Page 5 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, July 2022

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High Desert Warrior 5 July 2022
News
aEr awards military children more than $4.6 million in scholarships for 2022-2023 academic year
Army Emergency Relief — the U.S. Army’s only nonprofit — is proud to announce the recipients of the Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship Program for Military Children for the Fall 2022 semester of the 2022-2023 academic year.
AER awarded more than $4.6 million to 2,009 students pursuing their first undergraduate degrees.
All recipients are eligible for an additional scholarship for the Spring 2023 semester, which will be distributed in late November.
One of those recipients, Cameron Woodard, will be a fresh- man at Wichita State University in the fall, and is set to major in dental hygiene. He plans to eventually earn a doctorate in dental surgery.
“By awarding me the Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden, which allows me to
focus more on the most important aspect of school: learning,” Woodard wrote in a letter to AER. “Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.”
AER loves seeing students reach their goals of achieving col- lege degrees, Tammy LaCroix, AER’s Chief of Scholarships, said. Scholarship amounts vary each year, and are based on the need of each applicant, applicants’ Expected Family Contribu- tions as per the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and
the average cost to attend college in the United States.
The next application cycle begins Jan. 1, 2023, and goes through April 1, 2023. Children of Soldiers pursuing an under- graduate degree who meet eligibility criteria may receive assis- tance for up to four academic years but must reapply each year.
“We encourage every U.S. Army Family who has a child interested in attending college to apply for the Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship Program,” retired Lt. Gen. Raymond Ma- son, AER Director, said. “We are well aware of the high costs of attending a college or university these days, and that should not be a barrier for any Army child who wishes to continue their educations.”
The scholarship program was named in honor of Ursano, who retired from active duty on July 1, 1976, after 33 years of active service. His final assignment was as the Director of Management for the Army’s Chief of Staff.
Ursano served as AER’s director from 1976 to 1986.
For more information on AER’s scholarship programs, including the application process, go to www.AERHQ.org/ scholarships.
the fingers are closed.
Previously, recruits who had tattoos in these
areas had to file waiver exceptions and some- times had to wait weeks before they could be processed into service.
“We always review policy to keep the Army as an open option to as many people as possible who want to serve,” said Maj. Gen. Doug Stitt, Director of Military Personnel Management. “This directive makes sense for currently serving Soldiers and allows a greater number of talented individuals the opportunity to serve now.”
The Army will continue to prohibit tattoos on a Soldier’s face and the body art will con- tinue to be allowed on a Soldier’s arms and legs as long as they do not become visible above a Soldier’s collar. Soldiers may not cover up tat- toos with bandages or wrappings to comply with the regulation.
Sgt. Maj. Ashleigh Sykes, uniform policy sergeant major, said that a Soldier may choose to get tattoos for a wide range of reasons. Some
see tattoos as form of creativity while others can get tattoos for religious reasons.
“Everyone has a different reason for getting a tattoo,” said Sykes who has tattoos herself. “Some see it as art, some see it as individual- ity, and some may even have cultural tattoos. Tattoos are more [accepted] now; it’s a change in society.”
Through May, Army recruiters have filed more than 650 waivers in 2022 for active duty and reserve recruits said David Andrews, Army Training and Doctrine Command enlisted chief.
Andrews said that tattoos have grown in popularity among younger people. According to research by TRADOC, 41% of 18 to 34 year olds have at least one or more tattoos. The Army originally began allowing Soldiers to have tattoos in 2015, granting more freedom for individual expression.
Sykes added that the waivers, which can take up to 14 days, impacts the recruiting process because potential recruits who previously had tattoos in restricted areas could have decided to
enlist in another military branch. He said that the Navy and the Marines have less restrictive tattoo policies.
Army Recruiting Command and TRA- DOC recommended the changes to Army senior leaders.
“Some may change their mind or go to a different service,” Sykes said. “[Or] they just didn’t want to wait anymore.”
According to the directive, tattoo designs must not contain any offensive, extremist or hateful words or images. Company commanders perform annual inspections of tattoos so that the tattoos remain within Army regulations.
Soldiers who have tattoos that do not meet the service’s restrictions will be counseled. They will then have 15 days to explain to command- ers whether they will have the tattoos removed or altered. Soldiers who do not comply could potentially face separation.
While facial tattoos remain prohibited, Sykes said that some Soldiers may file for an exception if they would like to receive a facial tattoo for
From TaTToo, Page 1 religious reasons. Previously, the service only
allowed ring tattoos on hands.
“[The directive] gives us the opportunity to
put people in [the Army] right away that have these types of tattoos,” Andrews said. “We don’t want people walking away from opportunities in the Army who are otherwise qualified.”
The Army relaxed restrictions on tattoos in 2015 when the service updated Army Regula- tion 670-1 to remove limits on the number of tattoos Soldiers could have on legs and arms. Andrews said the limits on tattoos impacted the Army’s ability to recruit top talent.
Several Soldiers have stated that the change allowed them to join the Army including Army Ranger, Staff Sgt. Matthew Hagensick a Madi- son, Wisconsin native who sports many tattoos on his arms.
Hagensick enlisted in the Army after the service updated the regulation in 2015 and he later went on to win the 2018 Soldier of the Year contest.
Helis added that the PWF will study the unique cultural differences of each Army installation. For instance, installations in Alaska must deal with the psychological effects of harsh, isolated conditions, while other installations may have challenges unique to their unit and location.
“A professional workforce will allow the commander to identify risks and protective factors unique to their unit or location by using data and science,” Helis said. “This information will help them, in coordination with the PWF, to develop research tested, scientifically accepted ways to get at their particular risks and to enhance their protective factors. It’s a new way of looking at prevention.”
The PWF will help commanders design prevention plans as well as proactively study spikes in harmful behaviors at their installations. And commanders can collect data from installations with low rates of sexual assault, harassment and suicide and use that information for preven- tion plans at other posts.
“Commanders have lots of data available to them right now,” Helis said. “But often they don’t have the staff with the knowledge, expertise and time to be able to analyze that data so they can better understand the organizational climate.”
“The PWF can understand the risk and protective factors particular to their installation,” he added. “And they can help develop prevention activities after the installation that will help mitigate the risk factors.”
From SaaPM, Page 2
The Army, through the PWF, will focus on boosting the social determinants of good health which centers on five key domains: economic stability, education, health care, neighborhood and environment and social and community context. Helis said the service will pay particular attention to how it treats women and minorities and respect cultural differences.
The service will continue advocating for victims and has taken steps to further strengthen its response and care for victims.
The Army will implement an IRC recommendation to replace its collateral duty sexual as- sault response coordinators and victim advocates with more seasoned, full-time personnel to provide higher quality care to victims. All collateral duty SARCs and VA’s will be phased out except those stationed in remote locations.
“They don’t have the experience or training to provide the highest quality services to victims,” Helis said. “When you take on a SHARP case that can become a near full-time responsibility to ensure victim care. Collateral duty SARCs and VAs sometimes find themselves in position where they’re torn between providing victim care and their primary duties.”
Helis said the Army will foster a protective environment by creating a culture of dignity and respect. The new focus area is in accordance with the Army’s People Strategy, which strives to address harmful behaviors like sexual assault, sexual harassment and suicide to build cohesion in Army units.
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin