By Spc. Courtney Marulli
2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq — The life of an Army career counselor is busy enough, but having that responsibility for a large battalion makes it all the more so.
But Staff Sgt. Carmen M. Herron, career counselor for 2nd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, enjoys her work and most of all, talking to Soldiers.
"I just love being around Soldiers," she said. "Talking to them and finding out what they need and want."
That dedication has resulted in Herron re-enlisting 34 Soldiers since deploying on October 2006. Herron, of Bad Neustadt, Germany, has also helped Soldiers reap fiscal year 2007 reenlistment bonuses totaling $329,861.
Herron was a full-time re-enlistment noncommissioned officer for four years at battalion and brigade levels, and recently went to school to make it her military occupational specialty. She is in her fifth year of helping Soldiers with their careers and to get the re-enlistment incentives they are entitled to.
"I wanted to go to the school for a long time," she said. "It's not easy to get into it."
When it comes time for Soldiers to re-enlist, Herron said many are choosing the year-of- stability option, which is available for all. In January, the option for re-assignment became available to those Soldiers in their re-enlistment window and who are eligible for that option.
Some of the places Soldiers have chosen to re-enlist for are Germany, South Korea and numerous places in the United States such as Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Bragg, N.C., Herron said.
Whenever a Soldier re-enlists, Herron said she gives out an assortment of things such as coffee mugs, phone cards, T-shirts and several different styles of ACU pattern bags.
Retention is only one part of Herron's role as career counselor. Her other duties are to help Soldiers with career progression, and to help them transition smoothly if they choose to return to civilian life. She also directs them to the proper National Guard and Reserve component career counselors if that's the road Soldiers choose to take.
"If a Soldier is stuck in a dead end MOS, not getting promoted, I talk to them about re-classing for MOS's in need of Soldiers," she said.
On top of advising what MOS's are in need of Soldiers, Herron also shows Soldiers the steps they can take toward getting promoted.
Herron said she also assists Soldiers with Green-to-Gold, Warrant Officer and Officer Candidate School packets. Soldiers can come to her to get the necessary information and then once they have everything together, she will look it over to make sure it was done correctly.
"It's a very rewarding part of my job when I can do the things they need and want," she said.
After giving briefs and taking care of Soldiers during the day, Herron said she will put on her gear, grab her laptop and go visit Soldiers on night guard duty at the gates.
"Part of our job is to be visible and available to the Soldiers," she said.
Herron said she tries her best to remain accessible to Soldiers by visiting them on duty and walking all over the FOB instead of staying in her office and making the Soldiers have to find time to come to her.
Herron works with career counselors of the units her companies are attached to, ensuring none of her Soldiers are left out.
"We all work together as a team," she said. Herron said she loves making sure Soldiers are going strong in careers they will progress in and doing what is best for them and their families.
"It makes me feel good," she said, "if I help out a Soldier and they're happy."