Twelve-year veteran takes advantage of BEAR Program, re-enlists indefinitely

Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Larry Ashley, a military intelligence specialist with 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade) is congratulated by Capt. Rita Speight, 1BST Battalion adjutant, after re-enlisting indefinitely during a ceremony at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, Oct. 12. The 12-year veteran infantry and artilleryman volunteered to finish a 20-year career in military intelligence.  

RAMADI, IRAQ

11.03.2009

Courtesy Story

1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq — A 12-year veteran infantry and artilleryman raised his right hand and re-enlisted indefinitely in a war-zone ceremony, Oct. 12, to pursue his newest challenge: military intelligence.

Staff Sgt. Larry Ashley, now a military intelligence specialist with 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade) volunteered to finish a 20-year career in military intelligence.

Ashley previously re-enlisted under the Bonus Extension and Retraining Program to reclassify into the field of human intelligence collection. The re-enlistment will allow him to stay in that job for the next eight years.

"Going [military intelligence] is a more useful job and makes me more marketable for life after the military than as a Patriot missile crew member," said Ashley.

Ashley has planned on making the Army a career since he was a teenager. He was attracted to the career opportunities, medical benefits and education the Army provides. He plans on using the military's tuition assistance program toward a degree in radiology, he said.

Ashley has served as an infantryman and as a Patriot missile crew member. He currently works as 1st Brigade's military intelligence team non-commissioned officer-in-charge.

His platoon leader, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Jensen, said Ashley quickly learned how his new occupational specialty supports the brigade's overall mission. He also believes Ashley's skills from his previous jobs will be invaluable to his platoon.

"Staff Sgt. Ashley brings a different outlook to the team," said Jensen. "The young soldiers can pick up the tactical knowledge from his experiences, which makes our team stronger as a whole."

The BEAR Program helps soldiers continue serving in the Army while giving them a chance to go through reclassification training into critical shortage jobs. Soldiers may also be eligible to receive a re-enlistment bonus, according to the Army's re-enlistment website.

Ashley is currently serving his first deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• Date Taken: 11.03.2009
• Date Posted: 11.03.2009 03:31
• Story ID: 40988
• Location: RAMADI, IQ