Army Reserve leadership brings holiday message to Kuwait

Photo By Sgt. Wesley Landrum | Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of Army Reserve, re-enlists nine Reserve Soldiers at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Dec. 27. Stultz visited Reserve Soldiers during the holidays to talk to them about future job opportunities.  

KUWAIT

12.30.2007

Story by Spc. Wesley Landrum 

50th Public Affairs Detachment

The Chief of Army Reserve, Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz and Command Sgt. Maj. Leon Caffie, Army Reserve command sergeant major, spoke to Reserve Soldiers deployed in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom on Christmas Eve at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and sent a message of brightness and hope about their Army careers.

The Reserve leadership toured the Middle East during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Stultz said the trip was long but worth it.

Stultz first met with Lt. Gen. James J. Lovelace, Third Army/U.S. Army Central commanding general; and received a Third Army/USARCENT brief before meeting with Reserve Soldiers.

"I think we (Command Sgt. Maj. Caffie and I) slept most of the way here," Stultz joked with the crowd of more than 250 Reserve Soldiers.

Stultz also discussed transforming the Reserve over time by standing up operational and functional units so reservists would have a solid career path and functional oversight.

"Don't worry about your future – the future is very bright – we're going to have more and more opportunities for you," Stultz said. "We're going to have more and more units. We are looking out there and saying, 'okay where do we need to make sure we have a career path?'"

Stultz told the crowd he was making waves of progress with transformation, particularly with civilian employers.

"I went to the L.A. (Los Angeles) Police Department a few weeks ago and talked to the big bosses. While we talked, I heard their pleas for manpower," he said. "I got them to jump on the program when I told them I could find them qualified people, train them to do the job and help with health insurance.

"The LAPD told me if I could do that for them, they would guarantee that person a job and help offset salary disputes," Stultz said.

Stultz then introduced Caffie. The general said his sergeant major is an individual who really cares about Soldiers.

"The most important persons in this room are the young Soldiers ... they are the future," Caffie said to the Reserve Soldiers.

Caffie then told the crowd there are two types of leaders – those that care about their Soldiers and those that care just for themselves. He gave advice for those people in the second category.

"If you are in the latter category, step up and tell me," Caffie said. "I will shake your hand, give you a coin and show you out the door because I don't want you in my Reserves if you have that 'me first' attitude."

The Army Reserve leaders also addressed family support while deployed, health care and recruiting.

Stultz and Caffie wrapped up the visit by re-enlisting nine Reserve Soldiers in front of their peers.

Editor's note: Maj. Michele Sutak, Third Army/U.S. Army Central public affairs, contributed to this article.

• Date Taken: 12.30.2007
• Date Posted: 12.30.2007 07:00
• Story ID: 15069
• Location: KW