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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I do have a question. Two, actually. First, is the wearing of the "Ruptured Duck" limited to WW II veterans, or may all veterans wear the medal? Second, are there any restrictions on wearing the (not retired) "Soldier for Life" lapel pin? Thank you. Bob, USA 1975-79, INSCOM.
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Sir,
Thank you for taking your time to share with us our concerns and issues that our Soldiers are going through with their families. The Army have a big responsibility to protect our Nation from foreign and domestic with our all-volunteer Army. Because of the major cuts due to the sequester that's currently on going, will there be any relief in the future for our Soldiers. Also, I'm concerned about our National Guard and their recoupment of their enlisted bonuses that they were given to them faithfully because they wanted to continue to serve our Nation in these times of need. Why now, I truly believe that if a mistake was made by our Government then it's their fault not the Soldiers fault. Why, our Soldiers faithful took an oath of confidence and swore to protect and defend our Nation at all costs, foreign or domestic. How can we now renege with our military after what they all have gone through for the last 15 years. I can't famtom our Nation and it's people asking our National Guard for their enlisted bonuses while it wasn't their mistake in the first place. How would our Senior and Flag Officers feel if they were promoted with confidence and faithfulness then Congress told DOD that they made a mistake of promoting some of them and they reneged on their promises to some of these Senior and Flag Officers?
Sir, I want to thank you again for your time and your professional services to our men and women who served their Country and their Army proudly.
Semper Fidelis,
Gunner Kaupe
Thank you for taking your time to share with us our concerns and issues that our Soldiers are going through with their families. The Army have a big responsibility to protect our Nation from foreign and domestic with our all-volunteer Army. Because of the major cuts due to the sequester that's currently on going, will there be any relief in the future for our Soldiers. Also, I'm concerned about our National Guard and their recoupment of their enlisted bonuses that they were given to them faithfully because they wanted to continue to serve our Nation in these times of need. Why now, I truly believe that if a mistake was made by our Government then it's their fault not the Soldiers fault. Why, our Soldiers faithful took an oath of confidence and swore to protect and defend our Nation at all costs, foreign or domestic. How can we now renege with our military after what they all have gone through for the last 15 years. I can't famtom our Nation and it's people asking our National Guard for their enlisted bonuses while it wasn't their mistake in the first place. How would our Senior and Flag Officers feel if they were promoted with confidence and faithfulness then Congress told DOD that they made a mistake of promoting some of them and they reneged on their promises to some of these Senior and Flag Officers?
Sir, I want to thank you again for your time and your professional services to our men and women who served their Country and their Army proudly.
Semper Fidelis,
Gunner Kaupe
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In the light of the mockery Hillary has done to the area of classified information security, have all US army personnel been reschooled on proper security procedures?
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Mr. Patrick Murphy I would like to say welcome aboard. I served for 16.5 years and I was short of Retirement and Wish I could have stayed. I Sent a Letter to the QMP Board and I asked to be able to Finish my 3.5 Years or Give me My retirement and they said No. My last assignment was in Germany and I took a Motor pool with a 60% before I took over and I received the highest in the division with a 98%. I wish there was away that I could Get my dreams back and be able to retire.
thanks Again
SSG Mark A Franzen
US Army
Veteran
thanks Again
SSG Mark A Franzen
US Army
Veteran
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Hello Sir, thank you for the opportunity. Recently I was given an excellent opportunity. I got a contracting job within the Department of State Logistics Management team in AQM. It was administrative work and very easy, but I gave my best and received accolades from my supervisors. Although being a widow and single mom with a home still in Georgia I got homesick. Working in Rosslyn, mainly the commute is no fun. But I didn't want to leave them hanging after giving me a great opportunity so I finished the fiscal year and October.
What I'm saying is many veterans are being the recipients of a lot of great opportunities. There are still some that fall through the cracks, but many times those choose their lifestyle for whatever reasons.
As for the active army, I disagree with the whole integration of females in combat arms. They were just fine doing military police and combat medics. No change is needed. I attended Fort Sill for basic training and females just caused head aches, as well as the males receiving lax training.
