Thank you all again for participating in the virtual town hall, April 29th. I appreciate your patience as we work through the technical challenges to provide a regular, interactive connection between the command group and the field. If you missed the town hall, you can view it below. Because I couldn't answer all of the questions in the allotted time, my staff has provided additional answers below the video.
Additional Questions:
I have been trying, for the past 3 years to get back in, and my MOS finally came back up on the prior service recruiting list and figured it would be fairly easy to get back in since my job was on there and I have a RE1 code. But I have gotten nothing but the run around from the med review doctor. Why would they rather take a new recruit in rather than a vet that has been in no trouble and has an outstanding service record? Brian Harrison
First and foremost, USAREC would like to thank you for serving out great nation. Although past experience is valuable, the Army must also consider a number of other factors when assessing those with prior service. These factors will ensure we not only have the talent and dedication of the prior service applicant, but that we also have an applicant who meets the necessary physical and mental health qualifications. Applicants must meet all requirements for the specific option or MOS for which he/she is enlisting. We place great value on our prior service applicants because we know they already have the experience and skills we need, but it is important that we assess each applicant to ensure he/she meets the Army standards.
My husband submitted a Recruiting packet and he was denied recruiting after he has already done 3 years as a recruiter in Minnesota from 2008-2011 and was not told why. While he was recruiting he received the highest award the Glenn E. Merrel and never got in trouble. So just wanted to know why he was denied after he did so well in the past as a recruiter? Kathryn Hillman Rodriguez
When recruiters leave USAREC and request to come back at a later date as a 79R, the command requires a holistic look at the NCO with regards to their TIS, TIG, how well they did while in USAREC, and how well they have performed for the Army since leaving USAREC. This is a holistic approach, where one area alone does not qualify an NCO to come back and reclassify to 79R. The USAREC commanding general is the approval and disapproval authority for all returning reclassification requests.
1. How long is a soldier required to stay in a company/battalion before they are pcs'd? I know that a soldier can be in a battalion for as long as 4 or 5 years. Melissa
1. A normal tour in a Battalion is three years; however, it can be extended/curtailed based on readiness.
2. Can a soldier request to move somewhere else after being in a battalion for 4 years? Also is there a general rule regarding the length that a soldier can be on numbers? I.e. my husband has been on numbers as a detailed recruiter and center commander for 13 years. Melissa
2a. Soldiers can update their assignment preferences in HSS and G1 does review preferences when making assignments.
2b. Yes. The term being on numbers really doesn't apply. However there is difference between the number of RA Staff and AGR opportunities. With over 95% of our AGR force being positioned at the Recruiting Center level, it provides very few professional development opportunities.
3. Has anyone ever considered putting a limited amount of years as a detailed recruiter or center commander and put them in another position to give them a break from numbers? Melissa
3. Again, the term "on numbers" really doesn’t apply, but yes time spend in various duty positioned is looked at when considering the professional development of both our RA and AGR 79R Recruiting force.
Can we go back to next day test projection? When I first came in I could EST/CAST and applicant and if he/she did well and is qualify I was able to project for next day testing. Now I have to wait 48 hours and that is time lost for a potential enlistment. David
Per MEPCOM J3 there is 48 hr requirement on test only, if MEPs is stating, this G3 needs to know the specific information.
I have a question about how BAH is set? At our last duty station we were able to find a very nice home for over 500 UNDER BAH. Here in Wisconsin, prices of rental homes are similar to where we came from yet BAH is almost 600 a month less making it very hard to find a decent home to rent that stays within BAH. So who decides what each area receives? Gretchen George
BAH is updated annually to capture the average cost of housing related costs in an area (rent, utilities, and renters insurance), with the housing standard varying slightly based on the Soldier's grade (apartment/townhouse vs single family dwelling). BAH is based on the where the Soldier is assigned, not where they live.
