Adjutant General's Corps Regimental Association
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AG School Commandant Sends

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Adjutant General’s Corps Warriors,

DEFEND AND SERVE! 2023, another year of great opportunity for the Adjutant General’s Corps. I along with CSM DeVeaux, the Regimental Command Sergeant Major and CW5 Hickman, the Chief Warrant officer of the Corps, would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you the very best in the new year. We are inspired by the dedication of our AG Soldiers and Teams who continue to deliver mission focused HR support. As we move into a new year full of opportunities, through the talent initiatives and modernization efforts of our AG Corps Strategy, we must also strengthen and build our Corps through connection with each other, our friends, family, and our larger HR community. We are committed to the Adjutant General’s Corps Strategy now and in the future fight. The AG School remains focused on the core mission of training, educating, and developing our AG Talent and preparing the AG proponent for the future.

In this edition I wanted to address IPPS-A, the AG Corps strategy and training focus, NCOES ALC/SLC requirements, AG Week and the National AG Ball scheduled for 12-15 June, and announce the next Chief Warrant Officer of the Corps.

IPPS-A “Go Live” Release 3 is out for all users. What an historical accomplishment as we deliver a modernized personnel system for our Army. This is the culmination of many years of hard work, planning, and preparation. I am proud to have witnessed all the efforts by our HR teammates to get us to the “Go-live” point. However, this is not the finish line, rather just the next mile marker, as we continue with future release plans and refinements of the current functionality. It is imperative all of us continue to learn and employ this system as units and leaders look to us to help lead and guide them. We are relying on you, the AG leaders at every echelon, to conduct continuous IPPS-A hands on training down to the lowest level. We must integrate IPPS-A into all future training, exercises, WFXs, and deployment opportunities…It is our future system, here now.

As stated in our Adjutant General’s Corps Strategy, we must collectively strive for our Corps to be an agile force, that is data driven, equitable, and predictive. We must also remain a Corps that is operationally and strategically focused. I challenge everyone in the Adjutant General community – all HR professionals and musicians, to read the new FM 3.0 and understand how our core competencies nest with our wartime mission and support future Army operations. As we embrace these changes to our operational constructs, we must remain a key component to the capabilities this modern Army brings to the fight.

We continue to drive change to modernize training in a more demanding training environment, designed to challenge and build the necessary skills for an Army capable of large-scale combat operations (LSCO). We strongly believe this is not just about training in field conditions; but a comprehensive approach to focus on all aspects of realistic training, including leveraging the experiences of past and present senior leaders of our Corps to inform our future. We must reinvigorate a strong AG culture that embraces our history, traditions, and regimental affiliation, and instills standards and discipline that builds cohesive teams throughout our Corps.

Building cohesive teams and training is critical to all AG leaders and especially our noncommissioned officers. The goal is no 42A ALC or SLC seats left unfilled. A reminder from CSM DeVeaux, as of October 1, 2022, Phase one of ALC and SLC will be conducted virtually through Blackboard (Bb) at home station (NCOs must have access to a computer with microphone & camera) capabilities. This is your NCO’s place of duty, and they must be present! Small Group Leaders & Instructors will facilitate and conduct accountability through Bb. There will be no exceptions to utilize MS Teams as this is not the platform for distribution or facilitation. Small Group Leaders will contact NCOs forty-five days prior to their school start date (Phase one) informing them of the requirements and to conduct a communication check. An important point: AR 350-1 still applies to virtual attendance as if it is resident, meaning Temporary Profiles (for example) are not authorized to attend the course. Any personnel identified on Temporary Profile after start of course will result in a “MEDICAL DISMISSAL”. Upon completion of Phase I, Student-NCOs will travel (if not stationed on Ft. Jackson) and complete Phase two of the course curriculum. If Phase one is not completed, Student-NCOs will not move forward to Phase two. Due to increases in deletions, deferments, and no-shows, NCOA Commandants now have the authority to accept individuals as walk-ons. If anyone has questions, regarding our 42A ALC/SLC courses please contact our NCOA Commandant, CSM LaShan Hayes or CSM Deveaux. We need your help to make sure our talented AG NCOs are given time to meet the prerequisites for ALC/SLC and attend as scheduled… no seats left open.

Planning and preparation for our annual AG Week and AG Ball, June 12-15 is ramping up. Please mark your calendars for a Thursday night AG Ball on 15 June. And yes, it’s time to recommend those deserving of the AG awards recognition program and update your AGCRA membership. I would encourage all AG and HR professionals to join the AGCRA and connect with our AG Corps. Our AGCRA is a great way to build relationships and stay up to date on events within our Corps. It’s a great resource both locally and nationally wherever you are.

Lastly, it is my privilege to announce CW5 Chad G. Bowen, currently serving as the V Corps Senior HR Tech, has been selected to serve as the 9th Chief Warrant Officer of the AG Corps. CW5 Bowen is an exceptional AG Warrant Officer with an incredible reputation, and brings to the position over 32 years of experience and expertise while serving in a wide variety of operational positions across the globe. CW5 Bowen will assume responsibility from CW5 Mark Hickman in a change of responsibility ceremony at the Soldier Support Institute, tentatively scheduled for July 13, 2023. CW5 Hickman will retire with 31+ years of dedicated service. He has made a tremendous impact on the AG Corps as the Chief Warrant Officer of the Corps and his leadership and personal contributions have been monumental. Chief, we salute you!

