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Engage Network Consult Inspire

Soldier for Life

Kenneth O. Preston

Sergeant Major of the Army

United States Army Retired

Vice President NCO and Soldier Programs

Association of the United States Army

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“The willingness with which our

young people are likely to serve in

any war, no matter how justified,

shall be directly proportional to

how they perceive the Veterans of

earlier wars were treated and

appreciated by their nation.”

– General George

Washington

November 10th,

1781

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Facts About the All-Volunteer Army

• 71% of youth do not qualify for military service due to academics, drugs, physical / medical reasons, or moral character

• 50% of youth admit they know little to nothing about the military

• 50% of recruits come from 7 states (CA, TX, FL, GA, NY, NC, IL)

• 79% of new recruits have a relative who served

• 1% of the US population currently serves in our military

• AMRG study shows that by 2030, only 19% of American youth will qualify for military service

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Vision, Mission and Intent

Vision: The Soldier for Life (SFL) Program improves long-term strategic readiness by

developing a comprehensive network of resources to support every Soldier, Veteran and

Family member through all phases of the Soldier Life Cycle (Start Strong, Serve Strong,

Remain Strong).

Mission: Soldier for Life conducts strategic outreach to shape education, employment, and

health policies, programs and/or services on behalf of our Soldiers, Army Veterans and their

Families.

Intent: SFL influences readiness by:

• Shaping the development or execution of policies, programs, and/or services

• Maintaining a connection with Army Veterans, empowering them to serve as

representatives of the US Army in their communities to inspire the next generation of

Soldiers

• Assisting communities, organizations, businesses and academic institutions to improve

their reception of and service to Soldiers, Army Veterans and their Families

• Serve as the “eyes and ears” on Soldier, Veteran, and Family re-integration, share Best

Practices across the formation and provide constructive feedback to Army leadership at

all levels

Endstate: Army Veterans, Soldiers and Families have a first class, positive Army experience

and continue their service as Army Strong ambassadors and leaders of character in their

communities.

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Leveraging the Soldier Life Cycle

The Soldier Life-Cycle

START STRONG: • Army Veterans and Retirees tell

their Army story and serve as key influencers

• Army recruits Top 29%• Initial Entry Training• Army Values and Warrior Ethos SERVE STRONG:

• The title of Soldier is earned and maintained though honorable service

• Soldiers inculcated with the Army Ethic

• Soldiers continuously provided world-class training and leadership experiences

• Professional military education supports continued development

• Quality transition assistance program• Communities holistically prepared to receive

Veterans, Soldiers and Families. • Army Veterans and Retirees tell their Army

story and serve as key influencers

CONTINUE STRONG: • Pride of service; forever part of the Army family• Army Veterans and Retired Soldiers are active

leaders in their respective communities. • Employers value the character, skills and ethic of

Army Veterans and are inspired to hire them

Quick Facts: • 71% of youth do not qualify for

military service due to academics, drugs, physical / medical reasons, or moral character

• 50% of youth admit they know little to nothing about the military

• 50% of recruits come from 7 states (CA, TX, FL, GA, NY, NC, IL)

• 79% of new recruits have a relative who served

• 1% of the US population currently serves in our military

• AMRG study shows that by 2030, only 19% of American youth will qualify for military service

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Network

SFL fosters a strategic network of key organizations across the US that provides education, employment,

and health resources/ opportunities.

SFL engages communities, organizations, businesses, and academic institutions in order

to better understand all aspects of the “Veteran space.”

Engage Consult

SFL advises military and civilian audiences of the wide array of policies, programs, resources,

practices, and/or opportunities existing in the areas of

employment, education and health.

Inspire

SFL seeks to inspire Soldiers for Life to demonstrate pride in their Service, encourages Communities to take a collaborative approach

to Veteran support, and motivates employers to hire

Veterans.

SFL Lines of Effort

Mission: Soldier for Life conducts strategic outreach to shape education, employment, and health policies, programs and/or services on behalf of our Soldiers, Army Veterans and their Families.

✓ Identify Gaps that Army Veterans, transitioning Soldiers and Families face

✓ Introduce military and civilian audiences to the Soldier for Life program

✓ Leverage the Army Network

and Centers of Influence to

connect Veterans to resources

✓ Actively introduce/connect individuals and/or organizations that share a common purpose

✓ Coordinate and synchronize with interagency stakeholders (DOL, SBA, VA, DHS, etc.)

✓ Serve as the “eyes and ears” on Soldier, Veteran and Family re-integration on behalf of SA, CSA, and SMA

✓ Educate and shape audiences on:

Transition and retirement policies

Army CSPs

Community Action Teams

Hiring a Veteran

✓ Encourage Soldiers of all eras to take pride in having served honorably, tell their Army story and to remain “connected” with our Army

✓ Encourage employers to hire Veterans (“Inspire to Hire”)

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Career Skills Program (CSP)Overview: In support of the Veterans Opportunities to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes

Act of 2011, the Army is partnering with industry employers, educators, community

leaders and training providers to create the CSP.

