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 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 89
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Sir; What will be done to improve the promotion policy and standards for enlisted soldiers? Will the Army bring back the SQT (Skill Qualification Test)? I have seen too many individuals get promoted simply because they can pass APFT, qualify with weapon (barely), and have gone to WLC/SLC/ALC and passed the tests that they were given less then 24 hours after being taught the information. We have too many NCO's at all levels who have been promoted too quickly and simply do not know their job.
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Will Army regulations ever get simplified ? and Will AGR program ever get better ? especially for those on their first tour ?
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Honorable Patrick Murphy, Sir,
What ISIS challenges do you see in the US? What resources may be employed, i.e., Federal, Civil and/or other? Thank you for your service and time Sir.
Godspeed!
VR
Lt Col Tom "Screamin" Freeman, USAF
What ISIS challenges do you see in the US? What resources may be employed, i.e., Federal, Civil and/or other? Thank you for your service and time Sir.
Godspeed!
VR
Lt Col Tom "Screamin" Freeman, USAF
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CPT Patrick Murphy
Lt Col Tom Freeman Yo Screaming, as you know, our most solemn duty in the military is to protect our families here at home. So it takes a team effort, or what we refer to as the 'Whole of Government' - so that includes DOD, DHS, State, Congress, etc to take the fight to ISIS and not to rest to we bring those who try to harm us to justice.
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CPT Patrick Murphy
PS When I saw Screamin, I thought you were a 101st Soldier (I'm a grad of Air Assault School), but thank you for your service, my brother is an Air Force officer doing Search and Rescue down at Tyndall AFB. Air Force will lose this weekend up at West Point in hockey AND football. Lt Col Tom Freeman
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Hello, Mr. Secretary, I am an Observer-Controller/Trainer for the Army Reserve temporarily working for the 5th Army.
After marrying a Canadian during my leave while volunteering for OIF 3/4 with the IDARNG, I moved to Edmonton, Alberta Canada and I am now employed by a US-based Courier for over a Decade. I joined a California-based USAR Civil Affairs BN and I deployed to Afghanistan from Canada in 2008. I have been mobilized 3 times and I am 10% service-connected disabled from injuries received during my last deployment.
Until recently, I have been paying my own way to and from my Army Reserve drills in California. I live in Edmonton, Alberta which is 1600 miles away from my home unit, 1 BDE, Pacific Division, 84th Training Command, USAR. I am also 10 minutes away from Canadian Forces Base Namao Infantry Regiment in Edmonton and 100 miles away from my Canadian Forces Base at Camp Wainwright.
I volunteered to be an Observer-Controller/Trainer for the USAR(Fifth Army Engagement Cell out Fort Sam Houston) chosen for Operation Maple Resolve 2018. I was a facilitator for 14 other Army Reserve OC/Ts that just finished evaluating our client units. I was finishing up some work at Maple Resolve 2018 and I had a chance to talk to some Officers of 4th BDE, 25th ID out of Alaska. I asked one of the Officers if the unit is doing well now that Sequestration has finished. What he said shocked me. This officer said that his unit vehicle operational rate was normally 70% and it was only 90% for this exercise. He was concerned that it would fall in readiness again due to lack of spare parts. He also stated that his Cohort of Officers was reduced in force by 1/3 in 2015. He also lamented the active Army would take over 10 years to recover from this. He was candid that he has been not been able to take leave in the last two years because of an officer shortage. I very seldom ever have the chance to talk to the active duty and I felt that this was a shock considering that this unit is supposed to be the one Airborne Brigade in Alaska that's supposed to be squared away. What are you going to do about this? AC officers that are getting forced out unless they have Top-block Evaluation reports and/or forced out if they only get below a 240 on their APFT. Officers sometimes are not getting their leave because they are dual-hatted. He made it sound like this was the National Guard that I was accustomed to seeing in my past that had lower readiness percentage rates. I am not sure if people are reporting to your level what the readiness level may actually be. I was very surprised at the morale level did not seem that high but I would expect in a squared away 25th Infantry Division Brigade.
Secretary, How are you going to fix this because it doesn't look like we are in a level of readiness any better than the sequestration days? I am temporarily working for the Fifth Army and I'm going to be putting together internal and external after-action reviews and final report on this latest Canadian-American exercise.
During this exercise, I was very proud to be invited(by the Canadian Forces) as one of 3 American Officers to participate in their nightly OC/T Staff/Synch meeting. I had the opportunity to also meet with the G 3/5/7 of the Chief of the Army Reserve Office.
SSG Carlos Madden CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas LTC Stephen F. LTC Stephen C. COL (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) LT Brad McInnis PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth 1LT Sandy Annala SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SGT (Join to see) CPT Aaron Kletzing SFC (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski CPT Pedro Meza MAJ (Join to see) SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint CW5 Jack Cardwell CPT Patrick Murphy
After marrying a Canadian during my leave while volunteering for OIF 3/4 with the IDARNG, I moved to Edmonton, Alberta Canada and I am now employed by a US-based Courier for over a Decade. I joined a California-based USAR Civil Affairs BN and I deployed to Afghanistan from Canada in 2008. I have been mobilized 3 times and I am 10% service-connected disabled from injuries received during my last deployment.
