Just FYI......the new SRB list is out in The Army Times. And 13F is still on there.

Wasn't aware of a new bonus list coming out. What's the MILPER Message number?

Well, its not a MILPER but it states the MOS's that are offering the SRB. It does not give any amounts, just a list of jobs for 2008.

It was a spread in the new Army Times.

The Army Times is not an official publication and is JUST in the business of selling magazines (and ad space).

Although some of the articles are pretty good, NEVER get accurate/up-to-date retention information from the Army Times.

Sometimes we have to. HRC wont give anyone (minus a select few) a heads up on whats going to happen even a few weeks in the future so publications like The Army Times are all we have; even our career counselors dont know.
Whats more important? Manipulating the talent pool in order to meet quotas or letting their soldiers know a bonus is going to be available next month so they and their families can plan accordingly?

So if a bonus doesn't come out like the Army Times says, Who are you gonna be mad at HRC for not having the bonus or the Army Times for report the wrong information?

whyme, are you referring to the February 18 2008 Army Times article on page 47 that states:
"The Army's fiscal 2009 budget REQUEST lists the following CANDIDATES for the Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program"?

quote:

Originally posted by whyme:
Sometimes we have to. HRC wont give anyone (minus a select few) a heads up on whats going to happen even a few weeks in the future so publications like The Army Times are all we have; even our career counselors dont know.
Whats more important? Manipulating the talent pool in order to meet quotas or letting their soldiers know a bonus is going to be available next month so they and their families can plan accordingly?

First of all, HRC is not the overall authority on Selective Reenlistments. HQDA- Army G1 pushes those buttons at the direction of the CSA, who gets it from the SECDEF, who gets it from lawmakers. So I don't know who these "select few" at HRC are, but if you know who they are--please share so I can get in on this secret squirrel information, too! Secondly, You talk about "manipulating the talent in order to meet quotas". I got news for you--again, lawmakers, not the Big Army, make determinations on what needs to be done with a defense budget and if that means reducing or eliminating bonus money, then they will do all they can to keep that money where it is supposed to go, but if it needs to go elsewhere, such as toward ensuring the war is effectively funded to ensure the military has what it NEEDS not wants or desires, then so be it. You have to understand, however, that these types of decisions aren't made and they hold on to them for a few weeks before making it public and they surely do not let a "select few" know what's going on and then drop it on us poor Soldiers and then sit back and giggle.
Besides, a bonus is an incentive, not an entitlement. The military has managed to spoil its forces through the use of dangling the almighty dollar in front of them--but here's the funny part--we would still maintain our force at the needed levels without the use of bonuses.

quote:

Originally posted by whyme:
Sometimes we have to. HRC wont give anyone (minus a select few) a heads up on whats going to happen even a few weeks in the future so publications like The Army Times are all we have

Bottom line is, Army Times is NOT an official publication for the Army ... when it's official, you'll see it on HRC's MILPER Message site.

I acknowledge The Army Times in not an official sponsor of U.S. Army policy.
Also, I agree that laws are determined by civilians, but the civilians are given guidance and information by active Army personnel.
Do you agree or disagree, CCMSG , that a civilian lawmaker knows anything about the following MOS's: motor trans, EOD, or SF? Im going to say no and if they dont know anything about them, then where are they getting their information? From the Army whose job it is to ensure certain MOS's are filled because they are either dangerous or important to the war on terror.......but mostly dangerous.
So if you agree that the lawmakers are briefed by the Army, then why is the Army only picking certain jobs? Why has my MOS of 13F been eligible for an SRB for several months? The Army has its own agenda, thats why. Is it fair they dont tell us what it is? I guess it doesnt matter if its fair or not, but its goddamn annoying. We can watch senators and congressmen vote on bills that affect the whole country on CSPAN but we cant watch or know what something as simple as what affects our military service.

Anyway, all Im saying is that the Army should report what its sending up for debate by the civilians and then the civvies should, in some form or another, tell us what the outcome is.

Think of someone waiting a few weeks to get into a new zone that will pay a higher bonus in order to better care for his family. Unfortunatley, in the Armys's bastion of wisdom and foresight, the bonus is no longer available and just the day before it was. How bad of a taste does that put in a soldiers mouth?
Im certainley not asking the Army to bend over backwards, but its really a very simple request that would receive feedback and maybe even higher reenlistments.

quote:

Originally posted by whyme:
Is it fair they dont tell us what it is?

When would you like to be told about anything? During the planning process?

Okay...this is what I believe is fair and makes sense to me.

Put the word out from HQ to the lowest levels that next month these select MOS's are goint to be debated for an increase in bonus and these select MOS's are going to be debated for a decrease and these MOS's are going to be debated to be dropped altogether.

The soldiers can look at that list and see if it pertains to them. If it does, then there will be a link to a Congressional website that deals with the Army's budget. From there, they can see what was voted on and how. Voting only takes a day and if the results would be available immediatley. That way, nobody is caught off guard when they go in to re enlist a month from now or even a two weeks and the bonus isnt there.

quote:

Originally posted by whyme:
Put the word out from HQ to the lowest levels that next month these select MOS's are goint to be debated for an increase in bonus and these select MOS's are going to be debated for a decrease and these MOS's are going to be debated to be dropped altogether.

Bonuses aren't "debated".

Even if this is the case, how many Soldiers would care enough to even be apart of this process?

They are based on the strengths of your MOS. If the MOS is projected to be balanced/overstrength, why would a bonus be offered?

You simply don't seem to understand how this all works, but if you are as upset about the system as you present yourself to be, I suggest that you contact your legislator and make this recommendation and see what can be done. If you choose this path, I suggest that you also ask exactly how their system works and how long voting takes and what occurs after a vote takes place. I am not an expert on the House/Senate, but think it takes longer than a day.