Honoring unsung heroes of Army Families
Last month the Well-Being Liaison Office shared the story of how one Army spouse saw the need to help parents of Soldiers better understand Army life and the ins and outs of deployments and took it upon herself to write a guide for parents — "Your Soldier, Your Army: A Parents' Guide."
Throughout this year, we will periodically bring you stories of individuals and groups who are selflessly doing great things to ensure that our Soldiers and families are always taken care of. I think that it is important for us to take time and recognize those around us who give of themselves for Army Families. Additionally, if you know of a group or an individual who goes above and beyond to support our Soldiers and families, please feel free to let us know via e-mail to
ArmyFamily.Link@hqda.army.mil with the subject line "Honoring unsung heroes of Army Families."
This month I'd like to let you all know about a group of individuals with a solemn mission who stand ready to support Army Families in their darkest hours. This group of dedicated volunteers works at what is considered to be the most sacred piece of land throughout the Army, and are often referred to as angels; a firm shoulder to lean on, or even cry on; pillars of strength in time of sorrow; and many other ... however the members of this group refer to themselves as The Arlington Ladies.
There are a number of Arlington Ladies who represent the Army, Navy or Air Force at Arlington National Cemetery funerals. In general, each of these volunteers works one day a month, and none of them can really say how many funerals they have attended. However in 2000 it was estimated that each Arlington Lady attends between six and eight funerals a day.
"It's so beautiful, so elegant, so perfect," said former Army Arlington Ladies chairman, Nancy Schado. "There is so much history and beauty around you — in that cemetery — it takes the sadness away."
However the mission in which these volunteers have so dutifully taken up often times leaves them misty-eyed. Often times the volunteers know little about the deceased, on occasion they may glean a little about the Soldier from the Chaplain conducting the service.
The Army Arlington Ladies make sure that no Soldier — regardless of rank — is ever buried alone. They attend every Soldier's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Rain or shine, snow or sweltering heat — they are always there.
The Army Arlington Ladies are at the cemetery's gravesites to extend personal condolences from the Army Chief of Staff, his wife and the Army Family at a time when family members and mourners need uplifting, sympathy and encouragement. And in some rare cases, an Arlington Lady is the sole representative at a Soldier's funeral.
Last September the Army Arlington Ladies were selected to receive the Association of the United States Army's Gen. Creighton W. Abrams Medal, because of their exceptional service to the U.S. Army, Soldiers and their families. "With their tireless efforts and unparallel devotion to our fallen Soldiers and their families, the group personifies 'selfless service' — an Army value that is embodied in the care and love they give those who have answered 'the call to duty'," the Abram's Medal citation read.
It is comforting to know that this group of dedicated volunteers stands ready to offer comfort to Army Families in their time of need.
Military bases begin cell phone restrictions for drivers
Defense Department installations have begun implementing new cell phone restrictions for drivers on military bases.
The new regulation, published in the Federal Register in April 2005, states that anyone driving a motor vehicle on a DoD installation cannot use a cell phone unless the vehicle is safely parked or the driver is using a hands-free device.
Many installations have already implemented the new restrictions, and the rest will implement the rules on their own schedule, said John Seibert, DoD assistant for safety, health and fire protection. There is no deadline for installations to implement the restrictions, but Seibert expects most will do so this year.
"We have not issued an implementation schedule," he said. "But it's definitely getting everyone's attention."
The law enforcement policy offices for each military department are putting together policies and procedures for the implementation and enforcement of the restrictions, Seibert said. He explained that this regulation is a minimum requirement, and installation commanders still have the authority to put stricter rules in place. Each installation will determine the punishment for violation of the rules.
As installations implement the restrictions, they have a responsibility to notify the public by putting up signs or putting notices in base newspapers, Seibert said. Many installations are allowing a grace period in which motorists violating the rule will be warned and not ticketed.
This regulation was developed based on information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which studied driving distractions as the cause of motor vehicle accidents, Seibert said. The study found that cell phone use is the fastest growing and most visible distraction that leads to accidents.
