With the cold weather upon us, many Soldiers will be scrambling to clothing sales to get some new headgear. For one, I will miss my black micro PT cap.
SUBJ: ALARACT 004/2008
1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO ANNOUNCE THE WEAR OUT DATES FOR
UNIFORMS AND ACCESSORIES ITEMS WORN BY MILITARY PERSONNEL.
3. THE BLACK KNIT CAP AND BLACK MICRO FLEECE KNIT CAP FOR AC, USAR,
AND ARNG WILL HAVE A WEAR OUT DATE OF 30 SEP 2009.
-- ALARACT is short for All Army Activities.
25 October 2009
07 September 2009
Hippy Hair and Pointy Sideburns
We have a simple yardstick for male haircuts in my unit: Short and square. While AR 670-1 says when combed, hair will not fall over the ears or eyebrows, our guidance is head hair shouldn’t even touch the ear. God forbid you forget to trim your sidewalls before the Monday morning, in-line inspection. I have seen males do a number of push-ups for one stray hair connecting with the upper lobe.
I have also seen a number of new Soldiers explore the limits of their facial hair--specifically sideburns.
We simply say it is not a good idea to have the First Sergeant squint at you trying to determine if your sideburn conforms to the standard and consider having it terminate at the top of your inner-ear opening.
I have also seen a number of new Soldiers explore the limits of their facial hair--specifically sideburns.
Sideburns may not be flared; the base of the sideburn will be a clean shaven, horizontal line. Sideburns will not extend below the lowest part of the exterior ear opening.
We simply say it is not a good idea to have the First Sergeant squint at you trying to determine if your sideburn conforms to the standard and consider having it terminate at the top of your inner-ear opening.
15 August 2009
Body Piercings on Post
Q: Can a Soldier wear a tongue piercing around the barracks?
A: NEVER, EVER.
Recently there has been a rash of Soldiers displaying body piercings around the Bs in civilian clothes. Soldiers will explain they are going out and wanted to put their piercings in before leaving. That’s fine, “just not on any Army installation or other places under Army control.”
There is no (none, zippo, zilch) exception for males—including hidden jewelry such as tongue or nipple piercings. So, if you have your Prince Alpert in while at the MWR beach in your Speedo, off-duty, you are in violation of AR 670-1, 1-14c.
The only exception is for female soldiers, as indicated in paragraph 1–14d and that covers prescribed earrings. There is no exception for piercings of the tongue, nipples or eyebrow.
So the next time a bobblehead private walks by with a tongue piercing, that’s a no go anywhere on post.
A: NEVER, EVER.
Recently there has been a rash of Soldiers displaying body piercings around the Bs in civilian clothes. Soldiers will explain they are going out and wanted to put their piercings in before leaving. That’s fine, “just not on any Army installation or other places under Army control.”
There is no (none, zippo, zilch) exception for males—including hidden jewelry such as tongue or nipple piercings. So, if you have your Prince Alpert in while at the MWR beach in your Speedo, off-duty, you are in violation of AR 670-1, 1-14c.
The only exception is for female soldiers, as indicated in paragraph 1–14d and that covers prescribed earrings. There is no exception for piercings of the tongue, nipples or eyebrow.
So the next time a bobblehead private walks by with a tongue piercing, that’s a no go anywhere on post.
06 July 2009
Dirty American Flag Patches
I hate seeing a dirty American Flags on the Army Combat Uniform. I do realize some people work for a living in the Army under vehicles, but when I see one on an FNG (*ucking New Guy/Girl), I remind them they are a professional Soldier and it is time to retire their hook-and-loop patch from Basic Training. When I see one on a Soldier who should know better and doesn’t know what GAA is for, I make a tactful on-the-spot correction and follow-up with a courtesy conversation with their NCO. A dirty flag on a specialist can indicate underlying problems (such as excessive drinking/substance abuse, motivational and plain dirty private problems).
I can be quite blunt: “You are a professional Soldier. You need to look and act like one. Your American Flag is dirty and worn and needs to be replaced. You will have a new one on tomorrow. If you have difficulty following this simple order, I will offer you corrective training to help you improve your substandard performance. Do you have any questions?”
