Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Valentine | Chief of Army Reserve, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley, speaks to Army Reserve soldiers,...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — “The most important thing is to hear what is on your mind and have some dialogue and open discussion.”
With that, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley opened a Town Hall meeting with Army Reserve soldiers here April 27. Talley, who serves as chief, Army Reserve, and commanding general, U.S. Army Reserve Command, visited Kandahar Airfield to help celebrate the 105th birthday of the Army Reserve during a two-day visit. Before leading the discussion, Talley opened with a simple request.
“There is nothing off limits. Anything you want to ask is fine with me,” said Talley. “But, if I disagree with you, I’ll say I disagree, but don’t back down, be Army Strong. Don’t let me off the hook. Challenge everything.”
Q: Will there be money for training?
Sequestration and budget cuts have “zero impact” on funds for soldiers attending their mandatory battle assemblies said Talley. He continued by dispelling rumors of future cancellations of battle assemblies and didn’t see any future changes that would affect them. Talley talked about the possibility of increased overseas/joint forces training to increase stronger bonds within the armed forces and our allies. There was also mention of finding troop program unit positions with major commands like U.S. Africa Command and Southern Command headquarters.
Q: Will there be a drawdown?
“Right now the Army Reserve is where it needs to be as far as structure, force size and capability, but if sequestration continues, the Army Reserve may have to look at future reductions. We can’t let the budget drive strategy,” said Talley. “Let’s look at the strategy and ask, ‘What is the mission of the Army Reserve? It is to support the active duty Army and what they need.’”
Q: Active/Guard Reserve? Is the program going away and why is it difficult to obtain a position?
Talley’s response to the first part of the question: “That’s crazy talk, there is no way we will get rid of our full-time staff, especially our AGRs.” He explained that without these people, “the Army Reserve might as well shut their doors.” He also made a comment that brought laughter to those gathered for the town hall: “Who ever gave you that information, they should go and get a urinalysis, because they are crazy,” he said.
The answer for the second part of the question involved quality. He explained that all soldiers in the Army Reserve, which includes AGR soldiers, have to be quality Soldiers. He said there would not be changes that make it “easier” for those looking to become AGR. What he wants to change is the “back-door” ways in which some soldiers obtain AGR status. Talley plans on making the process fair across the board for all those soldiers who are qualified.
Q: Will there be changes to the Army Reserve retirement program?
Talley said he hasn’t heard any serious discussion about changing the Army Reserve retirement system. He did hear about changing the active component to be more like the Army Reserve system.
He segued into dispelling rumors about changes in pay for battle assemblies. Currently, Army Reserve soldiers get paid for four days for two days of battle assembly. It is known to those involved, soldiers don’t get reimbursed for travel or time spent on “off duty” hours. If they did change it, Talley said there would be a mass exodus in the Reserve component.
“Every time that issue comes up, it gets pummeled to death within seconds,” he said.
Q: Will the Army Reserve be more involved in emergency relief efforts in the United States?
The National Defense Act of 2012 includes the involuntary mobilization for missions with combatant commands involving catastrophic events in defense of the homeland for up to 90 days. Talley said it happened for the first time in history with the activation of three pump units for Hurricane Sandy. He said they had 24 hour’s notice. They grabbed their bags, performed their mission and returned to their homes.
“The best part of that is, there is no mobilization site,” he said with a laugh.
He said that he wants to expand the Army Reserve mission with Homeland Security, but he also said he wasn’t trying to get into the Guard’s mission.
Q: Why are only entry-level jobs posted on employment sites sponsored by the Army Reserve?
“It’s not true that they are all entry level. The key is, you have to actively engage and work with those folks,” said Talley referring to the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces.
Talley gave several examples of soldiers he talked to that obtained well paying and prestigious jobs through Army Reserve sponsored civilian employment offices. He told the story of a drilling company that hired 40 soldiers and were so happy with their new employees, they wanted 20 more.
The CAR plans on implementing plans to track the civilian employment status of Army Reserve soldiers, to check on their well being. He also wants soldiers educated on employment programs available to them, especially when they return from deployments.
“When you get deployed, you change,” said Talley. “You have to make the decision to come back a better person and better leader for your family and employer.”
He said soldiers had so much responsibility while deployed, the job they had in the civilian sector wasn’t quite good enough.
"You want something more and that’s a good thing. Let the Employment Partnership Office help you.”
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.03.2013 12:35 |
| Story ID: | 106295 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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