a. Soldier Readiness. All Soldiers are expected to be ready to deploy with little
advance notice.
To meet this demand, all Soldiers must keep the following items current at all times:
(1) Your Common Access Card (CAC) must be correct and serviceable at all times. Report lost or damaged CAC cards to your chain of command.
(2) Identification tags must be correct and worn at all times while in uniform. Allergy warning tags and Army values tags are the only items authorized for wear on the identification tag chains. Identification tags will be worn at all times while outside the continental United States.
(3) Update emergency data records as soon as a change occurs. The most common causes of change are marriage, divorce, and birth of children, Exceptional Family Member, relocation of Family members, and changes in beneficiaries or their addresses. Report all changes to your personnel and administration center immediately. EFMP data must be updated a minimum of every three years. Ensure that your Family members are command sponsored as soon as you arrive to avoid problems during deployments and OCONUS benefits of AER.
(4) Wills and powers of attorney should be kept current and correct. If you want to create or change a will or power of attorney, contact the legal assistance office at your post.
(5) AR 215-1, paragraph 2-5c establishes the requirement for Family readiness groups. Ensure your Family members are aware of your unit’s Family readiness group. These groups provide vital support and services to Family members when Soldiers are deployed.
(6) Dental readiness is your responsibility. Soldiers are required to have annual dental checks to stay deployable. Any dental condition likely to cause a dental emergency (Category 3 and 4) must be treated to make the Soldier deployable. For more information contact your chain of command.
b. Physical Fitness. Physical readiness is critical to the successful accomplishment of USARAK’s mission. It is as important as proficiency in military skills, tactical and technical training, and material readiness. Every Soldier assigned to USARAK must be fit to fight. The USARAK APFT goal is 270 points. Consequently, every Soldier will do physical training a minimum of five times per week. The USARAK standard is to run four miles in 36 minutes. USARAK PRT hours are from 0630-0745 Monday thru Friday.
Soldiers will not smoke in unit areas during PRT hours or while conducting PRT. Only Soldiers at the ranks of Sergeant Major, CW4, and Lieutenant Colonel and above are authorized to conduct physical training on their own for the purpose of circulating their unit areas to inspect the conduct of PRT. All other Soldiers will conduct physical training as part of a unit including Soldiers with profiles IAW Soldiers profile. The PFC is not off limits during PRT hours; however, it is highly encouraged for Soldiers to conduct PRT outdoors. Use of the PFC is prioritized to supervise Soldiers either on profile or recovering. Units using the PFC during PRT hours will do so as a unit no smaller than a squad and it will be organized and led by a leader. Organized sports of any kind are not authorized during PRT hours.
c. Weight Control Program. USARAK runs an active weight control program (Army Regulation 600-9). Soldiers are weighed in summer PT uniform (without shoes) while in-processing and evaluated by their commander each time they take the APFT or at least once every six months. Soldiers who exceed their maximum screening weight or appear overweight will have their body fat calculated. Soldiers who exceed their maximum percentage of body fat allowance are placed on the weight control program. The weight control program consists of the following elements:
(1) Participation in the program for a minimum of 30 days. (2) Suspension of favorable personnel actions (FLAG). (3) Dietary counseling.
(4) Health education session/medical evaluation.
(5) Participation in an aerobic activity a minimum of three times per week.
(6) Any Soldier failing to make satisfactory progress after six months, or two consecutive months without progress, of enrollment will be processed for separation or given a bar to reenlistment IAW AR 600-9, AR 635-200, and AR 601-280.
d. Leaves and Passes. USARAK units must be capable of responding swiftly to meet contingencies ranging from war to civil disturbance to natural disaster. When you are on pass or leave, it is your responsibility to make sure that your unit knows where you are and when you will return.
(1) Soldiers are encouraged by commanders to take periodic short leaves or leave during the unit’s scheduled block leave, rather than save up a large number of days that they may not be able to use all at one time. Leaves are requested in advance according to your unit standing operating procedure and are approved by commanders using DA Form 31 (Request and Authority for Leave). When you submit a request for leave, you are telling the commander that.
(a) You have sufficient days accrued or are asking for advanced leave.
b) You have enough money to cover your cost of leave and travel.
(c) You will return on time. (If traveling by POV, allow enough time to travel in a safe manner).
(d) You know how to ask for an extension of leave if necessary.
(e) You can be contacted at the leave address stated on your DA Form 31 in the event of a recall at any time.
(f) You will carry your approved DA Form 31 and military identification card (CAC) with you at all times while on leave. Soldiers should also maintain their ID tags with them on leave.
(g) You are expected to sign back into your unit prior to 2400 hours on the last day of your approved leave. Refer to your unit’s policy for specific sign in/out guidance. Failure to return by 2400 hours on the designated last day of leave could result in you being absent without leave. The unit telephone number(s) contained on the DA Form 31 will be used to contact your unit if you cannot return by the prescribed time.
(h) The Soldier’s chain of command must approve in advance any leave (both ordinary and emergency).
(i) For an emergency telephone number for emergency situations, contact your unit staff duty or chain of command, or you may call the USARAK Command Center in an emergency situation at (907) 384-6666.
(j) Soldiers taking leave oversees will see their unit ATO to ensure they complete the required ATIP, as well as, receive a threat and country brief. Overseas travel requires the battalion commander’s approval.
(2) Being placed in a pass status is not a Soldier’s right. Passes are a privilege for deserving Soldiers as determined by commanders.
e. Pawning and Selling Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment. Soldiers are prohibited, regardless of location, to pawn, sell, or assist in the pawning or selling of organizational clothing and individual equipment or any other military property.
f. Private Use of Government Equipment and Vehicles. The private personal use of government equipment and vehicles is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to using a unit motor pool and military tools to make personal car repairs or using a government vehicle for personal trips to the Post Exchange, commissary, shoppette, mini-malls, etc.