COL Whitehurst, Director of the Army's Soldier for Life Office, here for a live Q&A on 4/25 at 2pm ET to discuss Soldier for Life. Questions?

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 10:15:31 -0400

COL Whitehurst will be here to discuss what it means to be a Soldier for Life, how the Army invests in our soldiers, veterans, and family, and the value of a veteran.

Colonel Sam Whitehurst has served as an infantry officer for 28 years in various command and staff positions both within the U.S. and overseas. His command experience culminated with brigade command in the 10th Mountain Division and his most recent staff experience was as the 18th Airborne Corps Chief of Staff. His deployments include Bosnia- Herzegovina and multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

His education includes University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Louisiana State University, the School of Advanced Military Studies, and National War College. Colonel Whitehurst has been the director of the Army Soldier for Life Program since October 2017. He and his wife, Sallie, have been married for 27 years and they have four children, Olivia, Audrey, Matt and Ben.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Apr 18 at 2018 4:53 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 16:53:17 -0400

Thanks for letting us know COL Sam Whitehurst that you are available on RallyPoint to discuss what it means to be a Soldier for Life, how the Army invests in our soldiers, veterans, and family, and the value of a veteran on April 25.
1. What are the implications of being a Soldier for Life and how would you recommend those of us who are retired to invest in future soldiers?
Background, I am the father of an infantry soldier and a retired infantry soldier.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SrA Christopher B. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SGT Philip Roncari SGT Private RallyPoint Member LTC Stephen C. LTC Private RallyPoint Member CPT Jack Durish CW5 Jack Cardwell MSG Dan Walther

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Apr 18 at 2018 5:16 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 17:16:56 -0400

Greetings.
I do have passing familiarity with SFL, and when I review the public website, I note that much of Soldier For Life's mission focuses more it seems around the transitioning--or recently transitioned--soldier (jobs, benefits, etc.); laudable, no doubt. Not to say that retirees and vets out of service for some time won't find value there.

If its fair to attribute a quick and dirty summation of SFL's current mission as providing support and information, with particular focus on those recently separated or soon to separate soldiers, where do you foresee the program being in terms of new directions/goals/milestones/etc in the future?

Related sidebar: I would commend you on a well organized aggregation of information with regard to assistance and benefits. I would go so far as to say its one of the better user friendly Army or governmental sites I have seen.

Thanks

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 18 at 2018 5:44 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 17:44:46 -0400

Thank you COL for asking, I have no questions, just thanking you for your service to our great nation.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 18 at 2018 6:17 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 18:17:53 -0400