In my recruiting area the recruiters drive 7hrs+ to go round trip to meps. I have asked my command about a shuttle service, but I'm told it's not cost effective. At times it seems we spend more time driving and less time prospecting. We do have a driving roster, but I can see that all the driving we do burns out the recruiter. As far as cost it would seem more cost effective to use a shuttle being that most of our gov's are pushing 80,000 miles pulse. To take account for fuel, maintenance, and prospecting time it would seem reasonable to have a shuttle. Maybe if there was a set distance that a center is away from a meps that shuttle service would be provided Andrew Duggar
The commander makes the call on whether a particular recruiting area will use GOV or contracted shuttle service to transport applicants to the MEPS. This determination factors in the value of the time spent with the applicant to reinforce the enlistment decision, the recruiter's time spent away from other recruiting activities, and the cost of the contracted shuttle service.
With the changes in recruiting: Legacy, team recruiting, pinnacle-SUR... and having us broken down into positions, building packets on a day-to-day basis on these little workstations is harmful to our eye sight ND not being allowed to use a monitor to help with this how likely would it be to change that policy to allow us to use a monitor OR allow the RST position to be issued a desk top. I understand that we will need to keep a laptop for those cases where we build the applicants packet out of the office, but most of the time we are at our desk building the packet. Lee Meadowcroft
Send IT requests through the battalion IMO, there is no command policy that prevents requests for IT support. G6 is the IT BOI Manager for USAREC.
This question is pertaining to reclass packets for previous recruiters. Why would a reclass packet be denied for no known reason for a previous recruiter when there are MILPER messages asking for previous recruiters to come back? I submitted a packet in Nov 13 and was denied. When asked about the reason, it could not be explained by RTR Team. They gave me some possibilities of improving, i.e. raise my pt score which didn't factor my permanent profile; then it was maybe complete ALC and that was completed in December 2013. I was further told that my packet was reviewed as a detailed recruiting packet and not a reclass packet. There was a MILPER message out: 12-025 that was asking for prior recruiters to reclass but expired in Jan 14. A new MILPER message came out 14-099 and stated the same information as the previous but I don't want to submit another packet and waste anyone’s time for the same results. Lee Meadowcroft
When recruiters request to come back as a 79R, the command takes a look at the NCO’s entire body of work; USAREC takes into consideration their TIS, TIG, how well they did in their time as a recruiter and how well they’ve done since leaving USAREC. One area alone does not qualify an NCO to reclassify to 79R. The USAREC commanding general is the approval and disapproval authority for all returning reclassification requests.
The following is a question pertaining to recruiting operations. I was told during your most recent visit to my battalion footprint that you put out that poaching was no longer illegal. No longer will zones prohibit stations and their recruiting efforts prospecting, enlisting and so on. This will be something not solely unrestricted to high school graduates but also open to high school seniors. I even heard that we will eventually be able to write high school seniors from out of state. I am extremely interested in guidance on this as to know what is permitted and perhaps to have clarity established for not just myself but all of the command SSG Kirkland
UR 600-22 which protected HS seniors has been rescinded as part of the command’s overhaul of all its publications. Watch the town hall video for the general’s reasoning behind this decision.
My spouse is an AGR 79R, my question is pertaining to the difference that exists between the opportunities given to RA 79R vs AGR 79R. Why is it that only AGR 79R are required to have 24 months rated as a CC or ACC before they can be approved to be sent to the CC course? To me this requirement makes no sense, since no AGR or RA 79R for that matter will be given the opportunity to run a station without having the CC course first.
Also why is it that 1SG's are allowed to give AGR CC/ACC positions to RA 79R? The opportunities for CC/ACC AGR's are minimal and to allow 1SG's to take those few opportunities from them and give them to RA 79R is not right, it brings down the morale of AGR because once again they are not being
treated fairly. The disparity in training opportunities, CC or ACC positions between AGR and RA is wide and something needs to be done to show AGR 79R that they are equally important as RA 79R.
Both RA and AGR 79R attend the CC Course prior to assuming duties as a CC. There is no requirement for AGR to have 24 months as a CC prior to attending the CC Course. USAREC currently has a limited number of CC/ACC positions available for AGR fill, based on limitations placed on USAREC by the Office Chief Army Reserve (OCAR).
1SGs do not have the ability to place RA in AGR positions unless the unit formally requests to move the position. Both USAREC and OCAR must approve the request.
