Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

The following answers will complete the questions from my 31st ADA Brigade visit.

What opportunities exist for spouses to obtain employment on the installation?

Project Endeavor is a $2.6 million grant from the Department of Labor to provide career counseling, job search assistance, online job search access, job readiness classes, resume preparation, vocational training child care and transportation assistance to spouses of military personnel who lost their jobs because of relocation to this area. it includes spouses of returning members of the Reserve components, National Guard, widows/widowers of military personnel who lost their lives as a result of deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan or other locations, and eligible military reservists who are returning from Iraq, Afghanistan or other locations. Services are available at Army Community Service. For information, call 568-1132. A teen job fair was recently held to provide opportunities for students looking for summer employment. Job fairs are held twice each year in which community agencies participate and offer employment to qualified individuals. In great demand here in this area are nurses and school teachers. The local Chamber of Commerce of El Paso is also assisting in helping to find employment for spouses.

Is there going to be more slots for the Pre-Ranger course given to air defense Soldiers? What about for non-combat MOS’?

The Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter Schoomaker has approved combat support and combat service support Soldier attendance in Ranger school within the combat arms exclusion policy. All CS/CSS personnel requesting to go to Ranger school need to contact their schools NCO and go through Human Resources Command, which manages Ranger school slots. Successful comp-letion of a pre-Ranger program is essential for CS/CSS success in Ranger School. CS and CSS Soldiers should reference the following DA message for attendance standards. The ARNG Pre-Ranger Course at Fort Benning, Ga. can be scheduled through ATRRS using school code 964A. Funding to support temporary duty is the responsibility of the unit of assignment. Soldiers interested in attending the Pre-Ranger course should speak with their unit schools NCO. Additionally, to request voluntary Ranger school attendance, Soldiers must submit a DA Form 4187 through their chain of command to Human Resources Command. Interested Soldiers need to work through their chain of command and unit Schools NCO to make the request for the course; units use order of merit lists for these types of schools, so the unit would make initial determination as to whether the SM should be afforded an opportunity to attend.

When BRAC is completed, will Patriot units be moving to other locations?

There has been no official announcement of any Patriot units being moved at this time.

Will there be a separate organization (MOSes) to fill the CRAM units?

MOS decisions are unknown, but there will be ADA MOSes to contribute to the sense, warn and intercept portions of the mission.

Where does 31st ADA Bde. fit in regard to the AMD transformation concept ... referring to HIMAD and SHORAD configuration?

The 31st ADA Bde. and every Patriot unit will feel the affects of transformation as we reduce numbers of batteries and launchers to expand from 50 to 52 Patriot batteries, while building composite battalions. The 31st ADA Bde. has two battalions that are transforming. 3-2 ADA will transform to a composite battalion (Patriot/Avenger). The 4th Battalion, 5th ADA will transform to a pure Patriot battalion.
When is GMH coming to Fort Bliss and what does it consist of?

The planning for the Residential Communities Initiative partnership began in July 2004. This development period will last one to six years. The project will replace as many houses as possible, include environmentally and energy friendly technology in homes, be able to expand to meet future housing needs and create communities with playgrounds, walking paths and other amenities. The first housing to be built will be in the Aero Vista area at Biggs and then move on to other areas to renovate, remodel and restore historical dwellings. Town Hall meetings will be held throughout May, and letters have been mailed to all current residents. GMH will conduct a 100 percent inventory of homes, develop a resident database, schedule lease signings, start BAH and implement allotments. Residents will, in effect, be leasing their homes from GMH. Every possible issue has been discussed, and the Soldier will not be inconvenienced in any way. The process is much like signing for quarters, but instead of with the government it will be with GMH.

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



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	May 12, 2005

	Troop Talk The following answers will complete the questions from my 31st ADA Brigade visit. What opportunities exist for spouses to obtain employment on the installation? Project Endeavor is a $2.6 million grant from the Department of Labor to provide career counseling, job search assistance, online job search access, job readiness classes, resume preparation, vocational training child care and transportation assistance to spouses of military personnel who lost their jobs because of relocation to this area. it includes spouses of returning members of the Reserve components, National Guard, widows/widowers of military personnel who lost their lives as a result of deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan or other locations, and eligible military reservists who are returning from Iraq, Afghanistan or other locations. Services are available at Army Community Service. For information, call 568-1132. A teen job fair was recently held to provide opportunities for students looking for summer employment. Job fairs are held twice each year in which community agencies participate and offer employment to qualified individuals. In great demand here in this area are nurses and school teachers. The local Chamber of Commerce of El Paso is also assisting in helping to find employment for spouses. Is there going to be more slots for the Pre-Ranger course given to air defense Soldiers? What about for non-combat MOS’? The Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter Schoomaker has approved combat support and combat service support Soldier attendance in Ranger school within the combat arms exclusion policy. All CS/CSS personnel requesting to go to Ranger school need to contact their schools NCO and go through Human Resources Command, which manages Ranger school slots. Successful comp-letion of a pre-Ranger program is essential for CS/CSS success in Ranger School. CS and CSS Soldiers should reference the following DA message for attendance standards. The ARNG Pre-Ranger Course at Fort Benning, Ga. can be scheduled through ATRRS using school code 964A. Funding to support temporary duty is the responsibility of the unit of assignment. Soldiers interested in attending the Pre-Ranger course should speak with their unit schools NCO. Additionally, to request voluntary Ranger school attendance, Soldiers must submit a DA Form 4187 through their chain of command to Human Resources Command. Interested Soldiers need to work through their chain of command and unit Schools NCO to make the request for the course; units use order of merit lists for these types of schools, so the unit would make initial determination as to whether the SM should be afforded an opportunity to attend. When BRAC is completed, will Patriot units be moving to other locations? There has been no official announcement of any Patriot units being moved at this time. Will there be a separate organization (MOSes) to fill the CRAM units? MOS decisions are unknown, but there will be ADA MOSes to contribute to the sense, warn and intercept portions of the mission. Where does 31st ADA Bde. fit in regard to the AMD transformation concept ... referring to HIMAD and SHORAD configuration? The 31st ADA Bde. and every Patriot unit will feel the affects of transformation as we reduce numbers of batteries and launchers to expand from 50 to 52 Patriot batteries, while building composite battalions. The 31st ADA Bde. has two battalions that are transforming. 3-2 ADA will transform to a composite battalion (Patriot/Avenger). The 4th Battalion, 5th ADA will transform to a pure Patriot battalion. When is GMH coming to Fort Bliss and what does it consist of? The planning for the Residential Communities Initiative partnership began in July 2004. This development period will last one to six years. The project will replace as many houses as possible, include environmentally and energy friendly technology in homes, be able to expand to meet future housing needs and create communities with playgrounds, walking paths and other amenities. The first housing to be built will be in the Aero Vista area at Biggs and then move on to other areas to renovate, remodel and restore historical dwellings. Town Hall meetings will be held throughout May, and letters have been mailed to all current residents. GMH will conduct a 100 percent inventory of homes, develop a resident database, schedule lease signings, start BAH and implement allotments. Residents will, in effect, be leasing their homes from GMH. Every possible issue has been discussed, and the Soldier will not be inconvenienced in any way. The process is much like signing for quarters, but instead of with the government it will be with GMH. Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane Fort Bliss Commanding General