Reenlisting Soldier gets new job, bonus

Courtesy Photo | CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Cpl. Sharon Partlow goes through her daily tasks as a personnel sergeant with HHC, 5th ENG BN. Partlow recently reenlisted while deployed in Iraq to become a aviation operations specialist. She represents hundreds of Soldiers currently taking advantage of reenlistment opportunities and bonuses available to them while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. C. Terrell Turner, MND-B PAO)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.27.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Story and Photo by Spc. C. Terrell Turner
MND-B PAO

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq " As the Soldiers new to Camp Liberty begin to adjust and settle into the "deployed lifestyle," their thoughts often turn to the future.

For Cpl. Sharon Partlow, personnel sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, the future means the loss of one job and the gain of another " with a healthy bonus thrown in for good measure.

Partlow, whose current military occupation specialty is 42L, which is an administrative specialist, said her MOS is being phased out of the Army. The reenlistment provided her an opportunity to switch her career path to a 15P, which is an aviation operations specialist.

She has served in the Army for six years and said the reenlistment, which is her third, will commit her for another six.

Partlow hails from Salinas, Puerto Rico. Her husband and three children are currently living near Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. The 5th Eng. Bn. currently operates under the 16th Engineer Brigade, which is task organized to the 4th Infantry Division.

In her previous six years of service, Partlow has served at Ft. Stewart, Ga. and Camp Casey, South Korea.

Along with a new military occupational specialty, Partlow also received an $18,000 reenlistment bonus. As is the case with her fellow reenlisting Soldiers, the bonus is tax-free.

The incentives result from the Department of the Army's Selective Reenlistment Bonus Program. Soldiers with a separation date during fiscal 2006 are eligible for increased bonuses.

"The bonus addition has helped out tremendously," said Staff Sgt. David Doeden, career counselor, HHC, 5th Eng. Bn. "It added more to the bonuses and the maximum Soldiers can receive. We've had over 20 reenlistments so far and have another dozen or so in the on-deck circle. We had four in Kuwait while waiting to come up here."

Doeden has been putting out the message to Soldiers in his unit during leadership meetings as well as in the dining facilities and company areas.

"At the end of February, about one year out from our availability date, stop loss lifts and we can start getting assignments for Soldiers. That's when the big rush will come," he added.

Prior to making her decision, she said she spoke to her supervisor about her options.

"I've worked with her since June 2005; she's a very good Soldier," said Staff Sgt. Sarrah Price, personnel service NCO, HHC, 5th Eng. Bn. "She's very knowledgeable. She came to me and asked if she should do it. I said she should because with her needing to reclass, it would be the best thing for her so that she could get her slot and dates set for class."

Price said she has faith in Partlow's future as a leader. "She's real squared away. She'll make a good noncommissioned officer."

Partlow said she plans to pay off her bills and also wants 'to go on a nice vacation" when she redeploys back to the states.

• Date Taken: 01.27.2006
• Date Posted: 01.27.2006 09:48
• Story ID: 5227
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