Photo By Staff Sgt. Karen Sampson | Staff Sgt. Ean Shulta-Oday, Staff Sgt. Brian Molina and Spc. Thomas Warren, soldiers...... read more read more
FORT MCCOY, Wis. – Retention and career counselors from the 8th Battalion Army Reserve Careers Group and 86th Training Division are assisting soldiers with professional progression during the large-scale warrior exercise WAREX 2026.
“We are approaching units in the field to see soldiers in need of extensions or reenlistment,” said Sgt. 1st Class William Holland, senior enlisted representative and counselor from 8th ARCG BN.
8th BN ARCG is a regional command that manages soldiers’ career counseling, reenlistments, and transitions for the U.S. Army Reserve.
Holland and Sgt. 1st Class Greg Hledik, career counselor, spent hours hiking several miles through rough terrain, approaching units hidden throughout the training area. They spoke at length to soldiers about reenlistment and mapping their futures.
“I think that's the important thing: reaching out to let soldiers know that there is a balance that can be found in their chosen career field and their service in the Army Reserve,” Hledik said.
In addition to being an Army Reserve career counselor, Hledik is a full-time firefighter for the Omaha Fire Department in Nebraska and a firefighter as a Reservist. He found stability as a career firefighter while serving as a citizen soldier. Now a career counselor, he said the last 20 years felt like five.
“I think that is why I love the Army so much,” he said. “The Army gave me that route.”
Reenlistment is a personal decision and an incredible milestone.
Brig. Gen. Paul L. Kuettner, commanding general of the 86th Training Division, made time in his schedule to reenlist Intelligence Analyst, Spc. Thomas Warren, 418th Quartermaster Battalion, in the field during WAREX, Aug. 5.
“I really enjoy my career in the Army,” Warren said.
He added the decision was easy for him.
Warren stood with three other soldiers from his battalion. As they raised their right hands to swear the oath, soldiers and leadership from his battalion stood at attention.
“If you find yourself in an exercise or on deployment, and you see yourself in a position where you can reenlist, it's a special time,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Broussard, command sergeant major of the 373rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Beaumont, Texas. “You have a lot of resources and capabilities at your fingertips.”
Broussard tells soldiers that when they reenlist, they should shoot for the moon.
“Reenlistment ceremonies can be held on an M1 Tank or a Chinook in the air,” Broussard said. “You just have to ask.”
He said the experience is good for recruitment and retention because it shows how the Army honors its soldiers.
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.06.2026 14:03 |
| Story ID: | 571764 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, U.S. Army Reserve career counselors support soldiers during WAREX 26, by SSG Karen Sampson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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