Leading In Between

Senior Enlisted Advisers Recognize and Accept Their Responsibilities to the Enlisted Force

This important issue of The Officer provides a look forward by Reserve Component leaders, as well as valuable remarks from each of the RC senior enlisted advisers.

As I read each of the senior enlisted advisers' submissions, I was reminded of Leadership Is an Art, a book I read many years ago by businessman Max Depree. He writes, "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant."

Each service and mission is unique, and the remarks from the senior enlisted advisers follow suit, but a common theme emerged as I read each submission. They outline the challenging times ahead-fiscal constraints, transformation, downsizing force structures-the reality. They acknowledge the strength and value of the enlisted force and say thank you to you and your families for your commitment, service, and sacrifice.

And from where I'm sitting, in between, they are dedicated to serving you, your family, and your employer, addressing your concerns and doing all they can to ensure that the challenges you face are faced together, k

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense/ Reserve Affairs-SGM Michael Schultz

As the Department of Defense looks toward the future and reviews the roles of the Reserve Component (RC), there is no doubt they have performed superbly as an "operational Reserve" over the last 12-plus years of war. The importance of having a strong NonCommissioned Officer (NCO) corps has been one of the keys to success and will be even more important in the future. We must strive to have NCOs who understand complex global challenges as we begin to reduce force structure across the components. One of the department's goals has been to continue to develop adaptive AC and RC leaders who can operate in a demanding and ever changing international environment. This will be even more important as we pivot toward the "Pacific Shift" and focus upon aligning RC units with allied partners around the globe.

RC service members have continued to effectively navigate through many complicated situations on the battlefields and must not only retain core warfighter competencies, but also effectively transition from combat to noncombat operations. Reserve Affairs continues to work on policies to better manage the awesome talent of our service members and opportunities to showcase talents that are available to underserved communities across our country. This really resonates with the new generation of leaders.

As the NCO corps, we cannot control the political environment of today, but we can provide outstanding leadership, mentorship, and a positive command climate, which is important for an effective Total Force. We know that the strength of our NCO corps is training our squads, platoons, wings, and branches.

These are challenging times for our Defense Department; no one said being in the military was going to be easy! As we look to the future and the inevitable reduction in force structure, and deal with the realities of reduced budgets, we have an opportunity to raise the bar. We have a DoD leadership team that listens to our NCOs and values what they do. This empowers us each and every day to solve problems as we move forward. We can spend our time as NCOs pointing out what is wrong with the world, or we can spend that time with our service members, getting to know them and mentoring them. That does not cost a dime, just the drive to make it happen. It is up to us!

Army National GuardCSM Brunk W. Conley

In my first year as command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, I have been increasingly impressed by the dedication and professionalism of Army National Guard Soldiers.

A critical element of our national security, the Guard's versatility in responding at the local, state, and federal level is unique among the military services.

This is a community-based military organization with Citizen Soldiers residing in every congressional district.

I've had the chance to meet many of our 354,200 troops and see how they are an operational force. They are performing magnificently. Approximately 18,600 Soldiers are mobilized in support of global missions, and more than 3,000 Soldiers are conducting domestic operations in support of our homeland mission.</p>

We have the most experienced Army National Guard in our 377-year history. More than half of our personnel, including many of our Non-Commissioned Officers and officers, joined the service after the attacks of September 11,2001.

We are also more ready and better-equipped than ever, to perform our homeland defense mission with 92 percent of authorized critical dual-use equipment on hand. This refers to equipment necessary for domestic and overseas missions. We are equipped and ready.

In Fiscal Year 2013, Army National Guard Soldiers completed 387,794 duty days responding to state missions, mainly search and rescues, wildfires, floods, winter storms, hurricanes, and special events.

Our experience has come at a tremendous cost in blood and treasure, and the Army National Guard will never let the nation down.

Our job as leaders is to keep our Soldiers trained and ready. This responsibility is not diminished based on budget allocations. Reduced funding presents challenges, but overcoming obstacles and solving problems is part of our culture. We can do it, and we will do it. We are a problem-solving organization.

