Survivor Advisory Working Group (SAWG) -Phone Interview

Good morning/afternoon, __________________________. Thank you for your time today to talk about the Army’s Survivor Advisory Group or SAWG. We know your time is important, so we’ll try and keep the call to 15 minutees.

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I just wanted to give you a little bit of background and requirements to the SAWG. The Survivor Advisory Working Group was started in 2012. In 2016 we had a formal charter approved by the Secretary of the Army. The SAWG was established to provide advice and recommendations regarding vital Active Component, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve Survivor quality of life issues. Advisors meet with Army senior leadership bi-annually to provide an assessment of how current Survivor programs and initiatives may affect the Survivor community. The Army SAWG is a diverse group of Army Survivors who represent the Total Army and suffered loss in a variety of ways.

Some of the member requirements are, you will need to sign both a non-disclosure agreement and a volunteer agreement. Additionally, you will be required to attend the SAWG’s bi-annual meetings. The current Chief of Staff of the Army likes to host them in his home, but future meetings may occur in different locations, potentially in different parts of the country. The Army will fund the travel, but wanted to make you aware. We will have teleconferences leading up to the SAWG to address previous SAWG meeting issues and note new concerns. Failure of SAWG Advisors to participate in meetings may require us to ask you to step down and appoint new SAWG Advisors.

As to a way ahead for the selection of new advisors. Our intent today is to talk to each of the nominees via teleconference. After we have concluded these calls we will determine nine individuals who will receive formal applications, which include a few essay questions and require a letter of recommendation. After we receive those, they will provided to the Chief of Staff of the Army for a decision. Do you have any questions? Great. Let’s begin.