The DoD regulation follows suit with regulations already imposed by many states and cities. Currently only Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia ban hand-held cell phones for drivers, but many cities have imposed their own rules, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
"We are in front of the majority, but we certainly are not the first ones to do this," Seibert said.
This cell phone regulation will increase traffic safety on installations, Seibert said, but more importantly, it will encourage safe driving habits.
"Our intent is that this will drive an increased attention to the importance of safe driving and that we'll see a change in driving behavior, both on military installations and off," he said.
Web 'phishers' bait unwary users
Thieves may be phishing for your personal information. If you're not vigilant, you could become one of more than 2.3 billion people who fell victim to this growing trend on the Internet last year.
Users of Army Knowledge Online are just as susceptible to phishing scams and should take precautions to protect their information and identity just as members of other Web portals such as America Online and Yahoo, said AKO chief of operations, Lt. Col. Kenneth Blakely.
"Phishing is an attempt by someone to capture your credentials, your user ID and password, so they can impersonate you on the Web," Blakely said. "This has become one of the easiest ways for them [phishers] to get access to resources they shouldn't have access to."
The newest trigger being used to steal your information takes the form of an official-looking e-mail asking the recipient to update his/her account or billing information.
Blakely said the biggest phishing threat for the Army is when a user is linked to a site that is similar to AKO, but is a replica. Because users are familiar with the site, they would proceed without caution and enter their information.
"When you go to log in, they have captured your information," Blakely said. "Phishing is much easier for them than trying to crack into it [AKO] with hacking tools."
How can you protect yourself from being phished out of the pond? Blakely said people should be careful about who is authorized to view their information on AKO.
"It is critical that AKO users take the time to configure their AKO accounts so their data is only presented to the people it should be presented to," he said.
It is important that all users look at the location bar when logging into their accounts. The secure version of the Web site is
https://www.us.army.mil, anything else is not a true AKO address.
Blakely said AKO administrators are working to protect user's information.
"Our best line of defense is updating the system so a user can login with a CAC [common access card] and will only be able to change a password or open a guest account using a CAC," he said.
The times they are a changing, but with change needs to come awareness and alertness.
"AKO, while it is a great tool for the Army, it is not unique in the Web world," said Blakely. "We do represent the U.S. Army. We get attention on the Web that others don't get. We need to keep that in mind."
2006 defense budget increases military pay, benefits
President Bush ushered in an across-the-board 3.1 percent military pay raise, effective Jan. 1, and a variety of other new or enhanced benefits for servicemembers and their families when he signed the 2006 National Defense Authorization Bill into law Jan. 6.
In addition to a pay raise that's a half percent higher than the average private-sector increase, the new budget provides about 20 new or increased bonuses or special pays or benefits, reflecting a trend DoD officials emphasize is becoming increasingly rare in the private sector.
The new law provides a variety of benefits designed to better compensate servicemembers, improve their Well-Being and quality of life, bring reserve-component benefits more on par with those for the active force and promote recruiting and retention, said Chuck Witschonke, DoD's deputy director for compensation.
"Not only does it contain the routine annual pay raise, which is one-half percent higher than the raise measured in the private sector, but it also includes a number of increases in ceilings on some very important pays," he said.
Among the law's most significant features are:
An increase in the maximum reenlistment bonus offered, from $60,000 to 90,000;
A higher maximum enlistment bonus, up from $20,000 to $40,000;
A new ceiling on hardship-duty pay, from $300 to $750 a month;
A doubling of the maximum assignment incentive pay for hard-to-fill billets or assignments, from $1,500 to $3,000 a month, now payable either in a lump sum or installments;
A new allowance to cover the first $150,000 in Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance premiums for troops serving in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom;
A new bonus of up to $2,500 for servicemembers who agree to transfer from one service to another and serve for at least three years;
An incentive pay of up to $1,000 for servicemembers who refer someone who enlists in the Army and successfully completes basic training;
