CAB nets 45 re-enlistments to begin fiscal 07

Courtesy Photo | CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Morgan, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, administers the Oath of Reenlistment to Sgt. Sam Zerangue, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, CAB, during a ceremony Oct. 13 held at the CAB retention office.  

TAJI, IRAQ

10.20.2006

Courtesy Story

1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade

by Sgt. 1st Class Reginald Rogers
CAB PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – After a remarkable year of retaining more than 560 Soldiers while serving in Iraq, the 4th Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade Retention office is at it again.

The CAB Retention team has already reenlisted 45 Soldiers in the first two weeks of fiscal 2007, which began October 1.

According to the brigade's top career counselor, more Soldiers are expected to reenlist as the brigade prepares to redeploy back to Fort Hood in the upcoming weeks.

"Once we leave theater, there are no more tax-free bonuses," explained Sgt. 1st Class Jacynthia Hinton, the CAB's senior career counselor. "Also, once we leave theater, there are limited bonuses for all Soldiers. Here in Iraq, everyone is entitled to a bonus provided they qualify, regardless of MOS, or if they choose to change their MOS or any other option."

Because the bonuses will go away for some Soldiers once the deployment is over, the CAB retention personnel said they are seeing an increase in re-enlistments as Soldiers rush to beat the redeployment clock.

"They are rushing to reenlist because a lot of the MOSs won't offer bonuses when we get back to the states," Williams said. "Here, one of the bonuses they will receive is the deployment bonus. That's money they can leave here with, to go along with all the money they saved during the deployment to Iraq."

He explained that a lot of the brigade's Soldiers are looking for a change in scenery and are opting for assignments to different posts.

"They are looking at other options," Williams said. "The bonus is still a huge incentive, but they're also able to see if they can get another assignment to another duty station or overseas. So in actuality, they're getting an assignment along with the tax-free deployment bonus."

Williams said where Soldiers can be reassigned to depends on their military occupational specialties, but added that Soldiers who have reenlisted are genuinely pleased with their projected locations.

Hinton said she is proud of the effort given by her retention team, which includes retention NCOs from each of the CAB's five battalions and its Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and it is a good way to start a new mission.

"It makes me feel good to know that I have a staff of highly-qualified career counselors and retention NCOs who are concerned about the welfare and the personal needs of the Soldier," Hinton said. "We're trying to make sure the Soldiers are getting the bonuses and all the options they're entitled to. We're also trying to put a dent into the huge mission that we have. They are working towards making the CAB successful – as we were in the past year."

Williams said he urges CAB Soldiers who are thinking about reenlisting to stop by the retention office in Building 127 on Camp Taji for the latest retention information.

• Date Taken: 10.20.2006
• Date Posted: 10.20.2006 13:11
• Story ID: 8101
• Location: TAJI, IQ