I can be quite blunt: “You are a professional Soldier. You need to look and act like one. Your American Flag is dirty and worn and needs to be replaced. You will have a new one on tomorrow. If you have difficulty following this simple order, I will offer you corrective training to help you improve your substandard performance. Do you have any questions?”
13 June 2009
Military Cadence
During morning PT, we call running cadence for a few reasons. It keeps your mind off aching muscles, builds esprit de corps, sustains motivation and builds endurance.
Cadence calling is also a good yardstick to measure the progress and potential of young soldiers and a way for specialists to stand out from their peers.
Wikipdeia.org defines a military cadence or cadence call, “as a traditional call-and-response work song sung by military personnel while running or marching.”
Running will build lung capacity, while singing while running will improve diaphragm control. With additional diaphragm control Soldiers can improve their command voice. Developing a command voice is important for young soldiers as is getting out front and leading a formation. Many new troops are shy or scared they might be embarrassed when they inevitably mess up a cadence call. We rarely march in my unit but we run most every day.
My favorite running cadences are, Bo Diddley, Drip Drop, Drippity Drop Drop and I Feel All Right Now.
There are dozens if not hundreds of military cadences out there. Units, regiments and individuals will tailor a call to their audience to personalize the experience. I added another verse to Drip Drop to stretch it out and draw upon my deployment experience.
Note: The hackneyed cadence, “C-130 Rollin’ Down the Strip” should be banned except at BCT. I mentally mock anyone over E-4 who pulls out that overused call during company run.
Cadence calling is also a good yardstick to measure the progress and potential of young soldiers and a way for specialists to stand out from their peers.
Wikipdeia.org defines a military cadence or cadence call, “as a traditional call-and-response work song sung by military personnel while running or marching.”
Running will build lung capacity, while singing while running will improve diaphragm control. With additional diaphragm control Soldiers can improve their command voice. Developing a command voice is important for young soldiers as is getting out front and leading a formation. Many new troops are shy or scared they might be embarrassed when they inevitably mess up a cadence call. We rarely march in my unit but we run most every day.
My favorite running cadences are, Bo Diddley, Drip Drop, Drippity Drop Drop and I Feel All Right Now.
There are dozens if not hundreds of military cadences out there. Units, regiments and individuals will tailor a call to their audience to personalize the experience. I added another verse to Drip Drop to stretch it out and draw upon my deployment experience.
The 50 Cal gunner is asleep up in the turret
Drip Drop, Drippity Drop Drop
The 50 Cal gunner is asleep up in the turret
Drip Drop, Drippity Drop Drop
I punched him in the goonies and told him get back to work
Drip Drop, Drippity Drop Drop
Note: The hackneyed cadence, “C-130 Rollin’ Down the Strip” should be banned except at BCT. I mentally mock anyone over E-4 who pulls out that overused call during company run.
06 June 2009
Army Promotion Board Prep
This week, I went to my E-5 board. I am glad it is over.
Out of the dozens, if not hundreds of pieces of advice here are the ones that worked for me.
1. Learn the Creed of the NCO early and say it every day at the position of attention. Say it out loud and say it thinking of the next line in the middle of the sentence you are in. That way, when board members get up and make remarks intended to throw you off, you won’t notice or be flustered (like I was in the mock board). In the real board, I was told you could hear me down the hall. I nailed it.
2. Get your NCOs to run a mock board. By far the biggest performance enhancement tool for me, a mock board will help you polish your presentation, get feedback and practice. They should make the mock board many times worse than any real board including people walking around.
3. Print out the ArmyStudyGuide.com PDF. They were asking me questions from it verbatim and in order. You will kill half a tree, but you can also bequeath it to one of your Soldiers. If there was a Kinkos near Fort Polk, I would have paid to get it bound. Bring it everywhere and have people quiz you as you answer in board format (rank, repeat question, give answer).
4. Come up with mnemonics to help remember the 30+ AR, FM and DA-PAM numbers mentioned in the ArmyStudyGuide. For example, BRM or Basic Rifle Marksmanship (FM 3-22.9): BRM has 3 letters; you can practice with a 22; or your 9. Another example, Drill and Ceremonies (FM 3-21.5): C in Ceremonies is the 3rd letter of the alphabet; you have 21 gun salutes; and the Taps playing device in the bugle works half the time or .5 of the time at funerals.