Until recently, I have been paying my own way to and from my Army Reserve drills in California. I live in Edmonton, Alberta which is 1600 miles away from my home unit, 1 BDE, Pacific Division, 84th Training Command, USAR. I am also 10 minutes away from Canadian Forces Base Namao Infantry Regiment in Edmonton and 100 miles away from my Canadian Forces Base at Camp Wainwright.
I volunteered to be an Observer-Controller/Trainer for the USAR(Fifth Army Engagement Cell out Fort Sam Houston) chosen for Operation Maple Resolve 2018. I was a facilitator for 14 other Army Reserve OC/Ts that just finished evaluating our client units. I was finishing up some work at Maple Resolve 2018 and I had a chance to talk to some Officers of 4th BDE, 25th ID out of Alaska. I asked one of the Officers if the unit is doing well now that Sequestration has finished. What he said shocked me. This officer said that his unit vehicle operational rate was normally 70% and it was only 90% for this exercise. He was concerned that it would fall in readiness again due to lack of spare parts. He also stated that his Cohort of Officers was reduced in force by 1/3 in 2015. He also lamented the active Army would take over 10 years to recover from this. He was candid that he has been not been able to take leave in the last two years because of an officer shortage. I very seldom ever have the chance to talk to the active duty and I felt that this was a shock considering that this unit is supposed to be the one Airborne Brigade in Alaska that's supposed to be squared away. What are you going to do about this? AC officers that are getting forced out unless they have Top-block Evaluation reports and/or forced out if they only get below a 240 on their APFT. Officers sometimes are not getting their leave because they are dual-hatted. He made it sound like this was the National Guard that I was accustomed to seeing in my past that had lower readiness percentage rates. I am not sure if people are reporting to your level what the readiness level may actually be. I was very surprised at the morale level did not seem that high but I would expect in a squared away 25th Infantry Division Brigade.
Secretary, How are you going to fix this because it doesn't look like we are in a level of readiness any better than the sequestration days? I am temporarily working for the Fifth Army and I'm going to be putting together internal and external after-action reviews and final report on this latest Canadian-American exercise.
During this exercise, I was very proud to be invited(by the Canadian Forces) as one of 3 American Officers to participate in their nightly OC/T Staff/Synch meeting. I had the opportunity to also meet with the G 3/5/7 of the Chief of the Army Reserve Office.
SSG Carlos Madden CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas LTC Stephen F. LTC Stephen C. COL (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) LT Brad McInnis PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth 1LT Sandy Annala SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SGT (Join to see) CPT Aaron Kletzing SFC (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski CPT Pedro Meza MAJ (Join to see) SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint CW5 Jack Cardwell CPT Patrick Murphy
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Suspended Profile
If the Army as an organization wants to retain and support its best people, why is it so difficult for Soldiers to pursue the opportunities that they want - specifically by more easily transitioning between the three components. Currently, if a National Guard officer wants to work for the military full-time, they have to wait for a technician or AGR position to open up. Transitioning to AD for the vast majority of branches is not an option. I realize there is probably an endless amount of red tape and issues for HRC, but why not allow these officers to apply for AD positions? The AD component would only be expanding its reach into a greater pool of talent and experience, as well as increasing retention and ensuring the highest quality of officers in its ranks by increasing competition.
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CPT Patrick Murphy
No question(s) Sir... just a statement.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate a Senior Army Leader that is not afraid of social media... and uses it... and the transparency it provides.
As a senior DA Civilian (GS14) I continually witness folks that are simply scared to "take a freaking step out" to the "wild side" and give it a go.
Keep up the tweets in telling the awesome Army story... and BBP... as we really need some of those.
Best regards
Cam
No question(s) Sir... just a statement.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate a Senior Army Leader that is not afraid of social media... and uses it... and the transparency it provides.
As a senior DA Civilian (GS14) I continually witness folks that are simply scared to "take a freaking step out" to the "wild side" and give it a go.
Keep up the tweets in telling the awesome Army story... and BBP... as we really need some of those.
Best regards
Cam
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SSG Carlos Madden
I have a question about this: CPT Patrick Murphy, given that the Millennial generation is the future of our force, is it important for our existing Army leaders to utilize social media to connect with their soldiers? What kind of push back have you gotten from older generations who may not value social media the same way, and what do you tell them?
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Question: What is being done to review BCD for upgrades. Last count there were 6,000 plus. Since 2014 only 75 had been reviewed.
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As an employee at a JROTC private Hugh School and fill in instructor for the JROTC department. why is it we cannot get the items needed for training. Everything from uniforms items to air rifles are in short supply not to mention weapons for drill teams and transportation to events. The same with the AC. Budgetary constraints play a major role but during the first gulf war, there was so much waste it could have funded a major component if the waste was eliminated.
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1. Why does the Army seem to close the door on a soldier when they ETS?
2. Why does MEPS make it so difficult for prior service personnel to come back to the service. I am in the process of trying to come back into the reserves and I am approaching the one year mark.
2. Why does MEPS make it so difficult for prior service personnel to come back to the service. I am in the process of trying to come back into the reserves and I am approaching the one year mark.
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