Policy

• Apprenticeships, Internships,

Employment Skills Training

• Little to no training cost

• Last 180 days on Active Duty

• Unpaid

• High probability of employment

• Provides skill gap training

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Fort Stewart, GAWARTACConstruction (HBI)Vet SquaredIngalls ShipbuildingMarco’s Pizza

Fort Gordon, GAVet Squared

AR 600-81 Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program

Career Skills ProgramsFort Riley, KSCDLWARTACRyder SystemsIHGAirstreams

Fort Benning, GACDLMSSAVet SquaredMarco’s Pizza

Fort Hood, TXAirstreams HVAC CDLSheet metal Piping WARTACHoH Fellowship Govt Internships Shifting Gears/GM Collison RepairLaw Enforcement

Fort Carson, COWeldingMSSASolarPipingCDLHoH FellowshipPinkerton InvestigatorsWARTACService to SalesSecureSet Cybersecurity

Fort Polk, LAWeldingPipefittingCB&I Electrical

Fort Campbell, KYCDLMSSAPiping/WeldingSiemensHoH FellowshipMechatronicsTroops to Trades

Fort Sill, OKAdv ManufacturingSprinklerWarriors 4 WirelessRyder Systems

Fort Bliss, TXAirstreamsCDLHoH FellowshipMesilla Valley

Training Institute

Over 800 cohorts and 5800graduates

93% job placement

HawaiiConcrete

PreservationJN AutomotiveCVSMSSA (FY18)

Fort Huachuca, AZHoH FellowshipIHG

Fort Irwin, CAAirstreamsCDL

JBLM, WAPipingWeldingHVACCDLPaintersIT/SoftwareAirstreamsHospitalityHoH FellowshipAdv ManufacturingAirframe & PowerplantO2OIHGUS Forestry ServiceSheet Metal

Fort Leonard Wood, MOJones InvestmentsNGTOCRealtyCorps of EngineersShow Me Heroes

As 13 Sep 2017

DODI 1322.29 (JTEST-AI)

Fort Knox, KY CDLOpportunity Knox

Fort Leavenworth, KSHoH FellowshipPaintingLocal Govt Internships

JBSAO2OSolar Ready VetsHOLTAccenture

Fort Jackson, SCMarco’s PizzaIT

Fort Drum, NYO2OSolar Ready VetsOSHANatural GasUS Forestry Service

Rock IslandArsenal, IL

CDL

Over 100 programs at 31

installations

Alaska (Greely)Alaska Works PartnershipO2O

Fort Buchanan, PR WARTAC

West Point, NYUBSPrudential

NCRHoH Fellowship (Belvoir)FDM Academy (Reston)First Data (FT Dietrich)

Fort Lee VAMachining SkillsCDLCyber SecurityNew Horizons

Fort Bragg, NCAdv ManufactureCVSCollision Repair CDLLaw EnforcementPipefittingMSSASolar Ready Vets

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• Continue to be a Veteran Advocate

• Help Soldiers, Family Members, and Veterans

navigate the community

• Connect SFL/Army to community

Resources/Leaders

• Reinforce existing Soldier, Family Member, and

Veteran benefits process

• Communicate with each other to reduce

duplicative efforts and increase SFL involvement

in your engagements

What We Can Do Together

10 A Soldier for Life!

Always a Soldier

Once a Soldier

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Homes For Our Troops

10/23/2017

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Our MissionTo build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives.

Key Ceremony for Army SFC Edgar Barrera

HFOT Home RecipientMarine Cpl Justin Gaertner

10/23/2017

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• Provide homes mortgage free to the Veterans we serve • Homes are 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2650 sq. ft. • Over 40 Special Adaptations in every home• Veterans select location• Home Build Projects Completed: Over 245 homes in 42states

Building Homes…

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• VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant Determination• Veteran application to HFOT • HFOT Veteran Selection Committee • Veterans Conference

• Program Overview• Final interview

• Notification• This is a “Mission Moment” for an HFOT staff member to inform the Veteran that they have been selected and will receive a home

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Veteran Selection

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Program Acceptance

Land Search and

AcquisitionConstruction

Home Delivery

Home Transfer

Rebuilding Lives

Follow Up

HFOT Process

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10/23/201717

Community Kickoff

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Volunteer Day

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10/23/201719

Key Ceremony

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…Rebuilding LivesEnsuring Veterans’ Success:

• Financial planning beginning at HFOT Veterans’ Conference• Ten year lien• Home Ownership/Maintenance Manual• Support network of HFOT staff, VAAT, and community• Pay it forward program

10/23/2017

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Living mortgage-free, HFOT Veterans are able to lead inspiring lives as:

…Rebuilding Lives

• Pilots; Realtors• Athletes- Paralympians; Mountaineers

• Non-profit supporters• Motivational speakers

• Musicians; Artists• Students

• Prosthetic Technician• Entrepreneurs; Law Enforcement Analysts

•Spouses and Parents

10/23/2017

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HFOT is consistently ranked as one of the

Top Five Military Nonprofits by Charity Navigator and Charity Watch.

Nearly 90 percent of expenditures on direct support to our Veterans since 2004

Four Stars from Charity Navigator

“A” rating fromCharity Watch

10/23/2017

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QUESTIONS?