Stand-To: Procedure prior to first light to enhance unit security, a daily compendium of news, information, and context for Army leaders.

"You have performed brilliantly in every mission that has been given to you. You've kept your eyes focused on just doing your job. You have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country."

- President Obama, thanking the troops for their service and personal sacrifice "under enormous strain ... through controversy and difficulty and politics."

Obama praises troops during surprise visit to Iraq

Year of the Noncommissioned Officer

"To be able to mentor and train Soldiers and to go through the things that I have over the years, that is what is most important to me and stands out the most."

- Staff Sgt. James Phillips, 598th Transportation Group, at a competition which amplified the main pillars of the Year of the NCO: education, fitness, leadership and pride in service

Transportation Soldiers compete to be named NCO of the Year

• Early Bird News Site
• Information Papers with "2008 Army Posture Statement"
• Stories of Valor
• Army Public Affairs Portal
• Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace
• 2008 Strategic Communication Guide - Read the 2008 Army Strategic Communication Guide for key messages and updates

• Army Live
• The White House Blog
• Blogger's Roundtable
• Army offers practical, career-related student experience programs
• Task force Soldiers build relationships in Central Afghanistan
• Iraqis provide new line of security at Joint Base Balad

2009: Year of the NCO

2009: Year of the Military Family

2009: 100th Anniversary of the Chaplain Assistant

April 2009:

- Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

- Month of the Military Child

April 22, 2009: Earth Day

• Army Media Player
• Flickr: Army images
• YouTube: Army videos
• Twitter: Army updates
• del.icio.us: Army links

Army Professional Writing

• President Obama visits Baghdad (MPV)
• Recruiting suicides (SP)
• Pentagon Chief: Why I Tore Up the Army's 'Future' (DR)
• Being there is easy, not being there is hard (BW)
• The end of terrorism (YS)
• Taliban advance on Burner (LWJ)

External Links Disclaimer

RESET Pilot

What is it?

RESET, one of the four Army imperatives to restore balance to the Army, systematically restores deployed units to a level of personnel and equipment readiness that permits resumption of training for future missions and is an integral element of the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) model. It involves the reintegration of Soldiers and their families, post deployment medical assessments, professional education, restoring equipment readiness, and individual training.

What has the Army done?

The Army implemented a RESET pilot program based upon a 15-month (AC) or five-year (RC) dwell. The program consists of three phases: ("In Theater") a six-month redeployment phase; ("RESET") an initial reconstitution period of 6 months for AC units and 12 months for RC units which the pace of peacetime training is moderated to maximize the time that Soldiers and families have to reintegrate and recuperate; and ("Train/Ready") a collective training and unit preparation phase leading up to deployment. The fiscal year 2008 pilot implemented the RESET model on 13 redeploying Army units: eight active component (AC), two Army National Guard (ARNG), and three United Sates Army Reserve (USAR) units. In fiscal year 2009, the Army is expanding the test to 19 units: 13 AC, 3 ARNG, and 3 USAR. Lessons learned from the fiscal year 2008 RESET pilot will be used to improve Army institutional processes. Plans are to implement this RESET program Army-wide by 2011.

What continuing efforts does the Army have planned?

The Army will prioritize units based on deployment, major training exercises and redeployment dates. The Army will "man" brigade-sized units through ARFORGEN focused manning. The Army has requested $18.2 billion in FY09 to restore the combat readiness of 27 brigades scheduled to complete field reset during this FY. It costs approximately $15-18 billion each year to reset the equipment of a returning force of about 150,000 Soldiers, and it is a continuous requirement as long as we have forces deployed and for two-three years thereafter.

Why is this important to the Army?

The Army must RESET the force to rebuild the readiness that has been consumed in operations in order to prepare Soldiers, their families, and units for future deployments and contingencies. We must continue to revitalize Soldiers and their families, repair, replace, and recapitalize equipment, and retrain Soldiers to meet the challenges of the 21st century.