By Spc. David Hodge
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – The senior non-commissioned officer of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, spoke to "Raider" Soldiers, May 16, about the benefits of reenlisting Army Strong at Forward Operating Base Falcon, Baghdad.
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bobb, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., Multi-National Division – Baghdad, stood in front of a packed house of "Packhorse" Soldiers from the 4th Support Battalion, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, to offer his experience and guidance on reenlistment and the U.S. Army furthering its commitment to Soldiers.
"I have been in the Army for 27 years, and I have never had any regrets," Bobb stated. "I have run into obstacles, ... but it did not deter me from what I wanted to do."
Bob encouraged the Soldiers to seriously consider all their options for reenlistment, while they are deployed to Baghdad for a 15-month rotation in support of MND-B and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Reenlistment is a mission," said Bobb, a combat veteran with more than 26 years service. "It is the other mission that Soldiers have to accomplish."
Bobb explained to the Soldiers in attendance that he and the 1st BCT Commander Col. Ted Martin were very happy with the Raider Brigade and its overall performance since arriving in the Iraqi capitol in March.
"What Soldiers are doing right now is more important than what less than one percent of 250 million people are doing in the U.S.," he said.
Bobb reminded those in their window for reenlistment that in addition to creating Soldiers, the best job a person can sign up for, the Army offers exceptional jobs providing exceptional benefits, such as health insurance and job security for Soldiers and their families.
"As long as Soldiers stay in the Army, they will never be poor, go hungry; and will always have a place to stay," said Bobb.
Bobb said that when he first enlisted in the Army in 1980, the young man from the Islands of Trinidad had a hard time deciding on what he wanted to do with his life.
"I joined the Army initially for three years," Bobb told the Soldiers. "I had a very difficult time deciding whether I would continue or not."
"I went ahead and reenlisted," he explained, "and because of the decision I made then, I am here today."
Sgt. Nelson Galarza, a petroleum supply specialist assigned to Company A, 4th Support Battalion, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, said that he plans on reenlisting indefinitely, and decided to attend to hear what the brigade's top enlisted Soldier had to share with Soldiers within their window of opportunity.
"Everything Command Sgt. Maj. Bobb said was pretty much right on," explained Galarza, a native of San Sabastian, Puerto Rico. "Especially when he spoke about the benefits of a career in the Army."
Galarza, also said that the Army provides for his family, and the strong bonds with his family plays a key role in his success and his decision to stay Army, even as his mission keeps them apart.
"The thing that most Soldiers don't like about being deployed is being away from their families," he said.