12/1/2023
Happy Holidays to you and your family as a joyous season of celebration begins and we prepare to greet a whole new year of possibilities in 2024! This has been a great year for our chapter, and we have fulfilled our advocacy mission, engaged in multiple ways with the community and enjoyed camaraderie amongst the membership.
Over 40 chapter members came together for the November luncheon to help us close out this monthly event for the year. Lieutenant Colonel (Promotable) Kirsten McFarland, USA, was our luncheon guest and provided a phenomenal presentation on the current and future states of United States Army recruiting. The battalion’s mission is “to recruit with integrity the highest quality men and women to meet the needs of an expeditionary Army, while taking exceptional care of Soldiers, Civilians and Families” and their focus is on the active-duty Army and Army Reserve. She broke her presentation down to three main themes: (1) it is hard to get into the Army, (2) young people want to get into the Army and (3) she loves her job. LTC (P) McFarland, USA, discussed new Army physical and medical standards for recruits, the Soldier Referral Program, and the Hometown Recruiter Assistance Program, among other topics. The presentation was insightful and inspiring on multiple levels. If you would like to learn more, please review the battalion’s website at https://recruiting.army.mil/3rdbde/5nbn/.
In addition to our speaker’s presentation, we were able to participate in a very deserving presentation to Dr. Tom Seals by Mrs. Pat McMahon of the Quilts of Valor Organization.
It was important to end the year by focusing on recruiting because current and past military leaders make fabulous recruiters of future military members! This year marks the 50th anniversary of the all-volunteer force (AVF). MOAA National has focused on this issue and states, “DoD finds itself in a war for talent: The active duty component faces an environment where personnel shortages result in increased workloads and reduced quality of life amid a recruiting crisis, while the National Guard works to rebound from the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic and its largest mobilization since World War II.” Now is the time to support the AVF by championing the myriad quality of life advocacy initiatives ranging from restoring the Basic Allowance for Housing to 100% to supporting military spouse employment to protecting health care benefits for servicemembers and their families. Please do your part and show your support through advocacy and by telling your military stories!
Very Important news, the chapter has finally filled the critical vacancy of First Vice President! Captain Larry Cotton, USN, Retired, volunteered to take the position after the October luncheon. The proposal to appoint him to this vacancy was brought to the MTC MOAA Executive Board and voted on through a virtual poll. At this month’s luncheon, the appointment was briefed to the membership since a quorum was assembled. Members voted unanimously through voice vote to approve the appointment.
Captain Cotton previously served as Chapter President during the 2015 – 2017 timeframe. The chapter sincerely appreciates Captain Cotton stepping forward to fill a vacancy now and for assuming the position of Chapter President in January 2024 once again for a one-year term, which is his request. He will do a wonderful job leading this 5-star chapter!
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