job as a recruiter. She also mentors a few teens and young women.
"I try to be the voice of reason for them, even though sometimes it is hard for them to hear, but they know I have their best interest in mind," said Guitron. "It is important that female Soldiers see a strong, positive, resilient and selfless leader they can emulate. Therefore, I choose to lead by example in everything I do."
Crestview Center Commander Sgt. 1st Class John Carroll said Guitron is one of the most dedicated Soldiers with whom he has worked.
"I have witnessed a Soldier who gives everything to being a Soldier," he said. "She strives to be the best at everything she does. She embodies the Army Values and is a sterling example both personally and professionally of what is expected of a Soldier in the U.S. Army."
In Guitron's community, she is involved with Fisher House at Eglin Air Force Base. Because of her personal story, she also speaks with local mayors, veteran's organizations and Chambers of Commerce to bring light to the homeless women veterans' issue.
Guitron takes to heart the Army Values and applies them to every aspect of her life.
"In her role as 'Ms. Veteran America,' Guitron brings the same passion and desire to help others," said Carroll. "She shows that with hard work and dedication there is nothing they cannot achieve."
This perfect fit is the reason she volunteered for recruiting.
"I wanted to share my life experiences with people," she said.
http://www.army.mil/article/123923/_Ms__Veteran_America__uses_title_to_tell_Army_story__support_homeless_female_Veterans/
Retrieved on 15 April 2014
Written by Cathy Pauley, USAREC
Monday, April 14, 2014
There's No Limit To A Soldier's Success
Once you decide to join the Army, your success depends only on your desire
and commitment to become a better Soldier. Below are the various Army ranks for
Enlisted Soldiers as well as Warrant Officers and Officers. While the amount of
time spent in each rank is based on averages, you can often accelerate the
promotion process by taking advantage of additional training and schooling
opportunities.
http://www.goarmy.com/about/ranks-and-insignia.html
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http://www.goarmy.com/about/ranks-and-insignia.html
TRADOC relooking NCO education with eye to 'adaptation'
The Army is conducting a complete re-assessment of its NCO education system for the first time since 1976, said the general who just took the helm of Training and Doctrine Command.
Gen. David G. Perkins, who assumed command of TRADOC on March 14, spoke at the Army's Brain Health Consortium, Thursday, at the Defense Health Headquarters.
The ultimate weapon of the U.S. Army in the future must be the brains of its Soldiers, Perkins said.
"We're banking on our cognitive capability," Perkins said, describing that as the Army's "ace in the hole" against potential enemies.
"We think kinetically, they can probably buy the same weapons we have," he said, at least in small numbers. He added there are also armies out there larger than the U.S. Army.
In the past, the U.S. Army has relied upon superior technology, he said, but that "technology gap" is closing fast.
Being able to adapt quickly will be the key in the future, he said. One reason is the uncertainty of today's operational environment.
The Army found out early in Iraq and Afghanistan that it could not adapt quickly enough, Perkins said. He was commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division during the "Thunder Run" of armored columns into Baghdad, in 2003. Later he returned to Iraq as commander of the 4th Infantry Division conducting stabilization operations.
"What we're also finding with this very distributed nature of war is that we have to have a level of adaptation down to the individual Soldier," Perkins said. "You just can't have adaptive generals."
The good news is that young NCOs who have been in Iraq and Afghanistan understand that intuitively, he said. They want to know why the NCO education system hasn't changed to accommodate it.
So the TRADOC command sergeant major is re-assessing NCO education system from "soup to nuts," Perkins said.
TRADOC has been spending tremendous resources on modeling and war games to try and determine what the future will look like in "2025 and beyond," Perkins said. He tells audiences he knows exactly what the future will be: "unknown." Historically, when experts think they know exactly what the future will look like, it changes dramatically.
In the Cold War, the Army was ready for Soviet armored columns to roll across the central plains of Europe. That never happened, Perkins said.
When he was a lieutenant, though, everyone was certain what the enemy would look like, how they would fight and what equipment they would use.
He said commanders calculated tactics and responses "down to the minute."
"We saw war as a calculus problem," Perkins said.
This is the first time the Army is writing doctrine to deal with the unknown, he said.
Now, it's important for a commander to first define the problem and then determine what key decisions need to be made, he said. Judgment is seen as the most important attribute of a leader.
Adaptability needs to be part of the Army's culture, Perkins said.
"We don't know how to build this cognitive capability to deal with this very ill-defined world," Perkins said, explaining that in the past the Army has dealt with "a very linear world."
