Photo By Spc. Jason Dangel | Brig. Gen. Robin Swan, a native of Pittsburgh who serves as the deputy commanding...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Jason Dangel
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, met its fiscal 2008 retention goals as the last four Soldiers needed to put the brigade at 100 percent renewed their commitment to the U.S. Army during a ceremony, Aug. 4, 2008, on Camp Liberty.
Brig. Gen. Robin Swan, a native of Pittsburgh, who serves as the deputy commanding general of MND-B and the 4th Inf. Div., presided over the ceremony and administered the oaths of reenlistment.
"It is a great day when I'm asked to reenlist Soldiers in the Army, and it is an honor for me to be here with you today," he said. "It is an honor for me to be able to administer your oath again and understand the commitment you are all taking on – personally and professionally, for your country, for our Army and for yourselves."
To date, approximately 460 "Iron Eagle" Soldiers have reenlisted to stay Army Strong. The brigade is scheduled to close out this year's reenlistment mission at more than 110 percent, which roughly translates into 485 new reenlistments.
"Now that we have reached our goal, we are beginning to shift our focus over to the new fiscal year," said Staff Sgt. John West, brigade career counselor, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, CAB, who also hails from Pittsburgh.
"I expect that we will have a few more Soldiers who will want to reenlist right now. Most will wait until October with the new bonuses and career options that will become available."
Soldiers have numerous options available to them when they are considering continuing their careers in the Army. When it becomes evident that a Soldier's unit is going to be deployed to combat, tax-free reenlistment bonuses play a significant part in retention negotiations.
"When a Soldier comes into our office, he or she has more than likely already made up their minds whether or not they want to reenlist. It's our job to help push them in the right direction," West said. "Money is always important to a Soldier, and should be, but most of them look at it as a small incentive to what they really want – and that is to move into positions that provide promising futures and continued career enhancement."
One CAB Soldier, who did just that, was Pfc. Tyler Schuler, a helicopter mechanic with 404th Avn. Support Battalion. Schuler, who hails from Sioux Falls, S.D., opted to reenlist purely for a college education incentive, which will allow him to temporarily separate from the Army for six months in order to complete two semesters of college.
His reenlistment package, which included a five-year reenlistment agreement and a bonus of $1,500, will only add eight months to his previous contract length while providing him the opportunity for college classes and a foundation for future career success.
"For the most part, I have enjoyed my Army experience, and I'm trying to take advantage of all the benefits the Army has to offer," Schuler said. "Everyone has their own reason for staying in the Army. For me, it was the opportunity to go back to school."
The final four Soldiers from the 404th Avn. Spt. Bn. who put the CAB at 100 percent were: Spc. David Carolus, petroleum specialist, who hails from Surprise Ariz.; Spc. Kenneth Kiehne, an aircraft structural repairer, from Tucson, Ariz.; Spc. Michael Pittsenbarger, a helicopter mechanic, from Dayton, Texas; and Schuler.
| Date Taken: | 08.04.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.06.2008 09:17 |
| Story ID: | 22176 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 137 |
| Downloads: | 91 |
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