USAREC is currently reviewing courses of action to allow AGR more leadership opportunities.
If all cases are due to be reviewed and closed out by the end of this month, what is keeping the 79R soldiers who are not being removed or having their MOS changed from being able to PCS? To my understanding many of those who have committed offenses that would cause them to be removed have already been pulled from position or notified by their COC that a rebuttal was needed. The rest have admin holds placed so we are uncertain of next steps. Sir, I would like to say this is causing undue stress to those soldiers and families that fall in the gray area of no notice but cannot move especially with a lost date quickly approaching. Can you please advise? Akisha M. Johnson
G1 will review 79Rs for assignment once the ALARACT team notifies the G1 the Soldier is cleared.
I am with the Jacksonville Recruiting Battalion. I was recently removed from recruiting duties IAW ALARACT 147/2013. I was removed due to not possessing a security clearance at the time it was read to me. That was on Feb 20th 2014. I was granted a secret clearance on Feb 08 2014. I have submitted a rebuttal. Sir my question is, what are the chances of this getting approved? I like to think that I represent what the Army stands for. I have done what I feel to be a good job at portraying what the Army stands for. I feel that once you see the time and effort that I have put into recruiting without any special duty pay or computer that you will see that I have what it takes to be a 100% effective Army recruiter if I am reinstated. Sir I am respectfully asking that you please give me a second chance to make Gainesville Recruiting Center the best in the Jacksonville Battalion. SSG Robert Clark
Each case will be evaluated upon its own merits. All due consideration will be given to all matters submitted and render a decision IAW the totality of circumstances and the requirements of ALARACT 147/2013.
Many of us detailed recruiters are PCSing soon back to the big Army. We were wondering if we'll have a chance to get the Gold Badge before we go or if we can be retroactively awarded the badge after we go back to the Big Army? Several of us meet the criteria put out in JAN.
It has not been discussed as to whether or not the Gold Recruiter Badge will be retroactively awarded. The request to re-establish the Gold Recruiter Badge was submitted and must go to the Chief of Staff of the Army for approval. Once approved and the new criteria will go to the Institute of Heraldry to have the badge re-heralded and then the announcement will be put out to the command along with the policy.
I have been trying, for the past 3 years to get back in, and my MOS finally came back up on the prior service recruiting list and figured it would be fairly easy to get back in since my job was on there and I have a RE1 code. But I have gotten nothing but the run around from the med review doctor. Why would they rather take a new recruit in rather than a vet that has been in no trouble and has an outstanding service record? Brian Harrison
First and foremost, USAREC would like to thank you for serving out great nation. Although past experience is valuable, the Army must also consider a number of other factors when assessing those with prior service. These factors will ensure we not only have the talent and dedication of the prior service applicant, but that we also have an applicant who meets the necessary physical and mental health qualifications. Applicants must meet all requirements for the specific option or MOS for which he/she is enlisting. We place great value on our prior service applicants because we know they already have the experience and skills we need, but it is important that we assess each applicant to ensure he/she meets the Army standards.
My husband submitted a Recruiting packet and he was denied recruiting after he has already done 3 years as a recruiter in Minnesota from 2008-2011 and was not told why. While he was recruiting he received the highest award the Glenn E. Merrel and never got in trouble. So just wanted to know why he was denied after he did so well in the past as a recruiter? Kathryn Hillman Rodriguez
When recruiters leave USAREC and request to come back at a later date as a 79R, the command requires a holistic look at the NCO with regards to their TIS, TIG, how well they did while in USAREC, and how well they have performed for the Army since leaving USAREC. This is a holistic approach, where one area alone does not qualify an NCO to come back and reclassify to 79R. The USAREC commanding general is the approval and disapproval authority for all returning reclassification requests.
1. How long is a soldier required to stay in a company/battalion before they are pcs'd? I know that a soldier can be in a battalion for as long as 4 or 5 years. Melissa
1. A normal tour in a Battalion is three years; however, it can be extended/curtailed based on readiness.
2. Can a soldier request to move somewhere else after being in a battalion for 4 years? Also is there a general rule regarding the length that a soldier can be on numbers? I.e. my husband has been on numbers as a detailed recruiter and center commander for 13 years. Melissa
2a. Soldiers can update their assignment preferences in HSS and G1 does review preferences when making assignments.