In regards to the NG spectacle with payback of loans. It is generally the recruiters fault. The soldiers should have or may have known the regulations, but ask yourself would it have mattered? For last years taxes I didn't think the tax consultant was doing it correctly when I was given a much bigger refund. But they reasoned they were correct. All I could do was pay for the Peace of Mind so I don't get audited.
What I'm saying is many veterans are being the recipients of a lot of great opportunities. There are still some that fall through the cracks, but many times those choose their lifestyle for whatever reasons.
As for the active army, I disagree with the whole integration of females in combat arms. They were just fine doing military police and combat medics. No change is needed. I attended Fort Sill for basic training and females just caused head aches, as well as the males receiving lax training.
In regards to the NG spectacle with payback of loans. It is generally the recruiters fault. The soldiers should have or may have known the regulations, but ask yourself would it have mattered? For last years taxes I didn't think the tax consultant was doing it correctly when I was given a much bigger refund. But they reasoned they were correct. All I could do was pay for the Peace of Mind so I don't get audited.
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Thank you for your time sir:
i would like to know how much of the soldier's time is spent on sensitivity training?
Is this ON DUTY sir?
i would like to know how much of the soldier's time is spent on sensitivity training?
Is this ON DUTY sir?
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Sir,
What can the Army do to help streamline our accomplishments as Veterans in a way that we may then share it with potential employers?
What can the Army do to help streamline our accomplishments as Veterans in a way that we may then share it with potential employers?
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Sir, as you know, it's critically important for the Army to tell its story to the American people, both to show how the Army is prepared to fight and win its nation's wars and to educate and inform them as potential recruits. In the face of this requirement, why does the Army continue to reduce its public affairs capability in salami-slice increments to the point where we cannot keep up with demand to provide the imagery that tells the story to America?
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Honorable Mr. Murphy,
I work in acquisition, which is a field where prior service experience pays huge dividends. Small decisions made poorly can easily cost millions over the life cycle of a program. We need people who have field experience in all commodities (ground vehicles, aviation, artillery,etc) who assess into acquisition programs procuring materiel relating to or directly procuring those commodities they have experience in. The problem we have is that we need that experience on the front end early in the life cycle when an engineering solution is developed, and we don't have enough field experience there. Serving as a DoD Civilian after the military is a great way to embody the Soldier for Life concept. Why can't we re-align the GI Bill or similar benefit for anyone who aspires to leave the service, go to school to be an engineer, and have a career track to assess that individual into acquisition to infuse all of that experience into programs early? The dividends would simply too vast to comprehend. The GI Bill benefit wouldn't even have to be changed, the soldier would just use that benefit in concert with a pathway to a career in acquisition. There would be battalions of retired , or separated service members competing to get into a program that guaranteed a job once completing the program. The intern program aims to accomplish this, but doesn't focus/pair the commodity experience directly where it's needed in the engineering phase.
I work in acquisition, which is a field where prior service experience pays huge dividends. Small decisions made poorly can easily cost millions over the life cycle of a program. We need people who have field experience in all commodities (ground vehicles, aviation, artillery,etc) who assess into acquisition programs procuring materiel relating to or directly procuring those commodities they have experience in. The problem we have is that we need that experience on the front end early in the life cycle when an engineering solution is developed, and we don't have enough field experience there. Serving as a DoD Civilian after the military is a great way to embody the Soldier for Life concept. Why can't we re-align the GI Bill or similar benefit for anyone who aspires to leave the service, go to school to be an engineer, and have a career track to assess that individual into acquisition to infuse all of that experience into programs early? The dividends would simply too vast to comprehend. The GI Bill benefit wouldn't even have to be changed, the soldier would just use that benefit in concert with a pathway to a career in acquisition. There would be battalions of retired , or separated service members competing to get into a program that guaranteed a job once completing the program. The intern program aims to accomplish this, but doesn't focus/pair the commodity experience directly where it's needed in the engineering phase.
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Question: to be honest sir, what does it take to have your job? Don't mean to be blunt, just curious how or where to apply for your position, what credentials would someone need or degree(s), background?
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