Honoring Soldiers, celebrating those who support them

By Paul D. Prince (U.S. Army Forces Command HQ)February 25, 2011

Honoring Soldiers, celebrating those who support them
Maj. Gen. Jeffery L. Arnold, director of human resource policy and deputy chief of staff for Army G-1, presents workers of the United Service Organizations (USO) at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport a plaque Feb. 17 recognizing their contribut... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Atlanta Military Personnel Assistance Point celebrated helping its 1 millionth Soldier to travel on rest and recuperation (R&R) leave through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

The R&R Leave Program provides the opportunity for U.S. servicemembers and DoD Civilians who are deployed within the U.S. Central Command combat theater for one year to take up to 15 days of leave away from their current area of operation while deployed.

Since 2003, more than 1 million Soldiers have traveled on R&R leave through the Atlanta airport.

The Feb. 17 recognition ceremony was initially scheduled to happen in early January, but due to a local snow storm, neither participants nor Soldiers were able to gather and commemorate the moment.

During the snow storm, local volunteers, federal agencies and personnel within Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport E Concourse partnered to support Soldiers whose travel was delayed because of the inclement weather.

Maj. Gen. Jeffery L. Arnold, director of human resource policy and deputy chief of staff for Army G-1, served as the keynote speaker during the event and shared how grateful he was to all those who continue to support Soldiers during their R&R leave travel. "I'm very proud to be here," Arnold said. "I have been through this airport so many times I cannot remember, both in uniform and out of uniform." "It's very much a privilege to be here to thank you all; because both in uniform and out of uniform, I've come up that escalator ... and (I always saw) the people from the (United Service Organization) greeting you and welcoming you to the city of Atlanta," Arnold continued.

"It's amazing!" During the event, Arnold presented certificates of appreciation to local volunteer organizations, federal agencies and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport personnel for their support to Soldiers year round.

"I want to thank all of you for taking the time out of your busy days to mark this major milestone," Arnold said. "This is a major milestone for the United States Central Command R&R program." "R&R is critical role for servicemembers pertaining to their deployment," he added. "It allows them an opportunity to come back and reconnect to their Families."

For more information about the R&R program, visit www.armyg1.army.mil/RandR/default.asp.