Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

Soldiers from A Battery 3-43 came up with some interesting and pertinent questions that I will answer in this and following issues of The Monitor.

Is there a possibility for a spouse to be able use portions of their sponsors GI bill to attend college? The Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

What are some areas/places that soldiers can go to in order to keep up on current events? Using a search engine like Google and inputting a search word for a topic of interest is a good way to find information quickly. Unit areas, ACS, and libraries all have computers for Soldiers to use to access this information. Newspapers, magazines and other publications are available at newsstands and the post exchange.
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For most citizens, televison offers 24-hour news programming. Army and Fort Bliss news is featured in the post newspaper, The Monitor and on the 24/7 Commanders Channel 20 for cable subscribers on post residents. The following Web site links can help in keeping up to date on current events in the Army, the AD branch and the world; www.army.mil; www.army.mil/ako; www.airdefenseartillery.com; www.bliss.army.mil; www.firsttofire.com; and www.hrc.amy.mil.

This month the ADA Magazine published a printed version in addition to its daily updated online format. Soldiers can access the printed version at http://firsttofire.com/ adamag /default.htm and the online version at http://147.71.210.21/adamag/default.htm. In addition, all Soldiers have AKO accounts and there is a wealth of good information that can be accessed from that source.

Are there any educational scholarships that you can give to soldiers? I am authorized to award three two-year Army ROTC Green to Gold Hip Pocket Scholarships to deserving Soldiers currently serving on Fort Bliss and/or in an active duty ADA unit. This program provides Soldiers the opportunity to complete their baccalaureate degree while pursuing a commission through the Army ROTC Program. The scholarships will begin in academic year 2005-2006. Interested Soldiers are encouraged to apply for a scholarship through their chain of command. To be eligible applicants must have the following:

• GT Score greater than 110

• Completed a minimum of 2 years active duty

• Completed a minimum of 54 semester or 81 quarter hours with a minimum 2.5 GPA in all college coursework

• Have no more than two years college coursework remaining to earn their baccalaureate degree

• Be accepted into an Army ROTC Program

• Be under 31 years of age upon commissioning. There are other eligibility requirements. Questions can be answered by the office, Chief of Air Defense Artillery, Lisa Henry at DSN 978-4133 or (915) 568-4133. Packets must be received by Henry no later than Feb. 28.

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



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	February 10, 2005

	Troop Talk Soldiers from A Battery 3-43 came up with some interesting and pertinent questions that I will answer in this and following issues of The Monitor. Is there a possibility for a spouse to be able use portions of their sponsors GI bill to attend college? The Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. What are some areas/places that soldiers can go to in order to keep up on current events? Using a search engine like Google and inputting a search word for a topic of interest is a good way to find information quickly. Unit areas, ACS, and libraries all have computers for Soldiers to use to access this information. Newspapers, magazines and other publications are available at newsstands and the post exchange. \| For most citizens, televison offers 24-hour news programming. Army and Fort Bliss news is featured in the post newspaper, The Monitor and on the 24/7 Commanders Channel 20 for cable subscribers on post residents. The following Web site links can help in keeping up to date on current events in the Army, the AD branch and the world; www.army.mil; www.army.mil/ako; www.airdefenseartillery.com; www.bliss.army.mil; www.firsttofire.com; and www.hrc.amy.mil. This month the ADA Magazine published a printed version in addition to its daily updated online format. Soldiers can access the printed version at http://firsttofire.com/ adamag /default.htm and the online version at http://147.71.210.21/adamag/default.htm. In addition, all Soldiers have AKO accounts and there is a wealth of good information that can be accessed from that source. Are there any educational scholarships that you can give to soldiers? I am authorized to award three two-year Army ROTC Green to Gold Hip Pocket Scholarships to deserving Soldiers currently serving on Fort Bliss and/or in an active duty ADA unit. This program provides Soldiers the opportunity to complete their baccalaureate degree while pursuing a commission through the Army ROTC Program. The scholarships will begin in academic year 2005-2006. Interested Soldiers are encouraged to apply for a scholarship through their chain of command. To be eligible applicants must have the following: • GT Score greater than 110 • Completed a minimum of 2 years active duty • Completed a minimum of 54 semester or 81 quarter hours with a minimum 2.5 GPA in all college coursework • Have no more than two years college coursework remaining to earn their baccalaureate degree • Be accepted into an Army ROTC Program • Be under 31 years of age upon commissioning. There are other eligibility requirements. Questions can be answered by the office, Chief of Air Defense Artillery, Lisa Henry at DSN 978-4133 or (915) 568-4133. Packets must be received by Henry no later than Feb. 28. Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane Fort Bliss Commanding General