Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

Recruiting and retaining the best Soldiers is an ongoing effort and for us here it is a good news story as we are meeting our goals.

However, this is not the case throughout the Army. Soldiers can help by sharing their experiences from Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom with friends, family and community members in their hometown through the Special Recruiter Assistance Program.

Eligible Soldiers can serve on temporary duty for up to 14 days at the recruiting station nearest their hometown to help recruit the next generation of heroes. If approved for the program, they can claim reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem for a 14-day TDY; combine the SRAP TDY with ordinary leave, extending their hometown stay; and be invited to speak at college and community events, and participate in interviews with local media. SRAP participants will share their experiences in their own words so the American public can see and hear firsthand what it means to live the Warrior Ethos as an American Soldier. Soldiers can apply online at the U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s Web site at www.usarec.army.mil/>. For more information, visit www.usarec.army.mil/ or call (502) 626-0448/1582.

Another little known program for Soldiers is the Partnership for Youth Success at www.armypays.com/>. PaYS provides young people with quality job opportunities following their Army enlistment. It is a strategic partnership with corporations and public agencies to help the Army attract talented young people who want to serve their country, but who also want to help secure their future success once their Army service is complete.

Another new source of information that can be found online through the www.army.mil Web site is the Army One Source which has information about relocation, family advocacy programs, relocation and retirement services, financial and deployment readiness.

This has been a good year for the installation. Thirty-two million dollars has been invested in building and barracks renovations which includes, expansion of the SRP facility, AAFES Laundry, constructing an Engagement Skills Training facility, an 88M simulated training facility with classrooms, renovation of the CONUS Replacement Center Bldg. 503 and 504, the Doña Ana and McGregor Range upgrades, construction of the 31st CSH motorpool, renovations to Chapel 4 are ongoing and the buildings in the warehouse area are being improved, a redesigned Robert E. Lee gate is to open in early May; Chaffee Gate in June, improvements to the water plant will be finished in 2006, and April 18 there will be a ground breaking for the new Air and Missile Defense Instruction facility. For the military, civilians and contractors it has been a year of hard work, and what you have accomplished in truly amazing. I congratulate each of you and thank you for all you have done to make this post the best in the Army.

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



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	April 14, 2005

	Troop Talk Recruiting and retaining the best Soldiers is an ongoing effort and for us here it is a good news story as we are meeting our goals. However, this is not the case throughout the Army. Soldiers can help by sharing their experiences from Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom with friends, family and community members in their hometown through the Special Recruiter Assistance Program. Eligible Soldiers can serve on temporary duty for up to 14 days at the recruiting station nearest their hometown to help recruit the next generation of heroes. If approved for the program, they can claim reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem for a 14-day TDY; combine the SRAP TDY with ordinary leave, extending their hometown stay; and be invited to speak at college and community events, and participate in interviews with local media. SRAP participants will share their experiences in their own words so the American public can see and hear firsthand what it means to live the Warrior Ethos as an American Soldier. Soldiers can apply online at the U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s Web site at www.usarec.army.mil/>. For more information, visit www.usarec.army.mil/ or call (502) 626-0448/1582. Another little known program for Soldiers is the Partnership for Youth Success at www.armypays.com/>. PaYS provides young people with quality job opportunities following their Army enlistment. It is a strategic partnership with corporations and public agencies to help the Army attract talented young people who want to serve their country, but who also want to help secure their future success once their Army service is complete. Another new source of information that can be found online through the www.army.mil Web site is the Army One Source which has information about relocation, family advocacy programs, relocation and retirement services, financial and deployment readiness. This has been a good year for the installation. Thirty-two million dollars has been invested in building and barracks renovations which includes, expansion of the SRP facility, AAFES Laundry, constructing an Engagement Skills Training facility, an 88M simulated training facility with classrooms, renovation of the CONUS Replacement Center Bldg. 503 and 504, the Doña Ana and McGregor Range upgrades, construction of the 31st CSH motorpool, renovations to Chapel 4 are ongoing and the buildings in the warehouse area are being improved, a redesigned Robert E. Lee gate is to open in early May; Chaffee Gate in June, improvements to the water plant will be finished in 2006, and April 18 there will be a ground breaking for the new Air and Missile Defense Instruction facility. For the military, civilians and contractors it has been a year of hard work, and what you have accomplished in truly amazing. I congratulate each of you and thank you for all you have done to make this post the best in the Army. Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane Fort Bliss Commanding General