“What it means is, you’re more relevant than ever”

Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, Chief of the Army Reserve, spoke to reservists with the 7th Civil Support Command in Kaiserslautern during a visit Feb. 10 to Germany. Stultz allayed fears about budget cuts, assuring soldiers that the Army Reserve was “more relevant than ever,” and that the Army would be depending on the Reserve to fill gaps in capabilities, including in Europe and elsewhere overseas.

Read the rest of this story, “Army Reserve could help fill void in Europe and elsewhere, commander says by Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes.

Welcome Home Warrior Citizen

I have experienced firsthand the feeling of being welcomed home after a deployment. I deployed as an Active Duty Soldier. As the time drew closer to returning home the anticipation and anxiety continued to build until it seemed almost overwhelming at times. The moment the plane landed and my boots hit American soil, the welcome was felt in the cheers of the crowd, the music, the embraces, the welcome home banners, and the entire celebration. I returned to the installation where I was assigned – an installation surrounded with military families and a military community.

Commad Sgt.Maj. Commenia and Col. Gary Bullard Welcome Home Warriors of the Army Reserve Careers Division

I’m sure my experience was different than Soldiers who deploy while assigned to the Army Reserve. I have welcomed home Soldiers assigned to Army Reserve units that I support. I was there when my brother, a Soldier assigned to an Army Reserve unit, boarded the bus to leave for deployment. I was there when he returned to a demobilization site to welcome him home. It is different from my personal experience, because while some deploy as a unit, most of these Soldiers deploy as individuals and are later assigned to an unfamiliar unit. The welcome home is different, because these Soldiers do not return to an Active Duty Installation that they were assigned to and that they called home. Soldiers assigned to the Army Reserve are “Warrior Citizens” from all over and not always from a military community. Because of this, many of them may live in communities with little to no understanding of military life let alone the effects of deployment on Soldiers and the struggles they may experience upon returning home.

Today, was the first time I was a part of welcoming home Soldiers within my own command, Army Reserve Careers Division (ARCD). ARCD conducted its “Welcome Home Warrior Citizen” ceremony for the Soldiers who returned home from deployment within the last year. More than twenty five Soldiers and their families were honored in gratitude of the service and sacrifices that were made in support of the “Global War On Terror”. Every Soldier, every Leader knows that the family unit is vitally important to the success of the Army Reserve. Their sacrifices are just as great, equally important, and infinitely appreciated.

Share your experience.  Whether you are a family member or a Soldier, share your thoughts.  What did you appreciate most about your welcome home and what do you think could be improved upon?

Drill Sergeant:  What it takes

                                                                    

          Piling fear in a Soldier through roaring commands, Drill instructors have a reputation as unforgiving taskmasters. From demanding what seems like thousands of push-ups in seconds, the Drill Sergeant will quickly appear to be a “DREAD SERGEANT”. But as your time in training progresses, and you see the reward of your efforts and abilities, you find that the dread and fear of your Drill Sergeants is transformed into the utmost respect for them.

          Drill Sergeants implant a lifelong sense of what it takes to be a true Soldier of the United States Army. With Drill Sergeants are the most motivational individuals in the Army, they push Soldiers to pull from deep within themselves the will to overcome many physical obstacles when the Soldier feels like they have given what seemed to have been “their all”.

“I will assist each individual in their efforts to become a highly motivated, well disciplined, physically and mentally fit soldier, capable of defeating any enemy on today’s modern battlefield.”

(Exert from the U S. Army Drill Sergeant Creed)

Drill Sergeant: The Hat

The most profound thing that sticks in your mind about a Drill Sergeant is “the hat”. Known as a Campaign Hat, any Drill will tell you that it is a symbol of honor, integrity, excellence and leadership. Male Drill Sergeants wear the World War I campaign hat (nicknamed the “Brown Round”) and female Drill Sergeants wear the olive drab Australian bush cap informally known as “cowgirl” hats.

Drill Sergeants: Up and Beyond the Call of Duty

Army Reserve Drill Sergeants set the standards for Soldiers competing in the Secretary of the Army, Army Reserve Career Counselor of the Year competition.

