Readiness, retention remain the focus in 2016

By Mrs. Cherish T Gilmore (AMC)January 26, 2016

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. John Paul Carter, of the Army Sustainment Command at Rock Island, Illinois, a subordinate unit of the Army Materiel Command, reenlisted aboard a Chinook helicopter. Maj. Brandon Ungetheim was the reenlisting officer for the Conyers, Georgi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, swears in four re-enlisting ASC Soldiers during the first period break of the Quad City Mallards' hockey game at the iWireless Center, Moline, Illinois, on Veterans Day, No... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- "Our fundamental task is like no other -- it is to win in the unforgiving crucible of ground combat," said General Mark A. Milley, the 39th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. "We must ensure the Army remains ready as the world's premier combat force. Readiness for ground combat is -- and will remain -- the U.S. Army number one priority."

Retention is a Secretary of the Army initiative tied directly to readiness, according to Sgt. Maj. Willene Orr, Army Materiel Command's retention director. Retention is also one of the three tenants that contribute to end strength, which is set by Congress. The other two are recruitment and attrition.

"The Army can only get to the designated end strength number by retaining so many Soldiers and recruiting so many Soldiers," Orr explained. "We all have to do our part to ensure we retain highly qualified warfighters. When I think of retention, I think of readiness and sustaining the strength of the nation. We sustain the strength of the nation by retaining America's sons and daughters."

Though AMC has a small mission with so few Soldiers; it is an important mission. "Retaining quality NCOs and Soldiers in AMC is important as they play a critical role in linking AMC units back into the operational and tactical Army," said AMC's Command Sergeant Major James K. Sims.

AMC Retention accomplishes this mission with four career counselors and one retention operations specialist throughout the entire materiel enterprise. With Soldiers forward deployed to Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Hawaii, Korea, and even Japan, the counselors take care of AMC's most critical military operational specialties to include: those in the acquisition, logistics and technology, contracting career field.

"It's been a journey and it's really interesting to see how small the mission is and how challenging it can be, but Command Sergeant Major Sims, General Via [AMC Commander] and all of the command retention teams are totally engaged."

And It is leadership that, Orr says enabled her to have such a memorable year in the retention office.

"In 2015, we did the very first reenlistment and re-affirmation ceremony with General Via at the Third Annual Team Redstone Army Birthday celebration," said Orr.

Also AMC retention took part in a myriad of events such as: the U.S. Army Forces Command Quarterly Retention Training, Fort Gordon Retention Training, 7th Signal Command Career Counselor of the Year Board, the Department of the Army Career Counselor of the Year Board and many more.

"We've met and exceeded goals even in spite of folks being around the globe and a lot of the reenlistments and work being done through email," said Orr. "It is vital for Soldiers to contact their respective servicing career counselor sooner versus later. The current reenlistment opportunity window is 15 months from the Soldier's expiration term of service and the 90-day window prior to a Soldier's ETS remains in effect for fiscal year 2016."

The AMC retention office exceeded the total mission goals with 348 percent for the active component and 380 percent for the reserve component. "This would not have been possible without our superb team of AMC Senior Career Counselors," said Orr.