5. When you don’t know an answer, if you know the manual, you can say, “Sergeant Major, while I don’t know what the ACS symbol represents, I can find the answer in AR 608-1.” I used it in conjunction with the old standard, “Sergeant Major, as soon as I find out what the third paragraph of the Code of Conduct is, I’ll report back to you immediately.”
Out of the dozens, if not hundreds of pieces of advice here are the ones that worked for me.
1. Learn the Creed of the NCO early and say it every day at the position of attention. Say it out loud and say it thinking of the next line in the middle of the sentence you are in. That way, when board members get up and make remarks intended to throw you off, you won’t notice or be flustered (like I was in the mock board). In the real board, I was told you could hear me down the hall. I nailed it.
2. Get your NCOs to run a mock board. By far the biggest performance enhancement tool for me, a mock board will help you polish your presentation, get feedback and practice. They should make the mock board many times worse than any real board including people walking around.
3. Print out the ArmyStudyGuide.com PDF. They were asking me questions from it verbatim and in order. You will kill half a tree, but you can also bequeath it to one of your Soldiers. If there was a Kinkos near Fort Polk, I would have paid to get it bound. Bring it everywhere and have people quiz you as you answer in board format (rank, repeat question, give answer).
4. Come up with mnemonics to help remember the 30+ AR, FM and DA-PAM numbers mentioned in the ArmyStudyGuide. For example, BRM or Basic Rifle Marksmanship (FM 3-22.9): BRM has 3 letters; you can practice with a 22; or your 9. Another example, Drill and Ceremonies (FM 3-21.5): C in Ceremonies is the 3rd letter of the alphabet; you have 21 gun salutes; and the Taps playing device in the bugle works half the time or .5 of the time at funerals.
5. When you don’t know an answer, if you know the manual, you can say, “Sergeant Major, while I don’t know what the ACS symbol represents, I can find the answer in AR 608-1.” I used it in conjunction with the old standard, “Sergeant Major, as soon as I find out what the third paragraph of the Code of Conduct is, I’ll report back to you immediately.”
22 March 2009
Time in country for a Combat Patch
Few items on the uniform garner as much attention as the awarding of a combat patch. While it seems everyone has a different answer, the standard has changed in the past couple of years.
Soldiers should first reference AR 670-1, Appendix F (3 Feb. 05) for information about the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Former Wartime Service (SSI-FWTS).
In 2007, the ALARACT 055/2007 message gave additional information including, "implementing instructions for changes to the wear policy outlined in AR 670-1."
I just can't quite figure out who authorizes which patches one can wear.
Soldiers should first reference AR 670-1, Appendix F (3 Feb. 05) for information about the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Former Wartime Service (SSI-FWTS).
In 2007, the ALARACT 055/2007 message gave additional information including, "implementing instructions for changes to the wear policy outlined in AR 670-1."
5. THERE IS NO TIME-IN-THEATER REQUIREMENT TO BE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE SSI-FWTS.and
10. SOLDIERS AUTHORIZED TO WEAR MORE THAN ONE SSI-FWTS MAY CHOOSE WHICH SSI-FWTS THEY WEAR. SOLDIERS MAY ALSO ELECT NOT TO WEAR THE SSI-FWTS.
I just can't quite figure out who authorizes which patches one can wear.
Hands in pockets: AR 670-1
Keeping your hands in your pockets is a big no-no in the Army.
AR 670-1 (3 Feb. 05), 1-9, a(3), says, “While in uniform, personnel will not place their hands in their pockets, except momentarily to place or retrieve objects.”
However, PNN (Private News Network –the great distributor of consistently incorrect information) reports that you are allowed to put your hands in your Winter PT jacket pockets. “Why would they put them there?” is the common refrain.
Obviously it is to hold your cell phone to call Soldiers who are late to morning accountability formation. “Soldiers must project a military image that leaves no doubt that they live by a common military standard and are responsible to military order and discipline,” AR 670-1 says.
