JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. – For the past few years, the welcome to a new duty station often started with a Soldier staring at a computer screen. But at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, the days of virtual handshakes and staring at a screen are over.
The installation has officially brought back in-person Newcomers Briefs, replacing digital distance with face-to-face connection for all Soldiers working on the base, as well as the incoming personnel spread across dozens of organizations in the Military District of Washington belonging to the U.S. Army Headquarters Battalion.
The orientation program had temporarily shifted to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the health of the force. While a necessary measure at the time, the return to a physical setting marks a critical upgrade in the onboarding experience. In-person interactions offer distinct advantages that simply cannot be replicated online, most notably by providing Soldiers with immediate, over-the-shoulder assistance from subject matter experts on complex administrative hurdles, such as completing smart vouchers in real-time.
"Bringing our Newcomers Briefs back to an in-person setting is a great idea because it allows us to truly welcome our Soldiers and integrate them into the community from day one," said Col. Keith P. Sandoval, JBM-HH Commander. "There is simply no substitute for looking our incoming personnel in the eye, answering their questions directly, and ensuring they have the immediate, personalized support they need to be successful on this installation."
This physical integration is especially vital for personnel whose daily duties take them outside the gates. Command Sgt. Maj. Audrey X. Daugherty, U.S. Army Headquarters Battalion Command Sergeant Major, emphasized the importance of those working inside MDW to physically attend the briefing on base.
"For our Soldiers who spend their workdays over at the Pentagon, coming onto (JBM-HH) for this brief is absolutely critical," she said. "It allows them to physically step onto the footprint, experience the amenities firsthand, and truly understand the full scope of support and services available to them and their families. We want them to know exactly where to go for what they need, rather than trying to figure it out from afar."
To guarantee that every incoming Soldier benefits from this renewed in-person orientation, administrative procedures across the board have been formally updated. All official orders sending Soldiers to JBM-HH, as well as those assigning personnel to organizations under the U.S. Army Headquarters Battalion, have been explicitly amended with a provision mandating attendance at this meeting.
During the orientation, the comprehensive agenda covers a wide array of essential topics designed to set incoming personnel up for success. Throughout the morning, Soldiers hear directly from key installation directorates, receiving critical information and resources from the legal office, the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, the Transition Assistance Program, and various other support agencies crucial to everyday life and readiness.
The response from attendees has already validated the decision to return to a physical setting. Mr. Albert Brown, chief of the Military Personnel Division and the main facilitator of the orientation, noted that the reception from incoming Soldiers has been overwhelmingly positive.
"The feedback we've received so far has been great," Brown said. "You can see the relief on their faces when they realize they have actual people standing right in front of them, ready to help them with their paperwork or answer specific questions on the spot. It takes a lot of the stress out of transitioning to a new duty station."
To accommodate the steady flow of new arrivals here, these mandated briefings are held on a consistent weekly schedule. Soldiers are required to attend the Newcomers Brief which takes place every Tuesday at the JBM-HH Education Center, Bldg. 417, from 8-11:30 a.m., to ensure every new arrival is fully prepared, informed, and supported as they begin their assignment.
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