Speaking of Walt Disney World, We heard about this new program while we were there last week. The resort itself was beautiful and I highly recommend staying there.
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service, April 16, 2007) – Shades of Green, an Armed Forces Recreation Center on Walt Disney World, is offering military veterans with less than 20 years of service an opportunity to vacation on the resort this September as part of a “Salute to our Veterans” program.

While Shades of Green can assist honorably discharged veterans year-round in acquiring discounted accommodations in neighboring resorts and hotels, the “Salute to Our Veterans” program allows veterans to book rooms at Shades of Green Resort for the first time. Reservations normally are limited to active-duty DOD employees or those retired with 20 or more years of military service.

Space in the “Salute to our Veterans” program is limited. Early reservations are recommended.

“I am really impressed and proud to be eligible to use this vacation resort,” said Ms. Nancy Dreussi, unit administrative technician for the Army Reserve’s A Company, 256th Combat Support Hospital, in Blacklick, Ohio. “As a veteran of the active-duty Army and someone who has been deployed overseas to a hostile area as an Army Reservist, this is an awesome ‘thank you.’ It is great to be able to get away with the family, especially after having been gone from them for such a long time.”

Located on Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Shades of Green is one of five Armed Forces Recreation Centers in the world. The AFRC’s are self-supporting, and provide luxury accommodations at a fraction of the cost of similar facilities. Room rates are on a sliding scale based on rank or grade, and reservations are normally restricted to active-duty or retired DOD employees.

Shades of Green sits between the Palm and Magnolia golf courses, two of Disney’s PGA-certified courses, and provides Soldiers and families all the comforts and benefits of a resort vacation. Situated on 30 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with cascading waterfalls and lush tropical gardens, the resort boasts 586 guest rooms with 11 family and junior suites, two heated swimming pools, a hot tub and a children’s pool.

Guests are provided transportation to all Walt Disney World attractions and early entry into select venues inside the Magic Kingdom. Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park are just minutes away. Discount tickets are available to all area attractions.

“We owe our Soldiers and veterans the opportunity to enjoy the same quality of life they’ve pledged to defend,” said Mr. Rich Gorman, chief operating officer of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command, which runs the resorts. “These AFRC’s are one of the many ways we show our Soldiers we’re here for them and their families.”

For more information or to make room reservations, call Shades of Green at (407) 827-8387 or go online at www.shadesofgreenvets.org.

(Ms. Margaret Mckenzie writes for the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Commmand)

ates Extends Army Tours in Iraq to 15 Months
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2007 – All soldiers in the U.S. Central Command area of operations will serve 15-month tours in the region beginning immediately, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced today.
“Effective immediately, active Army units now in the Central Command area of responsibility and those headed there will deploy for not more than 15 months and return home for not less than 12 months,” Gates said, during a Pentagon news conference.

This policy applies to all active duty Army units with the exception of two brigades currently in Iraq that have already been extended to 16 months. The policy does not apply to Marine Corps, Navy or Air Force units serving in Central Command. It also does not apply to Army National Guard or Army Reserve units deployed to the region.

The 15-month tour applies to active duty soldiers serving in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and all the countries in the region. U.S. Central Command stretches from Kenya to Kazakhstan and Egypt to Pakistan.

Soldiers will receive an extra $1,000 a month for each month or portion of the month that they serve longer than 12 months, Gates said.

Gates called this policy an “interim change.” The goal for active duty units is 12 months deployed followed by 12 months at home station. Ultimately, the Army would like to see soldiers deployed for 12 months and home for 24 months.

“My objective was to set clear guidelines that our commanders troops and their families could use in determining how future rotations in support of the global war on terror would effect them,” Gates said.

Upon taking office in December 2006, Gates learned that even the sustaining the level of deployed Army forces needed before surging five brigades into Iraq would require active duty units to flow into Iraq before they had spent a full 12 months at home. He said this reality was a significant factor in his decision to recommend to President Bush that defense officials increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps over the next five years by 62,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines.

The deployment change is intended to provide better clarity, predictability and sustainability in how the Defense Department deploys active duty Army forces, Gates said.

He said the changes produce clear, realistic, executable, and long-term policy goals to guide the deployment of active duty forces. The change will also allow the Army to support the 20 brigade goal of the surge as long as it is needed, he said.

“Without this action we would have had to deploy five Army active duty brigades sooner than the 12-month at home goal,” Gates said. “I believe it is fairer to all soldiers that all share the burden equally.”

The secretary said he realizes his decision will ask a lot of Army troops and their families.

“We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and their commitment to accomplishing our mission,” he said. “In the end, this new approach will better allow the Army to better support the war effort while providing a more predictable and dependable deployment schedule for our soldiers and their families.”

Sponsored by the DOD Military Community and Family Policy, the Month of the Military Child is a time to highlight the military f children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.

Throughout the month, numerous military commands will plan special events to honor military children. These special activities include arts and crafts shows, picnics, carnivals, fairs, parades, block parties and other misc. events. For more information, please go to: www.monthofthemilitarychild.com