Delaware Army Reserve Ambassador engages with top cops

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Deziree Lau | Delaware Army Reserve Ambassador Stephan Murphy addresses local government officials during the monthly Chiefs of Police meeting held at the Dover Police Department in Delaware. “It’s council meetings like these that allow community members like me to educate, engage and make connections where we otherwise wouldn’t have one," Murphy said. Army Reserve Ambassadors are key influential volunteers with significant ties to their communities. They are people who operate at state and local level who represent the Chief of the Army Reserve without salary, wages or other benefits. To find more about the Ambassador program visit https://www.usar.army.mil/AmbassadorProgram/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Deziree Lau, 99th RD Public Affairs)  

DOVER, DE, UNITED STATES

09.13.2022

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Deziree Lau 

99th Readiness Division

DOVER, Del. – ”It’s really about giving back to the community,” said Stephan Murphy, Delaware Army Reserve Ambassador, as he addressed a room of local government officials during the monthly Chiefs of Police meeting held at the police department here.

“I’m friends with the Lewis, Delaware chief of police, Chief Spell, who volunteers at West Point and who recommended I come out to Dover and speak during the Chiefs of Police meeting,” said Murphy. “It’s council meetings like these that allow community members like me to educate, engage and make connections where we otherwise wouldn’t have one."

Murphy is passionate about building relationships within his communities. He has a solid foundation in the Delaware community as well as a deeply rooted connection to the military. He served five years in the Army, graduated with his initial entry class in 1975 as an enlisted Soldier, then commissioned to an officer for the remainder of his service in the Armed Forces.

“I want to help people understand our program and raise awareness for recruitment. I also want to promote the great opportunity for today’s generation to go to college and join the Army,” Murphy shared. “I continue to do what I do because you have to give back and I’ll continue to do this for as long as I’m able to."

Army Reserve Ambassadors are key influential volunteers with significant ties to their communities. They are people who operate at state and local level who represent the Chief of the Army Reserve without salary, wages or other benefits.

“I’m dual-hatted; I’ve been the senior person for admissions at West Point for Delaware and Philadelphia for the past 15 years and was recently asked if I’d like to help be part of the Army Reserve Ambassador Program,” Murphy explained. “Without knowing what the program was or what the job consisted of, I said – ‘Yeah, why not.’”

ARAs provide invaluable connections for centers of influence to engage local stakeholders and are known commodities in their communities. They are relied upon to seek support from elected officials and engage stakeholders at the local and state levels; forge and sustain enduring relationships between U.S. Army Reserve units and local communities; open doors in business and industry; educate and inform public/government about the value and positive return on investment of the USAR; and build a cadre of supporters and advocates from these important audiences that can be activated when necessary.

To find more about the Ambassador program visit https://www.usar.army.mil/AmbassadorProgram/

• Date Taken: 09.13.2022
• Date Posted: 09.22.2022 15:23
• Story ID: 429886
• Location: DOVER, DE, US