The Association of the U.S. Army Notes
1. Greens Delay
Army Greens, which underwent user tests in 2019, are available for sale in limited quantities and have been provided to some soldiers, but delays in making the fabric and manufacturing the uniforms are slowing deliveries by about one month. Soldiers completing basic combat training will be issued the new uniform in August. It will still not be mandatory until 2028.
2. Blind Reviews
In a swift series of decisions related to a new diversity initiative called Project Inclusion, the Army has decided to remove photos from records provided to promotion and selection boards for all ranks by August. The aim is to make the process “as fair and impartial as possible,” according to an Army statement. Army leaders also directed that data identifying a soldier’s race, ethnicity and gender be redacted from the Officer Record Brief and the Enlisted Record Brief.
3. 2020 Annual Meeting
The 2020 Annual Meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army will be a virtual event, not the traditional meeting in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., because of health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, AUSA recently announced. The meeting will be held Oct. 13-16. Planning is underway for an event that will feature speeches from Army leaders, online contemporary military forums and other professional development events.
4. VA Feedback
Random surveys of more than 250,000 veterans have revealed a dramatic improvement in satisfaction with VA services. The newest survey shows 80% of respondents reported positive interactions with the VA on claims, health care, burial benefits or other services. This is a 19% increase since January 2017.
This shows, “VA is listening to the voice of the veteran and taking decisive actions,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, pledging “customer feedback continues to drive improvements in the way VA provides care and services.”
5. Weight Loss Limits
Obesity among the service-aged U.S. population is a serious hurdle for recruiting, retired Maj. Gen. Malcolm Frost said in a recent interview. “You can’t just transform somebody in 10 weeks and have them run off the weight that they have from being obese, it just doesn’t work,” said the former Center for Initial Military Training commander. Even those who lose weight to make it into the military have the lingering impact of poor nutrition, he said, and are more prone to injuries. Like many other current and former military leaders, Frost advocates stronger child nutrition programs.