New…” AUSA’s Five Things 1) Looming Combat Power Losses A return of sequestration could result in 40 percent less sustainable combat maneuver power than was available in 2009, a hit that would apply to the Army and Marine Corps, plus their reserve components. If that happened, it would not be possible within five years to meet current strategic guidance. What to watch: Combatant commanders are expected to become more vocal on the risks. Already, Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., commander of the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Command, is warning that it is virtually impossible right now to make a strategic decision due to unpredictable funding. The same message for other regional commands could be a key to undoing sequestration. 2) Scammers Messing With Soldiers Romantic Opportunities The Army Criminal Investigation Command is warning – again – that women who have a penchant for men in uniform should be aware that there are scam artists operating around the world, hoping to dupe women out of money. These scammers use a false identity to pose as soldiers in order to steal money by convincing unsuspecting women that there is an urgent need for cash due to a fabricated emergency. The scams work because they often use the name and rank of real soldiers, including photos taken from social media sites. These scams also work because U.S. soldiers are highly regarded. What to watch: It doesnt hurt to perform a monthly Internet search of your name, which will quickly locate any social media posts where it has appeared. This doesnt capture every attempt to impersonate you, but it can help identify the source of the problem. If you are corresponding with a soldier you met online, be wary of any request for money, especially if youre being asked to send money to a third-party address. 3) Wadas Nomination Stalled In May, the White House nominated Debra S. Wada to become Assistant Army Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, based on her 15 years of work as part of the professional staff of the House Armed Services Committee and 13 years on the Staff of Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. The Senate Armed Services Committee reported her nomination to the full Senate on June 24 but no confirmation vote was scheduled before the August congressional recess began. What to watch: The delay in vote has nothing to do with Wadas qualifications. She has strong bipartisan support based on her expertise in military personnel and health care issues but her nomination is one of many being held up in a dispute over Senate procedures that could leave her in limbo until after the Nov. 4 general elections. 4) Pain Medication Limits A Defense Department review of military medicine has called attention to a serious problem with pain medication, and for the need to have consistent policies about reducing pain for soldiers who have injuries while avoiding abuse, addiction and overuse. The finding, in a report being reviewed by Congress and military leaders, comes after a survey released earlier this year found half of soldiers who have returned from deployment have chronic pain and that 15 percent are using opioid pain killers. What to watch: The focus on pain killer abuse has been on veterans who are no longer serving but military medical officials are now weighing treatment and medication changes for those still serving. Doctors dont want soldiers suffering from needless pain but they also dont want them over-medicated. Expect this to be discussed during an AUSA-sponsored Hot Topics forum on medical care on Sept. 10. 5) Eye Protection Advances in lightweight advanced armor have the attention of the House Appropriations Committee, which wants the Army to explore high-performance transparently ballistic protection materials to protect the face and eyes of soldiers. What to watch: Army officials believe a 15 percent to 20 percent improvement is possible in impact resistance with nylon rather than the polycarbonate long-used in impact-resistant eye ware.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:39:03 +0000
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