We tweeted. You clicked. Here are some of the most popular tweets we sent out this week…
- Could Virtual Reality Fix PTSD? http://bit.ly/9QbIYI
- What Happens Next, Senators? http://bit.ly/bPeF57
- Failure to Launch Off! http://bit.ly/a8UQtJ
- Pentagon OKs social-media access http://bit.ly/aL5VMI
- i-Phone on the Battlefields? http://bit.ly/d0gLf1
- Army, Navy and Air Force continue to ban flash media http://bit.ly/9FL9So
- Who has the U.S. Lost Its Crown To? http://bit.ly/cyzPrd
Image courtesy of army.mil
Since 1775, women have served the United States Army. In the beginning, women took on traditional roles during battles like the American Revolutionary War or the Civil War as nurses, cooks, laundresses or clerks. Later, they filled the job vacancies of a predominantly male workforce that was sent to battle during World War I. Although women could not take part in combat, many took to nursing during these times of warfare, both on the home front as well as abroad. Throughout history right up to the present Global War on Terror, women have served a vital role for the U.S. Army.
Today, women serve in 91 percent of all U.S. Army occupations and make up about 14 percent of the active U.S. Army, according to the U.S. Army website.
The roles women have carried out in the Army were recently recognized on the official blog of the U.S. Army. Here is an excerpt:
“During this time, we celebrate the contributions of women to the United States Army. It is a time to honor the sacrifices and accomplishments of women who not only shaped our service but the country as well.
Women play a vital role in today’s Army; they are the Soldiers on the front-line; they are leaders, officers and noncommissioned officers standing with our troops; they are members of the United States Army Civilian Corps, as well as employers, spouses, mothers and sisters who offer critical support to the troops.”
In recognition of their service, let us take a moment to consider the women who have and continue to contribute towards the defense of our nation!
Here are some other interesting statistics taken from the Women in the U.S. Army page:
Increasing Role of Women in the Army
Historically
Source: Women in the U.S. Army page
The Official Blog of the U.S. Army
Wishing You a Safe and Happy President’s Day!
The U.S. Government recently announced that the strategy of readiness to fight and win two major conventional wars is outdated, along with current global military Operations Plans (OPLANs), fighting force structure and intelligence focus.
The Pentagon now theorizes the global shift in information sharing, regional hotspots and multiple localized and smaller threats to U.S. Security calls for a more targeted mobile force. This force should be adept at rapid response, self sufficient and highly effective at smaller Special Operations and Intelligence driven missions.
According to U.S. press releases, Defense Secretary Robert Gates will ask for $708 billion in 2010 to fund our current conflict and to provide for the imminent force and capabilities restructuring.
This new strategy focuses heavily on cyber threats, intelligence effectiveness and a rapid deployable smaller modular force ready to respond to fast developing threats around the globe. This is already translated into a call for more autonomous unmanned surveillance platforms, persistent collection and surveillance platforms and a re-energizing of space based collection and defense platforms. The next proposed step is to create an enhanced intelligence collection, production and predictive intelligence force and functionality, capable of identifying and predicting threats to enable a counter before the threat can materialize a successful attack against any U.S. equity.
The remaining priority is to create a force that can deploy rapidly, anywhere on the globe. It can deploy as a small self sufficient surgical force, part of a larger Battle Command, or as part of a tradition force-on-force Major Combatant Command. Current forces have successfully performed in all these roles, but the command, logistical and functional stress of operating in a role the unit was not designed, trained, and equipped to do has limited the success of our current operations.
Taking this into perspective, and anticipating the future needs of this new strategy and future force can allow service providers, contract solution providers, and technology providers to be prepared for the imminent needs of the Department of Defense.
As partners to the U.S. Military, we can react or we can anticipate and prepare to provide the next generation the command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities this country needs for the next future force.
About the author: Jason Wilson, the SGIS Division Manager of the Intelligence and Training Division, is a recently retired US Army Warrant Officer with 21 years of military experience. Wilson has strong relevant operational and institutional credentials and subject matter expertise as well as 19 years of experience in leadership and contract supervision positions.
Specific accolades for Jason Wilson include:
Certified Project Manager (CPM)
5 years supporting DoD and US Army level acquisition programs
6 years supporting and participating in Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations and Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations
6 years supervising a theater wide contract for Oracle and MS SharePoint development.
If you are interested in reaching out to the author via discussion, visit SGIS on LinkedIn.
The US Government, and more specifically, the Department of Defense, plans, strategizes and makes decisions by a long standing model. Understanding this “Decision Making Process,” or in DoD terms, “Military Decision Making Process,” can make your contract proposals, business proposals and briefings to Government decision makers effective, well received and sought after as the solution of choice.
Government decision makers are constantly 
bombarded with “salesmen” and sales pitches. If that is what you present, you are putting yourself, and your company, in the majority group of providers that the Government tends to try and avoid and ignore, or simply forget about the moment you are gone. In simple pragmatic terms, almost any company can find, hire, or provide the services the Government needs. However, providing flexible solutions attentive to changing, evolving and anticipated requirements is a different story. The Government decision-maker does not want to be sold on what a vendor or provider is trying to sell – they want an answer to their needs.
