SOLDIER SUPPORT INSTITUTE
AG BASIC OFFICER TRAINING DIVISION
CPX/FTX
Practical Exercise
Process a Congressional Response
19 April 2010
Objective: This practical exercise (PE) is designed to measure your ability as a human resources (HR) officer to provide personnel service support to your unit by processing a Congressional response. As the HR subject matter expert, you will frequently be required to draft or review official military correspondence. This exercise will incorporate critical thinking and primarily focuses on the core competency of providing HR services.
Materials Required:
1. AR 25-50 Preparing and Managing Correspondence dtd 3 Jun 02
2. AR 1-20 Legislative Liaison dtd 20 Jan 04 (Primarily Chapter 6)
3. Sample Congressional Inquiry
4. Congressional Response Guide
5. Congressional Response Letter Guidance
Instructions: You are currently serving as the BN S-1 and have received a Congressional Inquiry regarding a member of your unit. Using the appropriate letter format from AR 25-50 (and the sample provided), draft a response to the appropriate Congressional office listed in the sample Congressional inquiry. Ensure that your response complies with the guidance provided in the Congressional Response Guides and is based on Army policy and regulatory guidance.
NOTE: This PE does not affect the FTX/CPX reporting in any way. Do not use any of the material or information in this exercise when reporting strength information or updating your BN briefing slides. The PE is only being issued to enhance your HR training.
NOTE: Instructor should place the name of a spouse on the sample congressional inquiry that corresponds to the Alpha Roster for the task force being assigned the PE.
Sample Congressional Inquiry
Congresswoman Virginia Smith
6000 Meadowbrook Mall, Suite 3
Clemmons, NC 27012
Dear Congresswoman Smith:
I am writing to you as a concerned spouse. My husband is in the Army and he has been depolyed to Iraq. He has already deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan already and I feel he has done his fair share. Why can’t the Army find someone else to deploy. I know there are numerous Soldiers in the Army who haven’t even deployed once.
My husband’s unit recently deployed to Baghdad in January 20**. He was initially supposed to PCS to a new unit that wasn’t deploying at Fort Belvoir, VA in March 20**. For some reason his orders were deleted back in July 20** and he was told he was going to have to remain in his unit and deploy again.
Can you please look into this matter and please help bring my husband home? My husband has been away from his family enough and we need him at home. Thank you very much for any help you can give my family.
Sincerely,
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Process a Congressional Inquiry Answer Key
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ORGANIZATIONAL NAME/TITLE
STANDARDIZED STREET ADDRESS
CITY, STATE AND ZIP
Date (July 1, 2000)
Congresswoman Virginia Smith
6000 Meadowbrook Mall, Suite 3
Clemmons, NC 27012
Dear Congresswoman Smith:
Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding _(list name of Soldier)_ and his recent deployment to Baghdad, Iraq.
In accordance with Army policy described in Milper Message 06-232 and ALARACT 078/2009, all Soldiers assigned to a unit scheduled for a deployment fall under Stop Movement. The Stop Movement policy prohibits Soldiers from making a permanent change of station (PCS) move six months prior to a deployment and during the unit’s actual deployment.
This policy is implemented to ensure that Army units deploy with the appropriate number of personnel. Additionally, it ensures that Army units deploy with strong Soldier teams. Units conduct intensive training prior to deployments and retaining Soldiers who have trained together is critical to successfully completing assigned missions.
CPT _(list appropriate individual)_, Personnel Officer for _(list appropriate unit)_ reviewed your inquiry regarding _(list name of Soldier)_ and found that he was, in fact, on assignment to Fort Belvoir, VA with a report date of March 20**. Since his report date fell within our unit’s deployment timeline, he was removed from that assignment in accordance with Army policy. _(list name of Soldier)_ will be allowed to PCS upon the unit’s return from Iraq.
-2-
Your interest on behalf of _(list name of Soldier)_ is appreciated and I hope this information has clarified the Army’s position in this matter.
Sincerely,
Signature Block
Appropriate Unit Official
Letter Format
(Example)
Nathan I. Hale, Jr.
Captain, US Army
Commanding