I was interested as I'd heard of something within Na5l Guard called Citizen Soldier for Life (CSFL), and didn't know if yours was the sa!e program. I've been most eager to try to be allowed to participate in the Army Volunteer Corps (AVC), at a Reserve Ctr near where my wife and I live, and have asked the relevant staff atboth AVc, and those involved with the Reserve Ctr, if I might perhaps be of an possible use. I'm esp interested in STEM, having been trained as an engineer, physicist, mathematician, and as an allied health doctor, though, unfortunately, I'm now total perm disabled, and have sought to be allowed to get involved in the fashion I describe for something intellectually stimulating to do. The Reserve ctr near us has USAR, ARNG, USNR, and USMCR, the Army educ programs I've been told are quite well organized, though the USNR and USMCR programs less so, though I gather the Reserve Ctr is mainly an ARNG/USAR facility, for the most part, or such has been my impression. I'd been told that the CSFL program is run by a 3rd party contractor, so, being total permmdisabled, I obv can't do anything with them, though hat was why I'd looked at AVC, and was wondering if you might perhaps be able to find a possible use for me as a volunteer through tat mechanism there, being as the facility is so close by us. There's a state university also very close by the Reserve ctr, where the vet dir is aware of my desire to try to volunteer there as well, as I had taught there for a semester as an adjunct yes before my disability, I've been able to get some encouragement, and am also looking to try to volunteer to assist a local VA hospital wit clinical research under a new volunteer program in VA called the Phyisian Ambassador Program (PAP). I was never a physician, only doctoral level allied health, also, due to my total perk disability, we had to shut my clinical license sevl yes ago. However, I'd be most eager to try to help those drilling at the Reserve ctr with their educ goals, esp though not solely STEM, of course. If, for all those reasons, i might perhaps he of any possible use to you in your program there through AVC, I'd obv be most grateful for any possible assistance, certainly. The rules governing what I can be allowed to volunteer to assist with, being as I am total perm disabled, are, unfortunately, extremely strict, as we'l as very narrowly defined, though I have researched how I might perhaps conceivably be allowed, though, of course, any help toward that end would be most welcome, as we'll as most gratefully appreciated. If I could possibly be of any such use, and if in fact CSFL is your program, or related to it, I'd as I said, be most sincerely grateful for any possible help and/or advice you might offer. Time I'm afraid tends to hang quite heavily for me under the circumstances, which is why I've sought such an Intellectuappy creative outlet, and would obv be most grateful for any possible help and/or suggestions you might possibly he able to offer. Even if I could be so allowed, I'd obv need to have such a request be approved, and check to see if my doing such volunteering might perhaps be allowable under !y circumstances, however, being as you were apparently on the app, and I'd noticed the apparent similarity between your program na!e, and that of CSFL, I'd merely thought to ask about any such possibility, I !merely thought asking here a good opportunity, just in the event that your program is in fact the sa!e one as the one at the Reserve ctr near is, many very teal thanks, I'd be most eager to hear amything back, very much appreciated, of course, even if the program is a different one, which I obv realize might well perhaps be the case, certainly.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2018 11:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 23:58:07 -0400

Left hand high, Sir!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2018 3:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 15:55:36 -0400

Bout to be omw to Afghanistan again. Yay!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2018 11:14 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 23:14:26 -0400

Why does the Army love to preach about how important family is, but my buddy is currently mobilized in a non-combat Zone and they will not send him home for the birth of his first child.

Response by CPT David Gowel made Apr 23 at 2018 10:56 AM

CPT David Gowel — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 10:56:04 -0400

COL Private RallyPoint Member, thanks for joining us on RallyPoint. What programs or activities does Soldier for Life execute to go "upstream" to the active duty force before folks decide to exit the military (other than your engagement with service members on RP) to help those who are still in uniform prepare for separation / retirement / transition?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2018 11:12 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 11:12:37 -0400

My question is, with our continued budget deficiencies, I don’t see how we need an additional program, and we need a full bird colonel in charge of it?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Apr 23 at 2018 11:31 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 11:31:51 -0400

COL Private RallyPoint Member: Good Day, Colonel!
I am not a part of Soldier for Life; but I would certainly like to be.
Sir, if I may, how do I become a member of Soldier for Life?
I'd like to add, Colonel Whitehurst, WELCOME TO RALLY POINT!
IT IS BEYOND AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU WITH US, COLONEL.
Most Sincerely, Margaret C. Higgins U.S. Army Retired: Coach/Photographer

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2018 1:01 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 13:01:50 -0400

Good afternoon, sir. I looked up the Soldier for Life Program. And, I noted that it appears to be a modified version of the Transition Assistance Program -- focused on retaining soldiers in the National Guard or Reserves upon leaving active duty? I have worked with the Transition Assistance Program -- as a federal employee at the U.S. Small Business Administration through Boots to Business and I had a few questions:

(1) There seem to be a lot of programs for people to attain college degrees. And, those degrees no longer have the same guarantee of a place in the middle class. Has there been any talk of modifying the GI Bill as an entrepreneurial training benefit -- to help veterans start their own small businesses?

(2) The current GI Bill is also limited to 48 months for masters and lower degrees -- then, only if you are entitled to it through more than one mechanism. It is also likely that soldiers who have been on active duty in some capacity "max out" their eligibility -- meaning that after serving a tour on active duty and a tour in the National Guard or Reserves, there are no further incentives for them to serve as a "soldier for life". Has there been any consideration of giving soldiers additional benefits -- toward an entrepreneurial training program or a PhD or professional program in excess of 48 months if they serve longer in the National Guard or Reserves?

