Chief of Army reserve visits djibouti, meets troops

Photo By Master Sgt. Rachel Waller | Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, speaks with Army Reservists during an all-hands call March 8, 2013, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Nearly 150 Army Reservists work at Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and Camp Lemonnier. CJTF-HOA conducts military operations, activities, and exercises with partner nations in order to promote security and stability throughout East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rachel Waller)  

CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI

03.08.2013

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley, the Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, hosted an all-hands call March 8, 2013, for Army Reservists at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

Talley began the event by expressing his appreciation for Reservists’ service and then opened the floor to the more than 100 soldiers in attendance for questions.

“Thank you for your service to our nation, to our army, to our joint force here in AFRICOM and the command within AFRICOM here in Djibouti,” said Tally. “More importantly, I want to thank your families. They are the reason we serve.”

Most of the Reservists’ questions focused on a potential reduction of benefits, as a result of budget sequestration, a fiscal policy procedure adopted by Congress that calls for automatic spending reductions to lower the federal deficit.

While Talley said the Army Reserve will see a reduction in resources, he noted, “The good news is sequestration will not affect military pay or anything we do as uniformed members of Army Reserve.”

The general said most budget cuts will come from reductions in maintenance contracts and possible holds on new construction projects.

In addition, he also reminded Reservists of their unique role as citizen soldiers.

“The goal of Reservists is to be a civilian and then a soldier,” Talley said. “What makes the Army Reserve so valuable is we are CS [combat support] and CSS [combat service support], and our skill sets are so good and value-added because of what we learn in the private/public sector.”

After the all-hands call, Talley dined with Reservist soldiers assigned to the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion and Detachment 5, 79th Military Police Company, at the camp galley.

By and large, Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and Camp Lemonnier are supported by more than 850 soldiers, of which nearly 18 percent are Army Reservists, according to 1st Sgt. Paul Rogers, CJTF-HOA noncommissioned officer in charge, Army Element.

Based at Camp Lemonnier, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa conducts military operations, activities, and exercises with partner nations in order to promote security and stability throughout East Africa.

• Date Taken: 03.08.2013
• Date Posted: 03.14.2013 10:36
• Story ID: 103463
• Location: CAMP LEMONNIER, DJ