HEIDELBERG, Germany — Used to be only the brass could go to official Army shindigs in their military-owned vehicles.
Not anymore.
According to new rules just released by the Pentagon, Army vehicles can be used to attend command, promotions, retirements, and unit activations and deactivations and other unit functions.
But don’t show up for the next hail and farewell in your Humvee, unless you’re stuck on the clean-up detail. The rule change only allows attendees the use of “non-tactical vehicles,” or NTVs for short.
“Now, employees who want to attend an official ceremony can use NTVs for transportation even if they are not an organization’s senior representative at the ceremony,” according to an Army announcement. “The previous policy only allowed senior representatives and ceremony participants to use NTVs.”
Also, it’s a no-go on everyone bringing their own Army sedan.
“Although taking multiple NTVs to an event may sometimes be necessary, an installation should not send 10 NTVs to an official function when a 15-passenger bus would accomplish the mission,” reads the announcement.
Officials changed the rules because they wanted to boost participation in off-duty functions.
“Attendance by the Army community is encouraged because it improves the morale and spirit of the Army,” read the announcement.
