Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

The annual Education Fair which took place Monday offered invaluable information to more than 200 parents and students in attendance. There were 64 participants/educators who were there to answer questions and give out information on home schooling, day care, public and private schools, health and dental guidelines, gifted programs, and even colleges. School superintendents recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Fort Bliss that will help ease the difficult transition of military students into the local school systems.

Superintendent Charles Tafoya mentioned his plan to hire liaison personnel for each EPISD campus from grades K through 12. These employees could be made up of spouses/parents from Fort Bliss. He also announced there would be an EPISD job fair to be held in conjunction with the newcomers welcome Aug. 18, B 2494, ACS from 9 a.m. to noon which should offer great job opportunities to military spouses. For those of you who missed the education fair and may need information contact Mary Avila, school liaison at 569-5064.

Education is important when it comes to voting as well — we currently consider it a top priority. As citizens of a free country we have a duty and obligation to elect leaders who will ably represent us and make decisions that are in the best interest of our country. Our goal is to have knowledgeable voting representatives in each unit to assist in getting information out on registering, absentee voting and to answer any questions Fort Bliss residents may have. For the next month (August is voter registration month), representatives will be manning sites during weekends at the Main Exchange and Commissary to help reach the post objective of having the best turnout possible for the Nov. 2 election. I encourage all of you who are eligible to cast your vote; one vote can make a difference.

Soldiers always have questions about changes that impact their military careers. Transformation of the ADA Branch is ongoing and part of that change is the downsizing of career fields for Soldiers who have an MOS of 14R and 14S. If you are a staff sergeant and below with less than 13 years of active service you may request voluntary reclassification by submitting a packet through your career counselor. There are several options to consider, but to be able to be considered for the PMOS you would like, I strongly advise those Soldiers impacted by this change to see their career counselor as a first step in this process. ADA has well trained, dedicated and technically skilled Soldiers and we want to do all we can to keep the “best of the best.”

All 14R and 14S personnel, if qualified, can reclassify into any of the 14 series PMOS. Eligible Soldiers may also apply to be warrant officers in the 140A and 140E series. Career Counselors are prepared to evaluate candidates and guide them through the warrant application process.

An inquiry was received about shuttle bus service. Fort Bliss discontinued a shuttle bus service in 1993 due to low ridership and as a cost-savings initiative. The corresponding transportation assets and associated staffing authorizations for a shuttle bus service were subsequently eliminated along with the resources required to operate a transportation motor pool. Currently, GSA vehicles allocated to units along with contract bus service on an as-needed basis meet official transportation needs more efficiently than a shuttle bus or TMP. The Sun Metro bus service and a taxi service operate on post to provide personal transportation needs. Currently there is no plan to reinstate a transportation motor pool or post shuttle bus service; however, the Transportation Division of DPWL will conduct a needs assessment to see if a shuttle bus service is warranted under the present circumstances.

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane
Fort Bliss Commanding General



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 5, 2004

	Troop Talk The annual Education Fair which took place Monday offered invaluable information to more than 200 parents and students in attendance. There were 64 participants/educators who were there to answer questions and give out information on home schooling, day care, public and private schools, health and dental guidelines, gifted programs, and even colleges. School superintendents recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Fort Bliss that will help ease the difficult transition of military students into the local school systems. Superintendent Charles Tafoya mentioned his plan to hire liaison personnel for each EPISD campus from grades K through 12. These employees could be made up of spouses/parents from Fort Bliss. He also announced there would be an EPISD job fair to be held in conjunction with the newcomers welcome Aug. 18, B 2494, ACS from 9 a.m. to noon which should offer great job opportunities to military spouses. For those of you who missed the education fair and may need information contact Mary Avila, school liaison at 569-5064. Education is important when it comes to voting as well — we currently consider it a top priority. As citizens of a free country we have a duty and obligation to elect leaders who will ably represent us and make decisions that are in the best interest of our country. Our goal is to have knowledgeable voting representatives in each unit to assist in getting information out on registering, absentee voting and to answer any questions Fort Bliss residents may have. For the next month (August is voter registration month), representatives will be manning sites during weekends at the Main Exchange and Commissary to help reach the post objective of having the best turnout possible for the Nov. 2 election. I encourage all of you who are eligible to cast your vote; one vote can make a difference. Soldiers always have questions about changes that impact their military careers. Transformation of the ADA Branch is ongoing and part of that change is the downsizing of career fields for Soldiers who have an MOS of 14R and 14S. If you are a staff sergeant and below with less than 13 years of active service you may request voluntary reclassification by submitting a packet through your career counselor. There are several options to consider, but to be able to be considered for the PMOS you would like, I strongly advise those Soldiers impacted by this change to see their career counselor as a first step in this process. ADA has well trained, dedicated and technically skilled Soldiers and we want to do all we can to keep the “best of the best.” All 14R and 14S personnel, if qualified, can reclassify into any of the 14 series PMOS. Eligible Soldiers may also apply to be warrant officers in the 140A and 140E series. Career Counselors are prepared to evaluate candidates and guide them through the warrant application process. An inquiry was received about shuttle bus service. Fort Bliss discontinued a shuttle bus service in 1993 due to low ridership and as a cost-savings initiative. The corresponding transportation assets and associated staffing authorizations for a shuttle bus service were subsequently eliminated along with the resources required to operate a transportation motor pool. Currently, GSA vehicles allocated to units along with contract bus service on an as-needed basis meet official transportation needs more efficiently than a shuttle bus or TMP. The Sun Metro bus service and a taxi service operate on post to provide personal transportation needs. Currently there is no plan to reinstate a transportation motor pool or post shuttle bus service; however, the Transportation Division of DPWL will conduct a needs assessment to see if a shuttle bus service is warranted under the present circumstances. Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane Fort Bliss Commanding General