Fort Rucker voting assistance officers aid Soldiers

By Emily Brainard, Army Flier StaffJune 17, 2010

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Though some states' primary elections have already occurred, Soldiers and Families wishing to vote in states' pending elections may contact voting assistance officers here for questions regarding voting, registration and absentee ballots.

Officials strive to educate servicemembers during Army Voter Registration month that voting is important.

"(Our) focus is on providing information and voting assistance to Soldiers and their voting-age Family members well ahead of the general election. Unit VAOs contact during this period is designed to provide voters with enough time to register, receive a ballot and return voted ballot to local election officials prior to recommended mailing dates," said Director of Human Resources Deborah Seimer.

She noted military members generally participate at higher rates than the general population. Military registration rate is 86 percent, compared to 70 percent of civilians, and voting rates are 70 and 64 percent, respectively.

Servicemembers especially should vote, because they fight to give Americans that freedom, said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Lee, assistant VAO for B Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment.

He noted if people want to make differences in their governments, they must make their voices heard, and one way to do that is by voting.

The next primary election takes place Tuesday in Utah, he said. Georgia and Oklahoma residents vote July 20 and 27, respectively. States voting on various August dates include Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.

For general voting information, visit www.fvap.gov, www.twitter.com/FVAP or http://www.facebook.com/DoDFVAP, Seimer said.

For more local information, call the appropriate VAOs below:

Installation Voting Assistance Officer: 255-0580 or 255-2484

Fort Rucker TRADOC Voting Assistance Officer: 255-9384

USAF: 23rd Flying Training Squad 255-0730 or 255-9417

KNOX FIELD USAR: 2-58th AOB: 255-9550

Tenant units

ACLC: 255-0630 or 255-3207

CID: 255-3108

USACRC: 255-3854

NCO Academy: 255-3957 or 255-2208

USAAMC: 255-7155 or 255-7322

Vet Command: 255-0933

USAARL: 255-6850

USASAM: 255-7349 or 255-7334

WOCC: 255-2646 or 255-1955

SJA: 255-3482

164th TAOG: 255-8959

HHC, 164th TAOG: 255-8926 or 255-8949

1-58th AOB: 255-8722 or 255-8929

597th Ordnance Maintenance Co.: 255-2599

ATSCOM: 255-1642 or 255-9446

110th Aviation Brigade

HHC, 110th: 255-9351

1st Bn., 11th Avn. Regt.: 255-2199

HHC, 1st Bn., 11th Avn. Regt.: 255-0827

A Co., 1st Bn., 11th Avn. Regt.: 255-2664

B Co., 1st Bn., 11th Avn. Regt.: 255-9056

C Co., 1st Bn., 11th Avn. Regt.: 255-9742

1st Bn., 14th Avn. Regt.: 255-0082

HHC, 1st Bn., 14th Avn. Regt.: 255-5808

A Co., 1st Bn., 14th Avn. Regt.: 255-5040

C Troop, 1st Bn., 14th Avn. Regt.: 255-5803

D Co., 1st Bn., 14th Avn. Regt.: 255-5053

1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt.: 255-3680

A Co., 1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt.: 255-4054 or 255-4101

B Co., 1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt.: 255-4196

E Co., 1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt.: 255-4118

F Co., 1st Bn., 212th Avn. Regt.: 255-4182

1st Bn., 223rd Avn. Regt.: 255-8478

HHC, 1st Bn., 223rd Avn. Regt.: 255-8370

A Co., 1st Bn., 223rd Avn. Regt.: 255-6218

B Co., 1st Bn., 223rd Avn. Regt.: 255-6215

"Flatiron" Air Ambulance Detachment: 255-8535

1st Aviation Brigade

HHC, 1st Avn. Bde.: 255-1236

HHC, 1st Bn., 13th Avn. Regt.: 255-1338

A Co., 1st Bn., 13th Avn. Regt.: 255-1296

B Co., 1st Bn., 13th Avn. Regt.: 255-1295 or 255-3569

C Co., 1st Bn., 13th Avn. Regt.: 255-1084

D Co., 1st Bn., 13th Avn. Regt.: 255-9301 or 255-1338

6th Military Police: 255-1228

A Co., 1st Bn., 145th Avn. Regt.: 255-1097

B Co., 1st Bn., 145th Avn. Regt.: 255-2379 or 255-5426

D Co., 1st Bn., 145th Avn. Regt.: 255-1123

98th Army Band: 255-9202

CRD: 255-9114

DES: 255-1785