 After years of drawdowns and cutbacks due to sequestration, we're shifting gears. The Army is now hiring. The Army is looking to hire an additional 28,000 soldiers by September of 2017. There's some other good news and you're going to like what you hear, but first, a little background. The National Defense Authorization Act requires the Army to increase total force and strength to 1,018,000 soldiers. It breaks down to an extra 4,000 for the reserve, 8,000 for the guard, and 16,000 for the active component. To meet these requirements, the Army is considering all available options to recruit, assess, develop, employ, and retain quality, resilient, and fit soldiers. The Army will utilize talent management, incentives, and promotion opportunities to reach their goals by the end of this fiscal year, but what does that all mean? Well for starters, the Army removed the 90-day estimated termination of service restriction, so now you have up to your ETS to re-enlist. The Army has also extended the retention control points for promotable E4s and E5s in shortage or balanced MOSs, so now you have more time to get promoted. And the Army is offering an additional selective retention bonus to re-enlisting soldiers with an ETS before September 30th, 2017 of $13,000. This is in addition to the bonus you would normally receive. Wow, right? It's pretty exciting. So it looks like the Army needs me and you. Let's get that new uniform squared away and make an appointment with a retention NCO today. Be sure to check out Milper Message 17-089 to learn more, and if you have questions or topic ideas for sit rep, let us know on Facebook or Twitter. Sergeant Phillips signing off.