Paying close attention to ongoing requirements, anticipated future requirements and long-term goals can pay huge dividends in successful proposal preparation and presentation. Do not simply try and claim a company solution fits their needs, instead design a solution to the customers’ need. Plan ahead and show how your solution will evolve with the future needs of the customer. Today’s solution will not be tomorrow’s and keeping your plan succinct but in tune to the long-term goal of the customers will set your proposal apart from the many solutions that only offer a quick solution that has no long-term benefit.
The other key point is that almost all Government plans and decisions come in a package of three basic components, or options, designed to be adjustable to work flow, scheduling, budget and growth potential. Most Government plans have a light, medium and heavy design, with a target of achieving, or executing the medium plan, while maintaining the flexibility to go lighter or heavier. In essence, the Government creates a targeted and focused plan, then backs off key elements and components to create a light plan, later adding key elements and components to create a heavy plan. This may be a lighter, or heavier, work force, man-hour allocation, budget target, or equipment requirement, or may be something akin to a skills and experience equivalent change. Knowing the true needs of the customer will help you anticipate what their target is, and what the customer would likely flex in a lighter or heavier scenario.
Once you identify the potential light, medium, and heavy options, portraying these as a predictive and easily executable plan in your proposals, briefings, and customer interactions can easily set your company apart as a solution provider instead of door-to-door salesmen.
About the author: Jason Wilson, the SGIS Division Manager of the Intelligence and Training Division, is a recently retired US Army Warrant Officer with 21 years of military experience. Wilson has strong relevant operational and institutional credentials and subject matter expertise as well as 19 years of experience in leadership and contract supervision positions.
Specific accolades for Jason Wilson include:
Certified Project Manager (CPM)
5 years supporting DoD and US Army level acquisition programs
6 years supporting and participating in Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations and Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations
6 years supervising a theater wide contract for Oracle and MS SharePoint development.
If you are interested in reaching out to the author via discussion, visit SGIS on LinkedIn.
Washington Technology reports that the DHS is planning an EAGLE II take-off. According to the article, the Homeland Security Department has plans to issue a draft solicitation for its $45 billion Eagle II procurement by the end of March, with the request for proposals coming in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.
Each year, thousands of individuals in the armed forces leave in hopes of obtaining civilian careers. After being in service for so many years, a transition into the corporate landscape can pose a challenge for these individuals. How can former military personnel adjust and showcase their full civilian hiring potential?
First, consider a self-assessment. Do you know which direction you’d like to take your new, civilian career? What careers have you considered? When transitioning from service to civilian life, it can be difficult to pinpoint or narrow down a career path. Think about the companies are you applying to. Consider choosing organizations that are active recruiters of ex-military personnel, such as defense contractors and organizations that work with the Armed forces. These companies will value things like special security clearance, which make you an attractive applicant.
The next step is gearing your career materials towards a corporate setting. This means formatting your cover letter, resume and job applications to match your new goals in the corporate world. Switch gears towards the civilian mindset when working on these documents. What kinds of skills, experience and education are your potential employers seeking? It is certainly valuable to potential employers that you share your military experiences, but proceed with caution. Remove military acronyms, jargon or phrases that will confuse employers. If possible, translate this information to better fit the desired qualifications of the position. Talk about relevant duties to the position you have applied for. Are you able to function under pressure? Do you have a sharp attention to detail? Civilian employers want to know this kind of information about you. You can check out some of our resume writing tips in a previous blog post.
When you finally score a chance to meet with an employer, avoid solely using “military speak.” They know you have had plenty of great experiences in the military, but focus on information that is relevant to the position you are applying for and stick to it. Some of your military experiences may be of more relevance, such as those stories where you demonstrated qualities such as leadership or the ability to overcome challenges. Talking about these experiences will demonstrate your strengths and potential to succeed.
SGIS is a military friendly employer. We urge candidates with military experience to consider joining our team. To learn more about SGIS and view our current career opportunities, visit our military personnel page.
Sources:
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
- Elmer Davis
To read more on the history of Veterans Day, visit our LinkedIn Group.
Today is the 234th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Semper Fidelis!
Happy Birthday to the U.S. Marine Corps.
We are proud of the honor, courage and commitment exemplified by these individuals who defend our country.
To all Marines: thank you for your service!
We wish you and your families a safe and wonderful day!
As you all know, a great tragedy struck Fort Hood yesterday. While many of our employees are stationed there, none were hurt and for that we are extremely grateful. Our hearts go out to those that were witness to the tragedy and to the families of those that were lost or injured as a result.
We go about our daily lives with very little thought to the protection we receive from the men and women of our armed forces, for the sacrifices they make in their own daily lives: being separated from their families and intentionally putting themselves in harm’s way to protect this nation and each and every one of their fellow Americans.
Please take the time on Veterans Day (11/11) to personally thank those men and women in the armed forces that you know, those that are serving our country now and those that have since retired, and remind them that SGIS is a company honored by their service.
