Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | After re-enlisting, Cleveland, Ohio, native Staff Sgt. Michael McDonald, center, the...... read more read more
Subscribe
by Spc. Nathan Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – They say that there are two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. Well, that isn't so true for Soldiers of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade "Warriors," 1st Cavalry Division.
Two battalions in the Warrior Brigade have given out over a million dollars in re-enlistment bonuses, tax free, but that isn't the only reason Soldiers are standing up to take the oath.
It's not all about the Benjamin's
The 2nd "Lobo" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st ACB, has pushed up over the $1 million mark, and it has been a pleasure to do so, according to Sgt. Stanley Hopkins, the retention non-commissioned officer for the Lobos.
"There's no better way to gauge having had a successful re-enlistment as to get a Soldier the exact assignment they want as well as a juicy bonus," he said.
Reaching this benchmark was not an easy task because of all the political issues taking place back in the United States, but nevertheless it came to pass with the help of numerous Soldiers opting to continue to serve their country, said Hopkins.
"It was a challenge; I won't lie. Due to the extension of the deployments and the uncertainty of when we're going home, all of those made it difficult. But ultimately Soldiers who want to serve will serve," he said.
Although Hopkins has been gladly working to get bonuses for the deserving troopers, he makes it a point to say that the money is not the primary reason they're signing on for another term.
"A bonus is not the reason to re-enlist. That's an incentive. You re-enlist because of the obligation you feel to defend your country," Hopkins said.
Hopkins also believes that these Soldiers who re-enlist are what make the country so great.
"If Soldiers don't stand and defend, America can't stand and deliver," he said.
Many Soldiers are getting large bonuses to stay in. Still, Hopkins thinks that the amount should not be an issue to today's troopers because of those who have served before them.
"Some Soldiers are given a bonus to stay and serve, some Soldiers have served and paid with their life or limb," he said. "Beyond that, anyone serving after them should consider any amount suitable to ... have been a brother in arms to any of those who have lost life or limb in service to their country."
Cold Steel gets Soldiers; cold hard cash
For the 615th "Cold Steel" Aviation Support Battalion, 1st ACB, hitting the $1 million mark in re-enlistment bonuses came and went; now they are well past the $2 million mark.
Cleveland, Ohio, native Staff Sgt. Michael MacDonald, the retention NCO for Cold Steel, enjoys the prospect of handing out a bonus, but realizes that the Soldiers are re-enlisting for reasons other than money.
"The bonus program itself is ultimately just that – a bonus program. Soldiers who want to stay in the military – they generally like what they do. In the big picture a bonus is nothing more than an added perk," he said.
"Ultimately, a Soldier who does not want to re-enlist will not re-enlist regardless of how much money you give him or her," said MacDonald.
On top of the numerous bonuses he's handing out, MacDonald is also glad to be offering other incentives to reward those troopers who choose to stay "Army Strong."
"I get two types of Soldiers. I get a Soldier who wants to re-enlist yesterday. They love it, they love their job – they love what they're doing," he said.
"Then I have the opposite Soldier who likes being in the Army, but there is something getting in the way of them making that solid decision," said MacDonald.
For those Soldiers, MacDonald offers schools, stabilization at their current stateside assignment, the option to relocate, the option to be stationed overseas and even the option to go to school for a semester – a strictly 1st Cav. Div. option, he said.
MacDonald, who isn't a run-of-the-mill "bank teller," likes handing out cash to his Soldiers. Even though his battalion has hit such a high mark, he doesn't foresee an end before redeployment, he said.
"My projection is that 30 days before we start sending people home is when the floodgates will reopen up for Soldiers knocking on my door," he said. "From my prior experience, that's what happens every time."
Aside from helping Soldiers re-enlist, MacDonald prides himself in taking care of Soldiers whether or not they are staying in or pursuing lives outside the military, he said.
"For the Soldiers who are getting out of the military, they still need to check in with their retention NCO. They can help with the (Army Career and Alumni Program) and veteran affairs opportunities," he said.
Although both of these battalions reached bonuses in the millions of dollars, the seemingly common thread that runs through both is that the Soldiers are re-enlisting for a greater reason than just money.
Money aside, the Warrior brigade is keeping Soldiers in the Army who want to be there, said MacDonald.
| Date Taken: | 08.23.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2007 16:17 |
| Story ID: | 11952 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 122 |
This work, Like it grows on trees Aviation battalions give out more than $1 million, by SGM Nathan Hoskins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
