Reserve Component Reenlistments Exceed Expectations

CAMP BLACK JACK, IRAQ

09.28.2004

Courtesy Story

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CAMP BLACK JACK, Iraq -- How much is a good Soldier worth and how far would you go to keep one in the Army? For one dedicated noncommissioned officer [NCO] keeping a good Soldier in is everything.

Recently, three Soldiers belonging to the 425th Civil Affairs Battalion reenlisted in An Najaf. Making it happen took the patient efforts of Master Sgt. Rebecca Sewell, who is the senior Army Reserve retention noncommissioned officer in Iraq assigned to the Third Army.

Sewell, a native of Cape Coral, Fla., is one of three Army Reserve retention NCO's in Iraq. Her workstation is located on Camp Victory but her job takes her all over Baghdad and beyond, which is how three sergeants stationed in An Najaf, Hugo Rivera, Kenton Jones and David Reid were able to re-enlist.

"This is the first time the Army has deployed retention NCOs to the field," Sewell explained. "I am responsible for the reserve Soldiers here in theater, even those attached to the [1st Cavalry Division] and I am here to help facilitate the reenlistments of those Soldiers."

From Taji, Camp Rustamiyah (formerly Camp Cuervo) to An Najaf, Sewell has been all over the Baghdad area with one stated goal: reach as many eligible Soldiers as possible. "I will go wherever there are Soldiers who need to be reenlisted and I will tell them that as long as it is dignified, they can do the reenlistment ceremony anywhere they want," Sewell smiled. "Of course, the first thing they always say is that they want to do it at home."

Sewell has seen Soldiers reenlist in bombed out palaces, Blackhawk helicopters a hundred feet off the ground, even in their humvees standing up in the gunners hatch with their officer because that vehicle holds a special significance.

"I've had generals reenlist soldiers because it is such an honor for them to do it," Sewell said. "It's a Soldier's choice; they can ask any officer they want." Sewell said most Soldiers will ask an officer they work with, but some others set their sights a little higher. "I have never had a general turn me down because if it's good for the Soldiers," Sewell said. "They want to do it. It's an honor to be asked to reenlist a Soldier."

For most Soldiers in a combat zone getting the job done can be difficult in the best of circumstances and getting reenlisted is no exception. However, everything begins with the Soldier.

"I get them the necessary information they need so that they can make informed choices about reenlisting," Sewell said. "Ultimately, the Army wants them all to reenlist, but I'm a career counselor: I give them all their options and tell them everything there is out there for them."

Sewell said the biggest hurdle here has been contacting Soldiers interested in reenlisting. To communicate with the Soldiers who are unable to stop by her office, Sewell relies on e-mail to ask and answer questions. "If a reserve Soldier wants to reenlist while [they are] in theater, there is a process for making it happen," Sewell explained. "They need to talk to their unit or they can drop by my office or contact me by e-mail. Their commander must give them a memo that states that they are not flagged, barred or pending UCMJ [Uniformed Code of Military Justice] action because I have no way of checking all that stuff out like I would in the states. I have to see a data sheet that shows all their military information so I can see what they qualify for. Then, I like to talk to the Soldier to see what they want and how it is I can help them." Sewell attributes much of her success to the units she supports, the commanders and dedicated NCOs. One of her most recent success stories includes the reenlistment of 11 out of 15 eligible Soldiers from the 425th CA Battalion.

"The 425th was really great about getting their guys reenlisted," Sewell said. "Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Church [battalion sergeant major] and Lt. Col. Sean Kelly [battalion commander] really look out after their Soldiers."

Kelly expressed his gratitude for the support he got from the 1st Cav. Div.

"When I told them we needed to get to An-Najaf to reenlist three Soldiers, they didn't hesitate to put two Blackhawk helicopters from the Illinois Army National Guard at our disposal," Kelly explained. "They really took care of us. If you're part of the Cav, you're family."

In addition to networking with Soldiers and units via the Internet, Sewell conducts DARN (Duty Assigned Retention NCO) training seminars. "DARNs are Soldiers in the unit [who] know the people, so they know who needs to be counseled or reenlisted," Sewell said. "We plan to have more of these seminars and hopefully this will help to expedite the process of getting the units trained up."

Since her arrival in March, Sewell has helped reenlist almost 100 Soldiers. The numbers have exceeded most expectations because reenlisting Soldiers in the field is new.

There are also several incentives for reenlisting here.

"If you are a young soldier with less than 14 years in, have passed the physical training test and have not had a previous reenlistment bonus, you can get up to $5,000 for reenlisting and it's tax-free over here," said Sewell, an X-ray technician when not activated for military duty. "If you think about it, [the Army offers] the only guaranteed pension out there."

Sewell, a 22-year Army veteran, attributes her success in retaining Soldiers by showing them respect.

"I enjoy going out to the forward operating bases because I see some real Soldiers out there," she said. "I really have a lot of respect for them, given their living conditions. They still get the job done no matter how bad it gets. They lookout for each other and continue on with the mission, and they reenlist."

• Date Taken: 09.28.2004
• Date Posted: 09.28.2004 14:26
• Story ID: 430
• Location: CAMP BLACK JACK, IQ