Having looked for an exception to policy (none found), and remembering the IPFU is the Improved Physical Fitness UNIFORM, the guidance in 670-1 about not leaving hands in pockets is clear and not the standard. In other words, remember to make on-the-spot corrections with tact when you see Soldiers with their hands in their Winter PT Jacket pockets.
AR 670-1 (3 Feb. 05), 1-9, a(3), says, “While in uniform, personnel will not place their hands in their pockets, except momentarily to place or retrieve objects.”
However, PNN (Private News Network –the great distributor of consistently incorrect information) reports that you are allowed to put your hands in your Winter PT jacket pockets. “Why would they put them there?” is the common refrain.
Obviously it is to hold your cell phone to call Soldiers who are late to morning accountability formation. “Soldiers must project a military image that leaves no doubt that they live by a common military standard and are responsible to military order and discipline,” AR 670-1 says.
Having looked for an exception to policy (none found), and remembering the IPFU is the Improved Physical Fitness UNIFORM, the guidance in 670-1 about not leaving hands in pockets is clear and not the standard. In other words, remember to make on-the-spot corrections with tact when you see Soldiers with their hands in their Winter PT Jacket pockets.
01 March 2009
Overseas Service Ribbon
One ribbon on the Class A Uniform that drove everyone crazy was the Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR). Detailed in 5–4 (a), of AR 600-8-22 (11 December 2006), it says, “It is awarded to members of the U.S. Army for successful completion of overseas tours.” Cool, another ribbon.
But wait, not so fast. “c. Soldiers must be credited with a normal overseas tour completion according to AR 614–30.” What the heck is a normal overseas tour? Is that like Germany or Korea or does Iraq count too? AR 614-30 just further confused me plus the award stipulation has changed.
Finally, I found an answer. Over on the Awards and Decorations section of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command under Frequently Asked Questions: Overseas Service Ribbon I downloaded the Word FAQ document.
Question 13: It appears that in every situation, the OSR is only authorized if a Soldier is credited with completion of an overseas tour. Who determines if an overseas tour was completed and ensures the Soldier’s records is posted to reflect the completion of the tour?
Answer 13: The custodian of a Soldier’s personnel records makes the determination, IAW the rules established in AR 614-30, and posts the completed overseas tours to the Soldier’s record. If you are unsure who your records custodian is, check with your S1, they will know.
I pulled out my ERB (Enlisted Record Brief) and in Section I – Assignment Information under OS/Deployment Combat Duty, I was credited with “#S – 1” or one short tour. Cool, another ribbon.
POST-NOTE: I provided a copy of the Oct. 2008 FAQ to my company PAC clerk who passed it onto the Soldiers in S1 who amended it to my ERB.
How do you get a security clearance?
In the Army, not every MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) or Soldier needs a Secret or Top Secret clearance. However, having a Secret clearance can open many doors for Soldiers looking to reclassify to another MOS or find a civilian job.
All Officer Candidate School (AR 350-1) applicants must, “e. have a SECRET security clearance.” My MOS (21C Bridge Crewmember) is closely related to a combat arms MOS (21B Combat Engineer) and it seems that everyone who handles explosives and gets demolition training is investigated during the enlistment and trainee period. Mail clerks – I think – get vetted as a rule for a Secret clearance.
You may have a Secret clearance and not know it. Look in Section II – Security Data of your Enlisted Record Brief (ERB). You should see your Personnel Security Investigation or PSI Status as "SECRET." Also look for “PSI Invest” and “PSI Invest Compl, “for dates to see if a PSI has been started and if it was completed. Mine took approximately six months to complete.
The simple answer is for you to ask your first line supervisor about getting a Secret clearance. You may not be eligible to be a candidate for a security clearance based on your job. Your NCO Support Channel can answer that question. They in turn can get more details from the S-2 shop. If everyone in your platoon has a secret clearance, perhaps you should too.
The process involves a long questionnaire (Standard Form 86) and possibly a personal interview. Be aware, financial issues and convictions (DWI) can prevent you from getting a clearance
All Officer Candidate School (AR 350-1) applicants must, “e. have a SECRET security clearance.” My MOS (21C Bridge Crewmember) is closely related to a combat arms MOS (21B Combat Engineer) and it seems that everyone who handles explosives and gets demolition training is investigated during the enlistment and trainee period. Mail clerks – I think – get vetted as a rule for a Secret clearance.