The question now, he said, is: "How do we make our Soldiers adapt quicker than our enemy?"
He asked the medical experts, behavioral health practitioners and neurologists in the room:
"How much data should a Soldier be able to take in?" Cognitive capacity needs to be assessed, he said.
TRADOC is now involved in an assessment to determine physical demands for combat tasks. Soldiers at Fort Stewart, Ga., are involved in the study. Perkins said it is looking at measurable physical demands for infantrymen and artillery crews, for instance. Such measurements might include the average weight of a rucksack, or the average distance an infantryman might need to walk.
A more difficult measurement, Perkins said, is determining the "mental load" a Soldier can bear.
"How long can they go without sleep? How many decisions can they make? How big is the 'mental rucksack' of a Soldier," he asked.
Answering those questions was the challenge he gave to the Medical Command officials at the consortium.
http://www.army.mil/article/123958/TRADOC_relooking_NCO_education_with_eye_to__adaptation_/
Retrieved on 14 April 2014
Written by Gary Sheftick
Gen. David G. Perkins, who assumed command of TRADOC on March 14, spoke at the Army's Brain Health Consortium, Thursday, at the Defense Health Headquarters.
The ultimate weapon of the U.S. Army in the future must be the brains of its Soldiers, Perkins said.
"We're banking on our cognitive capability," Perkins said, describing that as the Army's "ace in the hole" against potential enemies.
"We think kinetically, they can probably buy the same weapons we have," he said, at least in small numbers. He added there are also armies out there larger than the U.S. Army.
In the past, the U.S. Army has relied upon superior technology, he said, but that "technology gap" is closing fast.
Being able to adapt quickly will be the key in the future, he said. One reason is the uncertainty of today's operational environment.
The Army found out early in Iraq and Afghanistan that it could not adapt quickly enough, Perkins said. He was commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division during the "Thunder Run" of armored columns into Baghdad, in 2003. Later he returned to Iraq as commander of the 4th Infantry Division conducting stabilization operations.
"What we're also finding with this very distributed nature of war is that we have to have a level of adaptation down to the individual Soldier," Perkins said. "You just can't have adaptive generals."
The good news is that young NCOs who have been in Iraq and Afghanistan understand that intuitively, he said. They want to know why the NCO education system hasn't changed to accommodate it.
So the TRADOC command sergeant major is re-assessing NCO education system from "soup to nuts," Perkins said.
TRADOC has been spending tremendous resources on modeling and war games to try and determine what the future will look like in "2025 and beyond," Perkins said. He tells audiences he knows exactly what the future will be: "unknown." Historically, when experts think they know exactly what the future will look like, it changes dramatically.
In the Cold War, the Army was ready for Soviet armored columns to roll across the central plains of Europe. That never happened, Perkins said.
When he was a lieutenant, though, everyone was certain what the enemy would look like, how they would fight and what equipment they would use.
He said commanders calculated tactics and responses "down to the minute."
"We saw war as a calculus problem," Perkins said.
This is the first time the Army is writing doctrine to deal with the unknown, he said.
Now, it's important for a commander to first define the problem and then determine what key decisions need to be made, he said. Judgment is seen as the most important attribute of a leader.
Adaptability needs to be part of the Army's culture, Perkins said.
"We don't know how to build this cognitive capability to deal with this very ill-defined world," Perkins said, explaining that in the past the Army has dealt with "a very linear world."
The question now, he said, is: "How do we make our Soldiers adapt quicker than our enemy?"
He asked the medical experts, behavioral health practitioners and neurologists in the room:
"How much data should a Soldier be able to take in?" Cognitive capacity needs to be assessed, he said.
TRADOC is now involved in an assessment to determine physical demands for combat tasks. Soldiers at Fort Stewart, Ga., are involved in the study. Perkins said it is looking at measurable physical demands for infantrymen and artillery crews, for instance. Such measurements might include the average weight of a rucksack, or the average distance an infantryman might need to walk.
A more difficult measurement, Perkins said, is determining the "mental load" a Soldier can bear.
"How long can they go without sleep? How many decisions can they make? How big is the 'mental rucksack' of a Soldier," he asked.
Answering those questions was the challenge he gave to the Medical Command officials at the consortium.
http://www.army.mil/article/123958/TRADOC_relooking_NCO_education_with_eye_to__adaptation_/
Retrieved on 14 April 2014
Written by Gary Sheftick
Cyber Network Defender MOS now open to NCOs
A new military occupational specialty, 25D Cyber Network Defender, is now open to staff sergeants, sergeants first class and master sergeants in the Active Component, per Military Personnel Message 14-085.