2b. Yes. The term being on numbers really doesn't apply. However there is difference between the number of RA Staff and AGR opportunities. With over 95% of our AGR force being positioned at the Recruiting Center level, it provides very few professional development opportunities.
3. Has anyone ever considered putting a limited amount of years as a detailed recruiter or center commander and put them in another position to give them a break from numbers? Melissa
3. Again, the term "on numbers" really doesn’t apply, but yes time spend in various duty positioned is looked at when considering the professional development of both our RA and AGR 79R Recruiting force.
Can we go back to next day test projection? When I first came in I could EST/CAST and applicant and if he/she did well and is qualify I was able to project for next day testing. Now I have to wait 48 hours and that is time lost for a potential enlistment. David
Per MEPCOM J3 there is 48 hr requirement on test only, if MEPs is stating, this G3 needs to know the specific information.
I have a question about how BAH is set? At our last duty station we were able to find a very nice home for over 500 UNDER BAH. Here in Wisconsin, prices of rental homes are similar to where we came from yet BAH is almost 600 a month less making it very hard to find a decent home to rent that stays within BAH. So who decides what each area receives? Gretchen George
BAH is updated annually to capture the average cost of housing related costs in an area (rent, utilities, and renters insurance), with the housing standard varying slightly based on the Soldier's grade (apartment/townhouse vs single family dwelling). BAH is based on the where the Soldier is assigned, not where they live.
In my recruiting area the recruiters drive 7hrs+ to go round trip to meps. I have asked my command about a shuttle service, but I'm told it's not cost effective. At times it seems we spend more time driving and less time prospecting. We do have a driving roster, but I can see that all the driving we do burns out the recruiter. As far as cost it would seem more cost effective to use a shuttle being that most of our gov's are pushing 80,000 miles pulse. To take account for fuel, maintenance, and prospecting time it would seem reasonable to have a shuttle. Maybe if there was a set distance that a center is away from a meps that shuttle service would be provided Andrew Duggar
The commander makes the call on whether a particular recruiting area will use GOV or contracted shuttle service to transport applicants to the MEPS. This determination factors in the value of the time spent with the applicant to reinforce the enlistment decision, the recruiter's time spent away from other recruiting activities, and the cost of the contracted shuttle service.
With the changes in recruiting: Legacy, team recruiting, pinnacle-SUR... and having us broken down into positions, building packets on a day-to-day basis on these little workstations is harmful to our eye sight ND not being allowed to use a monitor to help with this how likely would it be to change that policy to allow us to use a monitor OR allow the RST position to be issued a desk top. I understand that we will need to keep a laptop for those cases where we build the applicants packet out of the office, but most of the time we are at our desk building the packet. Lee Meadowcroft
Send IT requests through the battalion IMO, there is no command policy that prevents requests for IT support. G6 is the IT BOI Manager for USAREC.
This question is pertaining to reclass packets for previous recruiters. Why would a reclass packet be denied for no known reason for a previous recruiter when there are MILPER messages asking for previous recruiters to come back? I submitted a packet in Nov 13 and was denied. When asked about the reason, it could not be explained by RTR Team. They gave me some possibilities of improving, i.e. raise my pt score which didn't factor my permanent profile; then it was maybe complete ALC and that was completed in December 2013. I was further told that my packet was reviewed as a detailed recruiting packet and not a reclass packet. There was a MILPER message out: 12-025 that was asking for prior recruiters to reclass but expired in Jan 14. A new MILPER message came out 14-099 and stated the same information as the previous but I don't want to submit another packet and waste anyone’s time for the same results. Lee Meadowcroft
When recruiters request to come back as a 79R, the command takes a look at the NCO’s entire body of work; USAREC takes into consideration their TIS, TIG, how well they did in their time as a recruiter and how well they’ve done since leaving USAREC. One area alone does not qualify an NCO to reclassify to 79R. The USAREC commanding general is the approval and disapproval authority for all returning reclassification requests.
