A-35ers--setting an example.(A-35)

Within United States military organizations, functions are many times seen as personnel and troop support related if they deal with issues that affect individuals. Travel, lodging, pay and benefits, change of station, leave, and personal property shipments are just some examples of issues that affect the individual soldier. This issue of the DTJ highlights one of those areas--Passenger Travel. Passenger Travel is the business of moving people, and closely related to that in the military is travel in conjunction with a permanent change of station (PCS). In that situation, not only does the soldier move, but so does the soldier's family and all of their household possessions.

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Successful, efficient, and damage-free movement of personal property is a key contributor to troop morale. To give more attention to this important function, NDTA is creating a Household Goods Subcommittee under its existing Surface Committee. This is an exciting opportunity for all of those working to launch this new subcommittee, including one of our A-35ers, Mr. Mike Babiak, who will hold the position of Household Goods Subcommittee Vice-Chair. Mike, who is the Manager of Government & Defense Accounts at McCollister's Transportation Group, is an example of an A-35er who has been active, remains active, and benefits from his work within NDTA. Others could learn from Mike's example and leadership. A-35ers are encouraged to actively participate in the new Household Goods Subcommittee as well as other NDTA committees including the functional committees: Passenger Travel Services, Military Airlift, Sealift, Surface Transportation, Distribution, and Security Best Practices. These committees address topics of mutual interest to industry and DOD as well as other government departments or agencies. NDTA also has administrative committees who work with the President, Board of Directors, and NDTA staff in the management, oversight, and overall betterment of the Association. These committees are Education and Professional Development, Finance and Audit, Foundation, Chapter Support and Membership Development, Communications and Publication. and of course, A-35.

If you are a senior industry member or government liaison to one of these committees, I urge you to consider sponsoring a junior staff member to become involved with you. As we are all aware, today's NDTA A-35ers are tomorrow's leaders, and what better way to prepare them for their future leadership roles than to acquaint them with today's issues.

If you are an A-35er, I recommend that you decide which committee is most relevant to you, your career, or your NDTA chapter and become involved. As Mike's example demonstrates, once you become involved the "sky is the limit." Detailed information on all committees is on the NDTA homepage--www.ndtahq.com--under committees.

* A-35ers in the Scott-St. Louis NDTA Chapter are looking forward to their first event at the AFCEA-NDTA TechNet Mid-America Symposium, July 28-29, 2009, at the Gateway Convention. The Scott-St. Louis NDTA Chapter will partner again this year with the local AFCEA Chapter to host TechNet. A-35ers will also have a chance to talk informally with NDTA President Ken Wykle (LTG, USA Ret.), who is scheduled to speak at the Symposium. Contact Lori Farnsworth, Central Region A-35 Representative, for details (618-229-1585; lori.farnsworth@hq.transcom.mil).

Ms. Lori Leffler, CTC, A-35 Chair

Global Government Strategic Manager, The Hertz Corporation

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