Fort Huachuca installation retention teams gear up for new fiscal year

By Staff Sgt. Stephen Clark,Installation Retention OfficeSeptember 13, 2010

As the current fiscal year ends and fiscal year 2011 approaches, it is a time for Soldiers to consider their futures and how the Army can benefit them and their families.

During a budget briefing at the Pentagon, Lt. Gen. Edgar Stanton III, the Army's military deputy for budget, detailed the overall rationale behind items in the Army's portion of the Department of Defense's FY11 budget requests.

"The Army leaders have focused on caring for our people-that's our Soldiers, our families and our civilians," Stanton said. "We focus on training and equipping Soldiers and units for the current fight, and then we revitalize our people - the entire gamut of people, Soldiers and civilians - for whatever the next development might be."

That request includes a 1.4-percent military pay raise, a 3.9-percent increase in housing allowances and a 3.4-percent increase in subsistence allowances. Also included were more than $400 million for supplemental reenlistment bonuses.

Of particular interest to the Fort Huachuca community, the Army also plans to add to its unmanned-aircraft-systems fleet including about $459 million for the addition of 26 MQ-1 Sky Warrior Extended Range Multi-Purpose unmanned aircraft systems.

Also on the horizon is a plan to streamline and modify the 1-year-old Post 9/11 G.I. Bill., which represents an agreement between major veterans' service organizations and the Veterans Affairs Department on ways to fix, improve or otherwise modify the benefits program that was launched Aug. 1, 2009.

Fort Huachuca's installation retention team consists of Master Sgt. Derrick Ray, senior installation career counselor, Sgt. 1st Class Edmundo Prado, installation retention operations noncommissioned officer, Sgt. 1st Class Laurie McGuire and Staff Sgt. Abel Huerta, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade career counselors and Master Sgt. Kenneth Campbell, Reserve Component career counselor.

The Installation Retention office is located in Building #41414, and the 111th MI Bde. career counselors can be found in Riley Barracks.

The installation retention team encourages Fort Huachuca's Soldiers to stay informed and to take initiative when it comes to furthering their Army careers.

Ray, senior installation career counselor says, "Wow! What an impressive year it has been for the Army reenlistment program for fiscal year 2010. I'd like to say thank you and congratulations again to everyone that reenlisted this year to stay Army strong on active duty and/or enlisted into the Reserve or National Guard. This is a testament to the commitment of our Soldiers, their families, and the efforts of leaders, career counselors and retention NCOs at all levels.

"Before the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, go see your unit's reenlistment NCO (noncommissioned officer) or career counselor today to see what you qualify for the upcoming fiscal year.

Qualifications for options change without notice," he added.