Active First News Today

19 CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo -- Since Sgt. 1st Class Michael Raines joined the U.S. Army under the Active First program in 2009, he hasn’t visited his hometown in Maryland for more than two weeks at a time. The program allows Soldiers to serve on active duty before transitioning to the National Guard. As his initial three-year contract was coming to an end, Raines was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, so he decided to enlist for another four years ...