Posted on Oct 28, 2016
Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy here - What questions do you have for me?
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*This Q&A has concluded*
Hello RallyPoint!
I'm really excited to be here and answer some of your questions. Whether you served 3 years or 30 years, veterans are leaders of character, for a lifetime of service. Veterans are civic assets and leaders in communities across America. I'm proud to be a Soldier for Life.
Mr. Patrick Murphy has served as the Under Secretary of the Army since January 2016, assuming duties as acting Secretary until May 2016. As an Army veteran, Mr. Murphy deployed twice - Tuzla, Bosnia in 2002 and Baghdad, Iraq in 2003-04. While serving as a JAG officer in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division, he led a Brigade Operational Law Team (BOLT) and earned a Bronze Star for his service. After leaving the Army he was the first Iraq War veteran elected to congress representing the Eighth Congressional District of Pennsylvania from 2007-2011.
The Under Secretary is excited to discuss his past experiences and his priorities for the Army:
- Promoting the Soldier for Life Program and helping our soldiers successfully transition
- Incorporating Better Business Practices and making the best use of tax dollars by ensuring the Army is run as a successful company in 2016
- Telling the Army Story and connecting with Americans through social media, public affairs and promoting the accomplishments of our soldiers
Note: The Under Secretary of the Army is unable to comment on politics or the upcoming election during this Q&A. Please be respectful of this requirement and keep all comments and responses on topic.
Hello RallyPoint!
I'm really excited to be here and answer some of your questions. Whether you served 3 years or 30 years, veterans are leaders of character, for a lifetime of service. Veterans are civic assets and leaders in communities across America. I'm proud to be a Soldier for Life.
Mr. Patrick Murphy has served as the Under Secretary of the Army since January 2016, assuming duties as acting Secretary until May 2016. As an Army veteran, Mr. Murphy deployed twice - Tuzla, Bosnia in 2002 and Baghdad, Iraq in 2003-04. While serving as a JAG officer in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division, he led a Brigade Operational Law Team (BOLT) and earned a Bronze Star for his service. After leaving the Army he was the first Iraq War veteran elected to congress representing the Eighth Congressional District of Pennsylvania from 2007-2011.
The Under Secretary is excited to discuss his past experiences and his priorities for the Army:
- Promoting the Soldier for Life Program and helping our soldiers successfully transition
- Incorporating Better Business Practices and making the best use of tax dollars by ensuring the Army is run as a successful company in 2016
- Telling the Army Story and connecting with Americans through social media, public affairs and promoting the accomplishments of our soldiers
Note: The Under Secretary of the Army is unable to comment on politics or the upcoming election during this Q&A. Please be respectful of this requirement and keep all comments and responses on topic.
Readiness
Transition
Q&A
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 89
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Sir, how could the DoD every consider retrieving/asking for Soldiers to repay bonuses and payments, made on their behalf, because of a supposed mistake in the system? I've witnessed first hand how the pay of a Soldier is taken completely, "No Pay Due" is what is written on their LES, for a mistake they've made. Where's the support for those families that no have to tell their kids "Mom/Dad didn't get paid so we are going to have to beg/borrow to get groceries until next paycheck." Hopefully another "No Pay Due" doesn't rear its ugly head. Refinance a home to repay a debt they believed to be earned when they voluntarily entered service, just to pay back monies issues in error.....This happens all the time!
Our Soldiers serve at a time with tremendous pressure to be ready at all times....sure, there are units available for an emergency situation, but for the troops arriving to a new duty station and again forced to deploy, what voice do they or their loved ones have who move to a new place and have no friends/family around? I read about the new pilot program "AIMS" designed to put people in the right place at the right time. I am thrilled to see some proactive measures in place. The military will be reactive in some sense I know, but isn't a "wish list" provided and completed by the Soldier so their needs can be met as well? Why ask if the wish list isn't going to be followed? How long does it actually take to implement a program to help Soldiers? months? years? This should be a top priority for DoD.
Lastly, I know your job is difficult and serve at the luxury of all the folks who done the uniform. As a Veteran I can say I left the service because of the dramatic changes being forced upon the ever breaking backs of the strongest volunteers Our Nation has seen. I humbly ask you not to forget where you came from and not to forget the folks you serve.
Respectfully!
JW
Our Soldiers serve at a time with tremendous pressure to be ready at all times....sure, there are units available for an emergency situation, but for the troops arriving to a new duty station and again forced to deploy, what voice do they or their loved ones have who move to a new place and have no friends/family around? I read about the new pilot program "AIMS" designed to put people in the right place at the right time. I am thrilled to see some proactive measures in place. The military will be reactive in some sense I know, but isn't a "wish list" provided and completed by the Soldier so their needs can be met as well? Why ask if the wish list isn't going to be followed? How long does it actually take to implement a program to help Soldiers? months? years? This should be a top priority for DoD.
