Chief of Army Reserve, senior enlisted leader visit 7th CSC

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Chlosta | The Army Reserve Senior Enlisted Leader Command Sgt. Maj. Luther Thomas Jr., a native of Laurinburg, N.C., speaks during an American Forces Network radio show during his visit to the 7th Civil Support Command June 3, 2015. Thomas also spoke about the Army Reserve pilot program to retain highly-skilled active duty Soldiers as they transition out of the Regular Army. Under the new AC2RC pilot program launched in fiscal year 2014, the Reserve Component Career Counselors are able to contact and potentially contract regular Army Soldiers 365 days from their expiration term of service or ETS date, instead of 120 days out.  

KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, GERMANY

06.02.2015

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Chlosta 

7th Mission Support Command

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Against the backdrop of Army reductions in end strength, the Chief of the Army Reserve and the Army Reserve senior enlisted leader conducted a town hall for the 7th Civil Support Command, June 2.

Chief of the Army Reserve, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, and resident of Arlington, Va. and the Army Reserve Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Luther Thomas Jr., fielded over a dozen questions from 7th CSC Soldiers, civilians and family members.

“Thank you for being a Soldier in our Army,” Talley said.

Army Reserve Soldiers are organized into different product lines, he added.

Army Reserve Soldiers serve as one of three types: either as Active Guard Reserve Soldiers or as Troop Program Unit Soldiers or as Individual Mission Augmentee Soldiers.

“What I’m looking for, as a Soldier for life, is someone with experience in all three product lines,” Talley said. “I just want you to be part of the Army Reserve.”

The audience members asked the CAR and the CSM a number of questions about many topics, including the Army Reserve’s end strength; meeting Army fitness standards; the number or minorities and women serving in the Army Reserve General Officer Corps; the possible new military retirement system; and civilian credentialing and continuing education.

“I thought it was a great visit,” said Spc. Justin Berg, a human resource specialist with the 406th Human Resources Company, 7th CSC and a native of Bloomington, Ind.

“They answered a lot of questions that TPU Soldiers ask amongst themselves,” he added.

Talley also emphasized the critical contributions and the regular Army’s increasing reliance on Army Reserve Warrior Citizens throughout the two hour assembly.

Other topics discussed were the roles of the Army Reserve Engagement Cells and Army Reserve Engagement Teams at the Combatant Command headquarters. Using ARECs and ARETs, Talley has led the Army Reserve initiative to regionally align USAR units.

“I am trying to put more ownership on the theater component commands,” Talley said. “I am looking for that broadening experience.”

More than 100 Soldiers, civilians and family members attended the event.

“It was good,” said Sgt. 1st Class Maria Pitrone, a training noncommissioned officer assigned to Company D, 457th Civil Affairs Battalion, 361st Civil Affairs Brigade, 7th CSC and a native of Attleboro, Mass. “I think it was a very informative visit. [The] timing couldn’t have been better, shows the CAR cares, especially the distance to travel here.”

• Date Taken: 06.02.2015
• Date Posted: 06.03.2015 12:52
• Story ID: 165341
• Location: KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, DE
• Hometown: ARLINGTON, VA, US
• Hometown: ATTLEBORO, MA, US
• Hometown: BLOOMINGTON, IN, US
• Hometown: DES MOINES, IA, US
• Hometown: LAURINBURG, NC, US