ARLINGTON, Va., - To jumpstart the flow of information between the National Guard Bureau and the states on retirement services, the Soldier Family Support and Services branch will convene March 1-5 in Savannah, Ga.
Geared toward the full-time program managers and state retirement services officers, the conference is comprised of three phases, said Maj. Dale Krueger, the retirement services officer at NGB.
The first phase will focus on getting information to the Soldiers from their respective state and providing them with any changes in policy, as well as things to think about for the future.
The second part of the conference is primarily geared toward Army-wide certifications required of all retirement services personnel. The third phase involves NGB-level and higher obtaining feedback on how policies and procedures can be improved through breakout sessions.
The third phase is most important, said Krueger, who works as a liaison officer to big Army's retirement services branch developing policy that may affect those throughout the Army Guard.
"For me, they key is the break-out sessions," said Krueger. "I really need the way-ahead so that I can more effectively develop how the branch, how NGB, functions and how we function with big Army for the future in retirements and servicing our retirees."
The need for better communication is what led to the conference in the first place, said Krueger, adding that often there has been a disconnect between those at the state and territory level and those at NGB and the Department of the Army level.
"While we have individuals that work pieces (within the retirement process), there is not a retirement branch," said Krueger. "There is often a disconnect in … getting information flowing."
One of the break-out sessions focuses on ways that NGB can better provide for those in the states and territories.
"So, what we're going to ask in one of the break-out sessions is, would this be helpful (to have a retirement services branch) and if so, what should it look like? We need the Soldiers in the states to tell us," said Krueger.
The conference isn't only for Soldiers in the Army Guard. The Army Reserve will also participate.
"They don't have the structure that we do so," said Krueger. "In fact, they don't even have RSOs in their structure, and they're trying to get that developed. Instead of having a conference themselves, the liaison asked me if he could basically piggyback on ours because the certification piece is the same, regardless if it's Guard or Reserve."
Krueger said there are a few things that he hopes attendees will take away from the conference.
"First and foremost, I want them to know their job better or know the things that they can affect positive changes for the Soldiers," he said. "Number two, I want them to come away feeling that NGB is here to help them and that we are trying to affect change in a positive way for the future."