By Pfc. Chalon Hutson
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Every Soldier in the Army remembers their basic training experience. Most of all, one of the highlights of that experience which they remember is their drill sergeants. With a commanding stature, loud booming voice and flat brimmed hat that make even the toughest Soldiers tremble; drill sergeants have been there to turn civilian’s into Soldiers.

None represents drill sergeants better than the reservists from the 485th Regiment, 98th Division Training Unit, who assisted in the 2011 Secretary of the Army, Army Reserve Career Counselor of the Year Award competition which took place at Fort Benning, GA between Sept. 19 through 23.

Their mission was to assist in all ways which a drill sergeant could, whether it be conducting warrior task or a physical fitness test.

“We are our own entity; our own special branch,” said Drill Sergeant Alexander Mosley about the independence of the Drill Sergeant Corps.

The drill sergeant hat is often considered the most important piece of the uniform, creating an intimidating image that no Soldier will forget.

“The campaign hat is the signature piece of a drill sergeant’s [uniform]. Throughout anyone’s Army career, they will always remember the drill sergeant,” Mosley said. “You know if you see the hat; you are going to hear the loud thunder’s roar coming right behind you.”

Becoming a drill sergeant is a challenge all on its own. Candidates go through rigorous training, which some consider more difficult than initial basic training itself.

“Some of the training we go through; you have to keep in mind that you are going to be training basic training Soldiers. So it is like going through basic training all over again,” he said.

Drill Sergeant Ralph Allen, an 18 year Army veteran, spoke on what he learned while becoming a drill sergeant and what he hopes to impose upon Soldiers he trains.

“I learned to withstand different situations, how to manage life, in general and how to take care of Soldiers,” Allen said. “Don’t take life for granted. Try to be all they can be.”

“You have to get them in the mindset of ‘Now I am in the Army,’” Mosley described about his experience will basic trainees. “So, you have to break down the civilian and rebuild them back up into the Soldier.”

Overall, these drill instructors help keep the Army values instilled upon Soldiers now and in the future. Only the best can have the honor to wear the drill sergeant hat, in order to maintain the strong Army we have today.

“You have to be physically fit… You have to have good leadership qualities. You have to live all the Army values and you have to be one to go up and beyond the call of duty,” Mosley said.

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Drill Sergeants

Reserve Drill Sergeants at Fort Benning, Ga, assisted in the 2011 Secretary of the Army, Army Reserve Career Counselor of the Year Award

Written by Spc. CaTria Williamson
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Whether you know them as Military Training Instructors (Air Force), Recruit Division Commanders (Navy), or Drill Instructors (Marines); the United States Army recognizes them as DRILL SERGEANTS.

The beginning of your military career starts with the lasting impression of a Drill sergeant.

The Drill sergeant is one of the most knowledgeable, yet the toughest, most physically demanding, discipline instilling members of the military services. It is one of the most important duty positions in the military and only the best non-commissioned officers are selected for such duty.

Active component and Reserve Drill Sergeants, once trained, have the same missions, duties, and responsibilities.

Drill Sergeants for the Reserve component work just as hard, and train just as tough. They put time and effort into Soldiers because they too are responsible for training Soldiers and making them into true “warriors”.

Secretary of the Army, Army Reserve Career Counselor of the Year Competition

Written by Spc. CaTria Williamson
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From 13 Battalions…

Over a thousand soldiers were whittled down to ONLY 13…

Those 13 were chosen…All to unearth JUST 1…

The 1 who will become…

The Army Reserve Career Counselor of the Year!

Many do not know what it takes to be an Army Reserve Career Counselor. Nor do they know what it means to wear the Career Counselor Badge.

Army Career Counselor Badge

The Career Counselor Badge recognizes those who selected as promotion and career advancement coordinators, and Retention Non-commissioned Officers (NCO). The eagle on the badge, with raised and outstretched wings, is a national emblem. The branches of olive suggest service in peacetime as well as in war. The spear and musket from the seal of the Department of the Army symbolize the role of the Army in National Defense and the many specialized requirements served by the activities of the career counselor.

