Photo By Zachary Mott | Retired Maj. Gen. Alvin Jones, center, an Army Reserve Ambassador from Texas, along...... read more read more
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FORT McCOY, Wisc. – Ambassadors from across the 88th Regional Support Command as well as some from other RSCs, gathered at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin for a two-day workshop designed to help them better assist Soldiers and their families, August 18 and 19.
The U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador Program allows for private citizens to promote awareness of America’s Army Reserve and promote the goals and objectives of the Army Reserve, according to the group’s mission statement.
During the two-day workshop, the ARAs listened to briefings from the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Troxell; Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve Command Lt. Gen. Charles D. Luckey; 88th RSC Commanding General Maj. Gen. Patrick Reinert, as well as other leadership teams from across the Fort McCoy and 88th RSCs 19-state region.
“The main goal is to inform our ambassadors about where we are now and where we are going and to get the commander’s intent,” said Katherine Bissonette, the 88th RSC ambassador outreach coordinator. “Ambassadors are resources that are out there for Soldiers and families. They are out there when there’s issues.”
Also included during the workshop was an opportunity to visit with Soldiers currently conducting the 86th Training Command run Combat Support Training Exercise (CSTX) and simulation trainers at Fort McCoy.
The ambassadors, along with Troxell and Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Copeland, the command sergeant major of the Army Reserve, talked with Soldiers from the 968th Quartermaster Company out of Tustin, California, who were operating a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU) in support of the CSTX.
Before leaving the Soldiers, the Ambassadors and senior military leaders were invited to sample the water that was prepared by the Army Reserve Soldiers.
“I like to see and experience and the training that the Soldiers receive here. It’s very important,” said Robert Perez, an Army Reserve Ambassador from South Dakota.
Later, the ambassadors visited the simulation training center on Fort McCoy to experience what it is like to drive an RG-31 Buffalo, participate in a convoy and even fire small arms weapons. This hands-on training allows the ambassadors to see first-hand how Soldiers are training and what skills they possess.
“What’s important for me to take back is letting our people of South Dakota know that we have experienced, well-trained Reserve Soldiers that are supplementing the total combined force and that we’re alive and well and we’re highly skilled and ready to take any mission available,” Perez said.
On the second day of the workshop, the ambassadors listened to Troxell and Luckey and were able to ask them questions to help better learn how each side can work together to help Soldiers and their families.
“We get a good bit of time in the off time as well as the meeting time to talk about issues and how we do business and what to do in the future,” said Gerald Meyer, an Army Reserve Ambassador from Wisconsin. “It motivates people from here, now you’ve got a template to move forward again.”
The workshop coincided with the 100th anniversary commemoration for the 88th Division that was hosted by the 88th RSC, August 19 at Fort McCoy. The ambassadors, who are mostly Army veterans themselves, were able to attend the ceremony as well.
Reinert concluded the workshop by restating some of the key points of the discussions as well as highlighting the relationship between the ambassadors and the current command teams. Reinert also pointed to the increased focus on readiness across the services.
“I hope this was a great event for you and that you were able to get re-greened in the process and see where we’re going because we are not going anywhere we’ve ever been before,” Reinert said.
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.22.2017 16:09 |
| Story ID: | 245631 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WI, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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