Lastly, I know your job is difficult and serve at the luxury of all the folks who done the uniform. As a Veteran I can say I left the service because of the dramatic changes being forced upon the ever breaking backs of the strongest volunteers Our Nation has seen. I humbly ask you not to forget where you came from and not to forget the folks you serve.
Respectfully!
JW
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PO2 Geoffrey Bieniek
Why were none of SFC Weatherbie's questions or concerns addressed? Been out there 28 days... crickets.
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SFC Josh Weatherbie
PO2 Geoffrey Bieniek - I didn't think it would get answered in this setting. I find it hard to comprehend how difficult it has been to get anything accomplished under the leadership of this Administration. I'm not surprised one bit about the side stepping of questions. Unless it makes someone look good, NOBODY WILL SAY anything! It's SO time for a CHANGE!
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SSG Walter Corretjer
Why nobody whant's to use the Class B uniform,in these days ?
When I started in the military,a couple years ago, it's equivalent the kaki,was used for : all light duty work,fly traveling on orders,class room training,all military parades,all kind of military graduations,semi formal ceremonies and more important of all,coming back from wars and combat theaters.
Many thanks in advanced,from your time and interest.
When I started in the military,a couple years ago, it's equivalent the kaki,was used for : all light duty work,fly traveling on orders,class room training,all military parades,all kind of military graduations,semi formal ceremonies and more important of all,coming back from wars and combat theaters.
Many thanks in advanced,from your time and interest.
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RP Members and Connections here is a great opportunity to ask some really good questions directed at the Under Secretary of the Army Mr. Patirck Murphy - please pass this along to your connections here on RallyPoint!
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Cpl George Crab
COL Mikel J. Burroughs - OK, Colonel Mikel, I won't be coming in here asking my usual silly questions, this time. You owe me one!
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Sir, I applaud that you are making Soldier for Life one of your major priorities. When I transitioned, it seemed like there was a large percentage of SFL staff that were life long civilians that had no relation to the military other than their current job, or retiree's who's first post military job was the transition program. Neither group seemed equipped to fully translate a transitioning Service Member's experience to a workable civilian world plan. Is there any plan to improve the SFL program by making it into a "Civilian Head Start" program, by either hiring a cadre more focused in successful military to civilian transition or focusing on a stable group of guest speakers and recruiters who fill this focus?
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CPT (Join to see)
Vets2PM.com. I think this group guides people to leverage their military discipline and leadership skills to secure a career.
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CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR
I find that each organisation is very territorial SFL, MFL,, FFSC all do business different and seem like they try to compete against each other by putting on the largest job fairs. i have asked to speak at these transition classes just to provide some feedback of what service members can do better, common reoccuring mistakes that veterans are making at job fairs. But because of the mandatory hours that they have to spend in a class that may not be the best use of the service members time. The response I get is the servicemembers have to be in class for X amount of time.
As a military to civilian expert and recruiter for a fortune 500 company I would speak to service members in general terms and not necessarily for recruitment purposes for my company. Ultimately I want veterans cheeks in the seats and with valuable employment with some company.
This is great feedback.......
As a military to civilian expert and recruiter for a fortune 500 company I would speak to service members in general terms and not necessarily for recruitment purposes for my company. Ultimately I want veterans cheeks in the seats and with valuable employment with some company.
This is great feedback.......
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SFC (Join to see)
It has been my experience studying human behavior and a similar question arose with someone else I know. From infancy we are raised to be independent in the civilian world. Appon entering the military a lot of us find what can be felt as first nature. The military offers structure, unity, each job supporting the other. We have a stronger "Family" bond to those we serve with, then those we grow up with. Being a unit is no different then being a tribe or clan.
When you get out, you are expected to revert back to independent single family living which is only 2nd nature. This a lone can be what causes more PTSD in soldiers then war itself. No matter how intelligent and advanced we like to see ourselves. In the end we are still pack animals. When you find your pack (unit) and are a strong family and then your time of service is up, every soldier is shipped back home to there state of recruitment or last duty station.
I have no solution to offer from my studies, but with this knowledge maybe one can be found.
When you get out, you are expected to revert back to independent single family living which is only 2nd nature. This a lone can be what causes more PTSD in soldiers then war itself. No matter how intelligent and advanced we like to see ourselves. In the end we are still pack animals. When you find your pack (unit) and are a strong family and then your time of service is up, every soldier is shipped back home to there state of recruitment or last duty station.
I have no solution to offer from my studies, but with this knowledge maybe one can be found.
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