We are especially thankful for all your contributions to make our Corps better. Thank you to the AG Warriors out there who are all in, driving change for the future.

DEFEND AND SERVE!

Colonel Chesley D. Thigpen, Jr.
Commandant, U.S. Army Adjutant General School

Human Resources University (HRU) is Back in the Pacific

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By MAJ(P) Jason Behler – HROC Casualty & Operations Chief, USARPAC G-1

HR professionals across the Island of Hawaii and Pacific AOR yearn for development, not just from their past and future Professional Military Education, but from their higher echelon’s senior HR professionals.  The U.S. Army Pacific G-1 conducted a two-day, HR University – Pacific (HRU-P) event on 14 -15 December 2022.  The event focused training and discussion on Officer and Enlisted Promotion Selection Boards, Talent Management strategies, Theater HR Plans and Operations, and Casualty Operations.  Though the primary training audience was for HR professionals in Hawaii, the HRU-P training team was able to connect HR professionals from across the Pacific area of operations using MS Teams.

Photo is of the MS Teams briefing with BG Gregory Johnson, The 63rd Adjutant General.  Pictured on the screens from left to right is BG Johnson and COL Lane, USARPAC G1.  Photograph was taken and provided by MAJ(P) Jason Behler, HROC Casualty & Operations Chief, USARPAC G-1.

Subject matter experts from the USARPAC G1 Human Resources Operations Center (HROC) and HRC DA Secretariat provided briefings.  One of the key highlights was the opportunity to have BG Gregory Johnson, The 63rd Adjutant General, address the attendees on ongoing initiatives.  The training was provided to over 120 HR professionals (in-person and online via MS Teams) throughout the theater.  Note – HR University – Pacific is a quarterly event that serves as part of the USARPAC G1’s ongoing effort to sharpen the knowledge, skill, comradery, and confidence among HR professionals operating within the Indo-Pacific.

Day one training began with USARPAC G-1 HROC personnel demonstrating the use of the Tactical Personnel System (TPS) by scanning all HRU-P attendees into the system for accountability upon their arrival.  Using this system provided the HROC with instant accountability and verification of all attending personnel.  This execution provided the training audience a TTP on when and where G/S-1s can include and practice the use of TPS during garrison operations.  After a quick welcome, LTC Miller and SGM Little from the HRC DA Secretariat provided an Officer and Enlisted Promotion Selection Boards briefing via MS Teams.

Photo is of the Senior HR Leader Discussion Panel; pictured left to right: SGM James, 25th ID G1 SGM; CW4 Kinere and COL Lane, USARPAC G1; LTC Brown, 8th TSC G1; LTC Lincoln, DSTB Commander; LTC White, 25th ID G1; and SGM Chapman, 8th TSC G1 SGM (not pictured). Photograph was taken and provided by MAJ(P) Jason Behler, HROC Casualty & Operations Chief, USARPAC G-1.

After the HRC DA Secretariat briefings, the HRU-P hosted a Senior HR Leader Discussion Panel chaired by COL Barrcary Lane, USARPAC G1, and included the 25th ID G1 and G1 SGM, 8th Theater Sustainment Command G1 and G1 SGM, and the 25th ID DSTB CDR.  The panel members discussed a multitude of HR topics and fielded questions and thoughts from the audience.  After the discussion panel, the HROC delivered a casualty operations overview training, focusing the audience on the missions and responsibilities of the Theater Casualty Information Center (TCIC) vice the Casualty Assistance Center (CAC), casualty information flow, and tactical-level casualty operations preparation.  The day ended on a high note with a MS Teams connection with The 63rd Adjutant General, BG Johnson.

Day two focused HR professionals on theater HR planning and operations and a casualty operations overview.  The morning started with USARPAC G-1 personnel delivering the connection between theater HR planning and operations and the daily tasks and functions of HR support.  The training helped bridge the gap many AG professionals lack when it comes to planning.  Many of the attendees left the training feeling more confident in their understanding of theater HR and what they do can and how they will affect current and future plans and operations.  With the newly formed HROC within the ASCCs, many HR professionals are unaware of the role the ASCC G-1 HROC plays in theater casualty operations.  So, after the lunch break and to close the HRU-P 1st Quarter training event was another opportunity for HR professionals to attend the casualty operations overview training, which was well received by young and emerging HR professionals.

“One Team” … “Shields Up” … ‘Defend and Serve!”

8TSC Adjutant General Symposium

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After two years of mandatory lockdown, social distancing, and abiding by regulatory COVID-19 Guidance, the 8th Theater Sustainment  Command (8TSC) G-1 brought together Human Resources Professionals throughout the island of Oahu for the first ever 8TSC Adjutant General Symposium.

Read all about this great event in Hawaii by clicking HERE.