You may have a Secret clearance and not know it. Look in Section II – Security Data of your Enlisted Record Brief (ERB). You should see your Personnel Security Investigation or PSI Status as "SECRET." Also look for “PSI Invest” and “PSI Invest Compl, “for dates to see if a PSI has been started and if it was completed. Mine took approximately six months to complete.
The simple answer is for you to ask your first line supervisor about getting a Secret clearance. You may not be eligible to be a candidate for a security clearance based on your job. Your NCO Support Channel can answer that question. They in turn can get more details from the S-2 shop. If everyone in your platoon has a secret clearance, perhaps you should too.
The process involves a long questionnaire (Standard Form 86) and possibly a personal interview. Be aware, financial issues and convictions (DWI) can prevent you from getting a clearance
Combat Patch Parts
However, when we got back we weren’t quite sure how to wear the patch of the 20th Engineer Brigade which is identified as an airborne unit. Below is the pertinent parts of the ALARACT message that spells it out.
P 061520Z FEB 06
SUBJ: ALARACT 030/2005 CORRECT COPY
SUBJECT: SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA (SSI) AND SHOULDER SLEEVE
INSIGNIA-FORMER WARTIME SERVICE (SSI-FWTS)
1. AR 670-1, 3 FEB 05, WEAR AND APPEARANCE OF ARMY UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA.
2. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO REEMPHASIZE THE WEAR POLICY FOR BOTH THE SSI AND SSI-FWTS. COMMANDERS AND LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS WILL COMPLY WITH AR 670-1, PARAGRAPH 28-16, PARAGRAPH 28-17, AND APPENDIX
F. …TABS THAT ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF A SSI, SUCH AS AIRBORNE OR MOUNTAIN, ARE WORN DIRECTLY ABOVE THE SSI WITH NO SPACE BETWEEN THE INSIGNIA AND TAB.
E. SOLDIERS AUTHORIZED TO WEAR MORE THAN ONE SSI-FWTS MAY CHOOSE WHICH SSI-FWTS TO WEAR. SOLDIERS ALSO MAY ELECT NOT TO WEAR THE SSI-FWTS.
16 February 2009
How to move from Specialist to Corporal
Detailed in AR 614-200 Assignments, in section 3-14C,
“Commanders (05 and above) may authorize lateral appointment of SPC to CPL without local selection board action provided the Soldier concerned is assigned to an authorized (documented) NCO position in their CPMOS. DA Form 4187 or informal memorandum will be the only announcement of the lateral appointment.”
An authorized (documented) NCO position is listed on the Unit Manning Report (UMR). It, “lists the authorized positions and personnel assets of each permanent party agency. Enlisted soldiers will be assigned to positions on the UMR In Accordance With (IAW) the rules for utilization outlined in AR 600-8-6. All Soldiers will be assigned a paragraph and line number on the UMR.”
Note: CPMOS is Career Program MOS.
As far as I can tell, the UMR is prepared monthly by the unit S1 by the 15th. Training uses this "Alpha Roster" to update records.
If you are a team leader and write monthly counseling reports, those are NCO duties. If you “have soldiers,” you are in a leadership position. If you are the Training NCO and still flying the sham shield, prepare your own 4187 and put it under your sergeant’s nose.
On the DA 4187 in the remarks section:
1. Request Lateral Appointment to Corporal.
2. Date of Rank: (his/her DOR to SPC).
3. Effective date: (date you want the SPC to be a CPL).
4. Justification: List paragraph and line number on Unit Manning Report. However, I wrote, "SOLDIER IS IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION."
CLASS A UNIFORM: UNIT AWARDS
Not sure what to wear on your right side? Don’t worry; your sergeants are probably just as confused. There are two sources for this information. The Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) come out about once a year and list individual and unit awards. They also make interesting reading on who got their awards taken away. A better source is the U.S. Army Human Resources Command Unit Award section with an Excel spreadsheet and new database searchable by Unit Identification Code (UIC).