The following is a question pertaining to recruiting operations. I was told during your most recent visit to my battalion footprint that you put out that poaching was no longer illegal. No longer will zones prohibit stations and their recruiting efforts prospecting, enlisting and so on. This will be something not solely unrestricted to high school graduates but also open to high school seniors. I even heard that we will eventually be able to write high school seniors from out of state. I am extremely interested in guidance on this as to know what is permitted and perhaps to have clarity established for not just myself but all of the command SSG Kirkland
UR 600-22 which protected HS seniors has been rescinded as part of the command’s overhaul of all its publications. Watch the town hall video for the general’s reasoning behind this decision.
My spouse is an AGR 79R, my question is pertaining to the difference that exists between the opportunities given to RA 79R vs AGR 79R. Why is it that only AGR 79R are required to have 24 months rated as a CC or ACC before they can be approved to be sent to the CC course? To me this requirement makes no sense, since no AGR or RA 79R for that matter will be given the opportunity to run a station without having the CC course first.
Also why is it that 1SG's are allowed to give AGR CC/ACC positions to RA 79R? The opportunities for CC/ACC AGR's are minimal and to allow 1SG's to take those few opportunities from them and give them to RA 79R is not right, it brings down the morale of AGR because once again they are not being
treated fairly. The disparity in training opportunities, CC or ACC positions between AGR and RA is wide and something needs to be done to show AGR 79R that they are equally important as RA 79R.
Both RA and AGR 79R attend the CC Course prior to assuming duties as a CC. There is no requirement for AGR to have 24 months as a CC prior to attending the CC Course. USAREC currently has a limited number of CC/ACC positions available for AGR fill, based on limitations placed on USAREC by the Office Chief Army Reserve (OCAR).
1SGs do not have the ability to place RA in AGR positions unless the unit formally requests to move the position. Both USAREC and OCAR must approve the request.
USAREC is currently reviewing courses of action to allow AGR more leadership opportunities.
If all cases are due to be reviewed and closed out by the end of this month, what is keeping the 79R soldiers who are not being removed or having their MOS changed from being able to PCS? To my understanding many of those who have committed offenses that would cause them to be removed have already been pulled from position or notified by their COC that a rebuttal was needed. The rest have admin holds placed so we are uncertain of next steps. Sir, I would like to say this is causing undue stress to those soldiers and families that fall in the gray area of no notice but cannot move especially with a lost date quickly approaching. Can you please advise? Akisha M. Johnson
G1 will review 79Rs for assignment once the ALARACT team notifies the G1 the Soldier is cleared.
I am with the Jacksonville Recruiting Battalion. I was recently removed from recruiting duties IAW ALARACT 147/2013. I was removed due to not possessing a security clearance at the time it was read to me. That was on Feb 20th 2014. I was granted a secret clearance on Feb 08 2014. I have submitted a rebuttal. Sir my question is, what are the chances of this getting approved? I like to think that I represent what the Army stands for. I have done what I feel to be a good job at portraying what the Army stands for. I feel that once you see the time and effort that I have put into recruiting without any special duty pay or computer that you will see that I have what it takes to be a 100% effective Army recruiter if I am reinstated. Sir I am respectfully asking that you please give me a second chance to make Gainesville Recruiting Center the best in the Jacksonville Battalion. SSG Robert Clark
Each case will be evaluated upon its own merits. All due consideration will be given to all matters submitted and render a decision IAW the totality of circumstances and the requirements of ALARACT 147/2013.
Many of us detailed recruiters are PCSing soon back to the big Army. We were wondering if we'll have a chance to get the Gold Badge before we go or if we can be retroactively awarded the badge after we go back to the Big Army? Several of us meet the criteria put out in JAN.
It has not been discussed as to whether or not the Gold Recruiter Badge will be retroactively awarded. The request to re-establish the Gold Recruiter Badge was submitted and must go to the Chief of Staff of the Army for approval. Once approved and the new criteria will go to the Institute of Heraldry to have the badge re-heralded and then the announcement will be put out to the command along with the policy.
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