Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Burger | U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve,...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – The top general of the Army Reserve visited with troops on Bagram Air field March 20.
U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, commander of U.S. Army Reserve Command, re-enlisted and recognized several reserve soldiers from around Afghanistan before engaging them in a town hall meeting. The native of Dillion, S.C., visited the troops as part of his farewell tour, said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Edward Campos, a retention non-commissioned officer and a native of Los Angeles.
Stultz re-enlisted 27 reserve soldiers to begin the night. He informed the re-enlistees and the soldiers in the audience that the dedicated service they provide is seen and appreciated by the lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
“[You soldiers] will be part of the reason why we’ll get our [yearly] budgets, because when I tell Congress about what you’re doing here, they can’t help but give [the reserves] what we’re asking for,” he said.
After the soldiers re-enlisted, the general and U.S. Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Schultz presented each of them with coins of excellence and a personalized “thank you” letter signed by each of them.
“It was an absolute honor [to be re-enlisted by the general]. I’m honored to be in Afghanistan. I’ve wanted to [deploy] and do good things and I believe in many of the things we’re doing here for the Afghan people,” said U.S. Army Spc. Diana S. Varga, a native of Clearwater, Fla., and a civil affairs specialist with the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion. Varga signed on for a six-year re-enlistment.
Once the reenlistment ceremony ended, the general transitioned into the town hall meeting. Before the general addressed the soldier’s issues, Schultz told the Soldiers to expect some changes to occur within the fiscal year.
“There’s a shotgun blast of changes that’s going to happen. I want you to stay focused on the mission here, but understand the changes that are going on back home. You need to stay up and current on all these changes as you go back and go into reset mode,” he said.
The soldiers asked the command team a variety of questions concerning some of the reserve forces most pressing issues such as civilian job placement, retirement, family programs, the drawdown of forces and the future of the Army reserves.
“I think [the general] has a good handle on our issues and you can see that he’s very knowledgeable about everything he answered,” Varga said after the town hall was over.
As Stultz is closing the door on a 38-year career in the Army Reserves, he closed out with a departing message for all reserve warfighters.
“I appreciate your dedication to service and it’s special for the reserve guys. We put our jobs and families on hold and go put their lives on the line on a routine basis. You can’t ask anymore from an individual. You are a national treasure and our Soldiers love America because they know America loves them.”
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2012 02:09 |
| Story ID: | 85663 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 231 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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