(3) Veterans who serve on active duty and then transition to the National Guard or Reserves tend to be really good entrepreneurs. The business start success rates show that. However, the VA is the only department that offers a veterans first preference for veteran-owned small businesses. Has there been any talk at DoD of giving veterans that benefit? It seems like DoD ought to support veterans at least as much as 8(a) small businesses.

(4) Another issue is Tricare Reserve Select eligibility. There really is no way to beat that on the private side. And, it's a great incentive for people to serve in the National Guard or Reserves. However, federal employees aren't eligible for it -- even if its coverage is better than the federal employee health insurance program. Federal employment is one of the best places that veterans land after active duty because of the hiring preferences. Has there been any talk of allowing them to keep the Tricare Reserve Select benefit that they earn by serving in the National Guard or Reserves?

Response by SFC Stephen King made Apr 23 at 2018 1:56 PM

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 13:56:23 -0400

COL Private RallyPoint Member Welcome and thank you for taking the time to take questions from Rallypoint.

The current SFL program focuses on transition yet I see little or no emphasis on Veterans beyond the resume course offered.

What are the plans to emphasize the skills or training Veterans have acquired in their service to this great country? Example all Senior NCO's are teachers, instructors and mentors

Response by CWO2 James Mathews made Apr 23 at 2018 2:17 PM

CWO2 James Mathews — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:17:05 -0400

My thanks Col. for returning to answer questions. However, speaking as a Naval veteran, do you have any naval officers on your staff that can answer questions about naval veterans, since the Army and Navy are quite different in their tasks, rules, and various abbreviations that immediately spring to mind of the attentive army veteran, but make little sense to a naval veteran! In addition, I should feel much more comfortable talking with someone who understands my service perhaps better than an army officer. Knowing a few marines as I do, and having worked closely with them on occasion, I would have to say the same for my marine veteran friends. I doubt that they would, as a group, be willing to consult an Army Officer rather than a Marine Officer. I don't know much about the modern Coast Guard, however, my personal view would be similar. I do appreciate this chance to ask a question of you, and my thanks for your service to the flag and country!

Response by SFC William Farrell made Apr 23 at 2018 8:24 PM

SFC William Farrell — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 20:24:09 -0400

Hello COL Private RallyPoint Member Colonel. As a retired soldier, I am proud of my service and talk it up whenever I can. Can the Army come up with a better retired patch to wear on Class A's rather than this ugly white patch?

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Apr 23 at 2018 11:34 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 23:34:10 -0400

Thanks for joining us, COL Private RallyPoint Member. As an Air Force veteran, I really wish my service branch had a program like SFL when I was transitioning.
How soon can a Soldier start taking advantage of the SFL program & benifits?

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Apr 25 at 2018 5:26 AM

MSG Louis Alexander — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 05:26:12 -0400

COL Whitehurst, this is a new concept I wasn’t aware of, but I’m curious on how the Army invests in veterans. Are we speaking of benefits through the Veterans Administration, or perhaps some unknown avenue of current programs? During my service time 68-88, I never knew such a program existed. And while we’re on this subject, what is the value of a veteran?

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Apr 25 at 2018 9:37 AM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 09:37:40 -0400

Thank you being being available.
Background: I retired at 20 years as a 19D4G Cavalry PSG. I'm 63 now but still fit. I currently work in EMS and have for roughly 5 years. After leaving service I became a CDL owner/operator for 10 years. After 9/11 I found a military teaching position and was a primary instructor at what is now the Army Reconnaissance Course, 316th Cavarly, Fort Benning, GA.
Pretty much never left the Army as I consider myself 'Retired Reserve'.
My question is: What can I do to further help?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2018 2:00 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:00:14 -0400

Thank you for joining us! We'd like to thank RallyPoint for giving us this platform to answer your questions on what it means to be a Soldier for Life!

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2018 2:18 PM

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:18:08 -0400

COL, if I get out for a while and then am still under the IRR, can I get back in and keep my 20 year retirement and not be forced onto that 401K thieving nonsense?