DA 31 REQUEST AND AUTHORITY FOR LEAVE—MS Word Version
ED NOTE: Page info re-verified 010133LAPR12 (that's local 1:33 a.m. on April 1, 2012--no joke)
The DA 31 (SEP 93) form, REQUEST AND AUTHORITY FOR LEAVE is available from a number of sources including the U.S. Army Publishing Directorate (your paramount source for official, updated and authenticated FMs, ARs and forms). However, all DA 31s are not created equal and an unofficial Microsoft Word version may be the one you want.
OPTIONS:
GOOD: The U.S. Army Publishing Directorate has a PureEdge (xfdl) and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) DA 31 available for download. The PDF from APD has no form fields you can fill out rendering it pretty useless unless you have a typewriter. The PureEdge form is superior as you can fill out most fields and digitally sign the document. But you can’t type in the name of the approving authority in block 13.
BETTER: The United States Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center (USACRC) offers a link to a DA 31 PDF after you complete the TRiPS (https://crcapps2.crc.army.mil/ako_auth/trips) online trip-planning tool, Misnamed “DD31.pdf,” it was created when CRC was called “ASMIS-2.” You can fill out the form fields but “you cannot save data typed into this form.” Forget the phone number in block 8, you then get to retype the whole form. Still, not great and there is no field in block 13.
SOMEWHAT BETTER: Type in “da form 31” into Google and up pops “31.dot,” a Microsoft Word DA 31 (with wrong suffix) from USAREUR G1. You can save the data typed into the form and type in the name of the approving authority, but you can’t digitally sign the document. Unfortunately, line 15 is misprinted and should read "EXTENSION"; line 16 is misprinted and should read "RETURN.” It is the same document found on ArmyProperty.com.
THE ONE YOU WANT: Here is a DA31word.doc with the fields fixed. Let me know if there are any issues with this edited version at my civilian address (match AT picketttmedia.com).
FINAL WORD: If the U.S. Army Publishing Directorate offered a PureEdge form with a field in block 13, I would use that one and digitally sign my DA 31s. Until then I will use the one I fixed here.
20120723: For those who need to tinker, use "31" to unlock the form.
The DA 31 (SEP 93) form, REQUEST AND AUTHORITY FOR LEAVE is available from a number of sources including the U.S. Army Publishing Directorate (your paramount source for official, updated and authenticated FMs, ARs and forms). However, all DA 31s are not created equal and an unofficial Microsoft Word version may be the one you want.
OPTIONS:
GOOD: The U.S. Army Publishing Directorate has a PureEdge (xfdl) and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) DA 31 available for download. The PDF from APD has no form fields you can fill out rendering it pretty useless unless you have a typewriter. The PureEdge form is superior as you can fill out most fields and digitally sign the document. But you can’t type in the name of the approving authority in block 13.
BETTER: The United States Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center (USACRC) offers a link to a DA 31 PDF after you complete the TRiPS (https://crcapps2.crc.army.mil/ako_auth/trips) online trip-planning tool, Misnamed “DD31.pdf,” it was created when CRC was called “ASMIS-2.” You can fill out the form fields but “you cannot save data typed into this form.” Forget the phone number in block 8, you then get to retype the whole form. Still, not great and there is no field in block 13.
SOMEWHAT BETTER: Type in “da form 31” into Google and up pops “31.dot,” a Microsoft Word DA 31 (with wrong suffix) from USAREUR G1. You can save the data typed into the form and type in the name of the approving authority, but you can’t digitally sign the document. Unfortunately, line 15 is misprinted and should read "EXTENSION"; line 16 is misprinted and should read "RETURN.” It is the same document found on ArmyProperty.com.
THE ONE YOU WANT: Here is a DA31word.doc with the fields fixed. Let me know if there are any issues with this edited version at my civilian address (match AT picketttmedia.com).
FINAL WORD: If the U.S. Army Publishing Directorate offered a PureEdge form with a field in block 13, I would use that one and digitally sign my DA 31s. Until then I will use the one I fixed here.
20120723: For those who need to tinker, use "31" to unlock the form.
POV Risk Assessment (Travel Risk Planning System or TRiPS)
WEB LINK: https://crcapps2.crc.army.mil/ako_auth/TRiPS/default.aspx
PARENT: https://crc.army.mil/home/