Soldiers in the military occupational specialty, or MOS, "will protect against unauthorized activity in the cyberspace domain and perform assessments of threats and vulnerabilities within the network environment," according to the MILPER.
Soldiers from any MOS with a background in information assurance and information technology are encouraged to apply, said Jim Bragg, chief, Retention and Reclassification Branch, Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate at Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Ky.
The rules for getting into 25D "have been relaxed," Bragg said, explaining that normally, only Soldiers in "over-strength" MOSs are allowed into MOSs with shortages like this one.
As the Army downsizes, Soldiers in all MOSs, especially those that are over-strength, should consider applying for 25D, if this type of assignment is to their liking, he said, adding that getting into this MOS might also be beneficial for promotion opportunities.
"They're building this MOS from the ground up," Bragg said, meaning no one has actually been designated a cyber network defender yet. Once Soldiers get approval to become a 25D and then get the requisite training, they will have the MOS 25D, beginning Oct. 1 this year.
No decision has been made as to how large the MOS will be, so he said sooner would be a good time to apply rather than later. The training has already been validated, he added, and formal training will begin this summer.
The need to defend the networks is now critical due to the "increased pace of technology and the increase of the threat we see in the cyber world," said Col. Robert E. Duke, chief of Operations Support Division, Officer Personnel Management Directorate, HRC, where the new Cyber Branch is being established.
Soldiers who are in the information technology field were doing related cyber work in the past as part of their secondary duties, said Duke. "This will be a growth field."
Therefore, the importance of these duties demanded a need to establish a branch to manage cyber MOSs, he said.
"The Cyber Branch will ensure all Soldiers -- officer, warrant officer and enlisted performing cyber duties -- receive the same quality professional development they have come to expect from HRC. We will be the Cyber Soldier's contact for assignment, training and promotions."
Further details on 25D reclassification can be found in the MILPER, along with links for putting together a package for submission. The package goes to the chief of the Signal Corps for approval and will also include a follow-on exam and screening test.
Soldiers are encouraged to contact their career counselor to determine reclassification eligibility, Bragg said.
http://www.army.mil/article/123328/Cyber_Network_Defender_MOS_now_open_to_NCOs/
Retrieved on 14 April 2014.
Written by David Vergun
Soldiers in the military occupational specialty, or MOS, "will protect against unauthorized activity in the cyberspace domain and perform assessments of threats and vulnerabilities within the network environment," according to the MILPER.
Soldiers from any MOS with a background in information assurance and information technology are encouraged to apply, said Jim Bragg, chief, Retention and Reclassification Branch, Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate at Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Ky.
The rules for getting into 25D "have been relaxed," Bragg said, explaining that normally, only Soldiers in "over-strength" MOSs are allowed into MOSs with shortages like this one.
As the Army downsizes, Soldiers in all MOSs, especially those that are over-strength, should consider applying for 25D, if this type of assignment is to their liking, he said, adding that getting into this MOS might also be beneficial for promotion opportunities.
"They're building this MOS from the ground up," Bragg said, meaning no one has actually been designated a cyber network defender yet. Once Soldiers get approval to become a 25D and then get the requisite training, they will have the MOS 25D, beginning Oct. 1 this year.
No decision has been made as to how large the MOS will be, so he said sooner would be a good time to apply rather than later. The training has already been validated, he added, and formal training will begin this summer.
The need to defend the networks is now critical due to the "increased pace of technology and the increase of the threat we see in the cyber world," said Col. Robert E. Duke, chief of Operations Support Division, Officer Personnel Management Directorate, HRC, where the new Cyber Branch is being established.
Soldiers who are in the information technology field were doing related cyber work in the past as part of their secondary duties, said Duke. "This will be a growth field."
Therefore, the importance of these duties demanded a need to establish a branch to manage cyber MOSs, he said.
"The Cyber Branch will ensure all Soldiers -- officer, warrant officer and enlisted performing cyber duties -- receive the same quality professional development they have come to expect from HRC. We will be the Cyber Soldier's contact for assignment, training and promotions."
Further details on 25D reclassification can be found in the MILPER, along with links for putting together a package for submission. The package goes to the chief of the Signal Corps for approval and will also include a follow-on exam and screening test.
Soldiers are encouraged to contact their career counselor to determine reclassification eligibility, Bragg said.
http://www.army.mil/article/123328/Cyber_Network_Defender_MOS_now_open_to_NCOs/
Retrieved on 14 April 2014.
Written by David Vergun
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