By 2nd Lt. Eddie Walker
110th Quartermaster Company
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Continue to serve or get out? That's the choice many Soldiers will face during this year's long deployment. During the unit's short time in country, the 110th Quartermaster Company has had two Soldiers re-enlist for a variety of reasons and the commitment to serve does not seem to be slowing down.
Soldiers who re-enlist in Iraq miss out on their families attending the ceremony, but they have the next best thing which is their brother or sister in arms.
Vicksburg, Miss., native Spc. Matthew McClain and Trenton, Mich., native Spc. Frank Gladefelder are two Soldiers from the 110th Quartermaster Company who immediately committed to extend their enlistments after deployment.
Each had their own reasons for why they made these decisions. Whether it is a love of the uniform or what is best for their Families, this deployment has not hindered the interest these Soldiers have for remaining in the military.
A major factor that affects 110th QM Co.'s retention numbers is the increased bonus for petroleum fuel specialists. It is a shortage military occupation specialty and being that the 110th QM Co. is full of petroleum fuel specialists, many of the Soldiers are eligible for this opportunity.
As a company, the 110th QM Co., "Fuel Warriors", have always had a high retention rate and have achieved their retention goals each year. Staff Sgt. Leketha Roberson, a Charleston, Miss., native, and the company's retention noncommissioned officer, has definitely excelled in her job.
She is an enormous asset to the Soldiers when assisting them in maximizing as many incentives as possible. The company's goal for this deployment is currently to obtain 20 initial, 23 mid-career, and eight career commitments. To reach this goal, incentives such as bonuses, MOS changes, choice of duty station, stabilization, and school options are used to attract Soldiers to remain in the military.
"Bonuses have not been as popular since we deployed due to stabilization and duty station of choice being the trend among most eligible candidates," said Roberson.
She believes that many Soldiers will wait until Nov. 28, when the option to get duty station assignments is permitted for members of 110th QM Co.
In the near future, three of the unit's Soldiers are scheduled to participate in the mass re-enlistment ceremony at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The event will be a mass ceremony held for Soldiers under the command and control of the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).
This will be an honor and a unique experience because the ceremony will be performed by Brig. Gen. Lally, the commanding general of the 3rd ESC. This will also promote a positive outlook on re-enlistment and show Soldiers how much the U.S. Army values the importance of retaining good, quality personnel on the team.
This trip rewards Soldiers and allows them to experience a change of scenery. Regardless of the decisions that Soldiers make in the near future on whether they stay in or get out, it takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to serve in times of war.
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2008 23:50 |
| Story ID: | 26316 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 458 |
| Downloads: | 294 |
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