Brigade career counselor helps Soldiers meet goals

Photo By Staff Sgt. Melanie Trollinger | Soldiers of 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade swear the Oath of Re-enlistment at Contingency Operating Site Marez, Mosul, Iraq, Oct 1. Col. Fabian Mendoza Jr., commander, 130th Eng. Bde, re-enlisted 17 Soldiers during the ceremony.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

10.10.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Melanie Trollinger 

130th Engineer Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION MAREZ, MOSUL, Iraq—Soldiers of the 130th Engineer Brigade who want to reenlist have many options available to them, and Army career counselors help guide these Soldiers to meet career goals.

Master Sgt. Kevin Tyson, the brigade's senior career counselor, is responsible for advising the brigade commander and command sergeant major on all aspects of retention. He also takes every opportunity to visit with Soldiers, discussing reenlistment options, duty stations and educational opportunities.

"We have to keep our Soldiers informed of what benefits are available to them if they reenlist. I talk to an average of 20 Soldiers per day, telling them about the benefits of staying in the Army," Tyson said.

Soldiers have five options when they reenlist, depending on qualifications and career level. Tyson helps the Soldiers sift through decisions such as staying on active duty or going to the Reserves, changing their military occupation specialty, reenlisting for an overseas or stateside assignment, or staying with their current unit. He also advises Soldiers about bonuses and other benefits available, and helps his battalion career counselors.

With the career counselors' efforts paying off, Tyson helped organize a mass reenlistment ceremony for 17 Soldiers with the 84th Engineer Battalion at COS Marez, Oct 1.

"In June, there were restrictions placed on reenlistments and certain Soldiers in particular categories could not reenlist at all. We had to wait until the new fiscal year before they were allowed to reenlist," Tyson said.

Col. Fabian E. Mendoza Jr., the 130th Eng. Bde. commander, gave the Soldiers their oath of reenlistment. He thanked them for their service and commitment to the Army.

Tyson said it was heartening to see so many Soldiers staying in to continue service to their country, especially with the current operational tempo and prospects of more deployments looming.

Tyson talks to Soldiers everywhere he goes, whether it's the chow hall or the shopette. Even if Soldiers are not in his brigade, he doesn't pass up a chance to encourage a Soldier to stay in the Army he loves.

"The best thing about this job is talking to Soldiers all day, every day. I can help them advance in their careers and give them information on opportunities outside the military, like education," Tyson said.

Tyson emphasizes civilian education and money for college as the biggest benefit Soldiers can use. With the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill and tuition assistance available, Tyson encourages Soldiers to pursue their education while in the military.

Tyson, a 19-year Army veteran from Philadelphia, uses his own experiences to explain how educational goals can be met while serving in the military. Both Tyson and his wife, who also deployed to Iraq for a second time, received not only their associates' and bachelors' degrees together in the Army, but also their Master's in Business Administration.

"Our MBA's were the only ones we actually got to attend a graduation ceremony for. We were deployed when we graduated from school for the other degrees," Tyson explained.

Tyson said the goal of a career counselor is to match the needs of Soldiers to the needs of the Army. Helping the Army meet its needs while meeting the wants and needs of Soldiers isn't always easy. But with 32 re-enlistments for the 130th Eng. Bde. just three days into the new fiscal year, Tyson and his career counselors are busy helping Soldiers attain their career goals.

• Date Taken: 10.10.2009
• Date Posted: 10.10.2009 09:07
• Story ID: 39919
• Location: MOSUL, IQ