ARMEDCOM Command Chief heads to U.S. Army Reserve Command

Photo By Angela Wallace | Chief Warrant Officer (then) 4 Matthew Brenner stands with his teammates assigned to U.S. Army Medical Material Center – Southwest Asia who were attending the Defense Medical Logistics Standard System workshop held in Qatar during their deployment in 2013. Photo courtesy of Chief Warrant Off. Matthew Brenner, U.S. Army Reserve  

PINELLAS PARK, FL, UNITED STATES

05.11.2017

Story by Lt. Col. Angela Wallace 

Army Reserve Medical Command

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – Chief Warrant Officer 5 Matthew Brenner, Command Chief Warrant Officer for Army Reserve Medical Command, may have only begun his initial Active Guard Reserve assignment with ARMEDCOM in December of 2013, but Brenner has over 30 years of experience throughout his career in the Army and he will be using that expertise when he reports to the U.S. Army Reserve Command Surgeon’s cell in June as the new Senior Health Services Maintenance Advisor to USARC.

Brenner currently serves as the advisor to ARMEDCOM’s commanding general, Maj. Gen. Mary Link, for all warrant officer matters and acts as a mentor for the warrant officers that reside within the command.

Mentorship is a top focus for Brenner and something he’s been actively engaged in throughout his career with the warrant officer community.

“Growing up through the military, I did not have a mentor within my career field. I had many mentors within the military. This is why it’s one of my pet peeves and the whole mentorship piece is a priority project,” Brenner said.

Brenner was so compelled to mentor others, he authored the United States Army Reserve Health Services Maintenance Technician 670A Handbook, a guide to help other warrant officers in the medical community to understand what they should know and where they should ask questions.

“I created [the book] to generate questions. Part of what I wish I would’ve known is knowing what questions to ask. This book tells them a little about basic duties and gives them some questions to ask. In a medical logistics company, your questions should be externally focused so you should ask who your customers are so you can understand what tools, test equipment and knowledge you may need in order to support your customer. In a combat support hospital, you’re internally focused. While you still need to support or coordinate support for subordinate units, you are primarily focused on your own unit and what it needs in order to function. These are some of the questions I didn’t know to ask when I started,” said Brenner.

Brenner also had some thoughts for those considering joining the warrant officer community.

“You need to be physically fit, you need to be tactically and technically proficient. The beauty of being a warrant is not knowing all the answers, but knowing the right people to go to in order to get those answers. Never be afraid to say I don’t know and I’ll get back to you. Then, make sure you follow through… What I look for in future warrant officers is motivation, drive, a proactive stance and taking responsibility,” said Brenner.

“Personal responsibility takes the form of being individually ready as a Soldier. When you walk in the door for battle assembly, you should be green across the board. Be it medical readiness, physical fitness, military education – you should be proactive in maintaining your own readiness. Medical readiness starts with you. Review your readiness status throughout the month on AKO, and schedule with your units as you move into amber. Never be red,” he added.

Brenner is an advocate for his warrant officer community, and listed a number of advantages for those considering joining the warrant officer ranks.

“Warrant Officer’s act as a great interface between the officers and the enlisted. On the medical side, since there’s so few of us, when you speak - people listen, because of your credibility. It allows you to cut through some red tape and get things done which is a good thing. We are seen as the go-to people and we get things done,” he said.

For leaders who have warrant officers in their formations, Brenner encourages them to take advantage of the opportunity to use them.

“For leaders looking to empower the warrant officer community, I recommend tapping into their expertise. What I’ve seen over the years is either they don’t understand the warrant officer’s capabilities but rather than have a dialogue, they let it go undiscussed. Just talk with them and get to know them as a resource. Also, hold the warrant officer community to the same standard as the rest of your formation. They are part of your team. The beauty of the warrant is the technical expertise, so hold them accountable and capitalize on their expertise. In turn, be prepared that they will also hold you accountable as the leader,” said Brenner.

As Brenner prepares for his new assignment at USARC, continuity has begun with his replacement, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Patrick A. Kubitz, a Health Service Maintenance Technician who joined the command for his first battle assembly in May. Kubitz began his career in the Army in 1973 and brings over 30 years of experience to his new position with ARMEDCOM. Kubitz joins the command after serving as Contracting Officer’s Representative for the last two years at the medical equipment concentration site for 88th Regional Support Command.

• Date Taken: 05.11.2017
• Date Posted: 05.11.2017 18:37
• Story ID: 233582
• Location: PINELLAS PARK, FL, US