If you have heard it said before, no NCOs advocate the saying, “We’re about taking care of the Soldiers”, more than career counselors.

It is because of the care taken by these men and women of the Army Reserve that Soldiers are able to advance in their careers, relocate, take special training, and explore the multiple avenues of life in the Army.

The job of an Army Reserve Career Counselor deserves special recognition for the impacts they make in Soldiers lives.

Hosted by the Army Reserve Careers Division, commanded by Col. Gary U. Bullard, The Secretary of the Army conducts an annual competition to select the Secretary of the Army, Army Reserve Career Counselor of the year. Over a thousand Soldiers undergo a preliminary competition within their battalion. From those thirteen, one career counselor is chosen. Those career counselors, the crème de la crème, then met to go head-to-head against one another competing to be named the Army Reserve Career Counselor of the Year.

This year’s competition will meet from September 20th through the 23rd in Fort Benning, Georgia with the Army Reserve Careers Division senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Major Connie F. Commenia as the board president.
This competition requires these Soldiers to know their jobs in and out. From Army regulations and publications, to study guides from cover to cover. They have prepared themselves physically and mentally.

Beginning on September 20th, they will exemplify what it means to be a career counselor!

Check out the competition and be sure to congratulate then for already winning their battalion competition.

Quote of the Day

Staff Sgt. Paul Ramos, right, and Army Sgt. Joseph Sexton, Army Reservists with the 425th Civil Affairs Battalion

“This morning I spoke with Soldiers in Afghanistan via video teleconference and they tell me morale is great. Soldiers are proud of what they are doing and they are glad they are serving.  They often tell me they want three things: “Predictability, ‘use me’, and ‘don’t waste my time’.” 

 

 Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, Chief of the Army Reserve

Individual Ready Reserve Affiliation Program

Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) Affiliation Program began on 1 July 2011. Local Reserve units will help connect affiliated IRR Soldiers and their Families with the resources to address their physical and psychological health needs, career issues, and Family concerns.

Often IRR Soldiers are coming off of active duty and do not know all the programs available to aid the Soldier and their families. The Affiliation Program will put them in contact with a Reserve Unit where they can talk to Soldiers who have already successfully integrated their military and civilian lives.

There is no obligation for IRR Soldiers in the Affiliation Program to participate unit training or to maintain contact with the unit. They will have to acknowledge the program and their affiliation to a Reserve Unit and that they understand that support and resources are available for them while assigned to the IRR.

For more information on the IRR, visit the Human Resource Command’s website at www.hrc.army.mil
For more information about the Army Reserve, visit www.usar.army.mil and to learn more about Army Reserve Programs and go to http://StayArmyReserve.com.

“The Real World of Soldiering”

Army Reserve Soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Urquia stands - Army Strong

 

“I strongly believe your main task is a Soldier first and MOS is second,
knowing this you will keep yourselves fit and ready for battle.”

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Urquia
Army Reserve Careers Division Best Warrior

Many people believe that recruiters and career counselors are removed from the “Real World of Soldiering”.  But the truth be told, Army Reserve Career Counselors (ARCC) are just like you.  They come from all walks of life, and have held a multiple positions and specialties in the military.  They too deploy and have their home life stretched and sometimes broken based on their decision to be an American Soldier.     

They also compete along with the fellow Soldiers to hone their Soldiering skills in competitions in  such as the Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition.

One such Soldier is Army Reserve Career Counselor, Sgt. 1^st Class Daniel Urquia.  Sgt. 1^st Class Urquia, assigned to the 2^nd Battalion, Army Reserves Careers Division (ARCD) has 10 years of service, six as a Active Guard Reserve (AGR).  His military occupation specialty before becoming an ARCC  was 92F, Unit Supply Specialist . 

I got this...

Sgt. 1^st Class Urquia competed and won the Army Reserve Careers Division Best Warrior Competition held in conjunction with the 11^th Aviation Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort Knox, Kentucky. 

During the competition, Sgt. 1^st Class Urquia was interviewed by MSG Debbie Maldonado.