Army ReserveCSM Luther Thomas

The past decade has been one of change and transformation for American military forces, including the Army Reserve. After more than 11 years of war, the Army Reserve has emerged as an essential part of the total Army and the joint force by maintaining our focus on being ready, relevant, reliable, and responsive. Readiness starts with us, and if we are not ready, we are not relevant.

Our Soldiers will maintain the readiness of the force to ensure we can support not only the Active Component, but also our communities. We have immediate response authority to fulfill requests from local government leaders to step in to save lives, prevent human suffering, and mitigate great property damage.

Additionally, the Army Reserve seeks to develop relationships through planned linkages, training events, operational missions, and employer partnerships. The private-public partnership capitalizes on the Army Reserve's enabling capabilities and expertise, enhancing militaryand civilian-acquired skills and experiences. The employer partnership program gives civilian employers access to the skilled and trained workforce represented by Reserve members, their families, and veterans of all branches of the military.

The Army Reserve is committed to ensuring better-quality health care and caring leadership for our wounded warriors and works toward fostering a climate of trust that respects and protects our Soldiers, civilians, and family members through effective training programs and outreach to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault, and suicide in our ranks. This will remain a top priority!

Our enlisted force consists of professional Soldiers who are competent in their duties, demonstrate character in their decisions and actions, and display unquestionable commitment to the mission despite the risk, challenge, and adversity. That responsibility relies on the Non-Commissioned Officer. We must not waver in our ability to provide direction, instill discipline, and hold ourselves and our Soldiers accountable for meeting and exceeding the Army standards. Finally, I personally thank each of you for your service to our nation, and to your families for their sacrifice.

Twice the citizen-Army strong!

Marine Forces ReserveSgtMaj Anthony Spadaro

Recently the commandant of the Marine Corps directed all Marines to take actions that are specifically tailored to reset our focus after more than a decade at war. The commander, Marine Forces Reserve, Lieutenant General Richard Mills, and I have reinforced this guidance throughout the Marine Corps Reserve.

All Marines everywhere-both Reserve and active dutyhave been asked to brush the dust off and focus on supporting America's interests in a time of relative peace. But there are still pockets of chaos in the world. Our Marines are ready today, as they have been in the past, to work together with our allies to protect life, assist in times of crisis, and contribute to the global effort to fight transnational criminal activity.

In the last year, Reserve Marines have performed throughout the globe with the effectiveness and resilience our country demands. In Africa, Asia, Afghanistan, and other locations where the Corps was called to serve, Reserve Marines dove into the mission and performed professionally.

That ability to deploy, achieve success, and return home is due to the fact that Marines, whether active duty or Reserve, are ready when called. They were ready then. They are ready today. And they will continue to be ready for whatever mission is handed to them tomorrow. Our Marines are equipped and organized to respond effectively on short notice wherever our country needs them.

One unique example of this is the relationship Marine Forces Reserve maintains with our combatant commands. Our military-to-military partnerships are part of a "whole of nation" approach to mutually achieving security and stability in America and with our partner nations. These collaborative efforts are critically important to future cooperation and mutual support in the event of a crisis.

Marine Forces Reserve is the Corps' insurance policyready and relevant as ever.

Navy ReserveForce Master Chief Clarence Mitchell

In my first few months as the force master chief of the Navy Reserve, I have already learned so much. I have learned that Navy Reserve Sailors are interactive and provide support to the Navy and Marine Corps team in a variety of missions, warfare specialties, and locations around the globe. We personify our motto: "Ready Now, Anytime, Anywhere."

Navy Reservists can be found as aircrew and maintenance personnel as the Navy's primary heavy lift logistics capability. The Navy Reserve provides the only dedicated helicopter support to Naval Special Warfare and Special Operations Forces. Navy Reserve cyber and information dominance personnel are integrated in joint environments, providing timely command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence support to decision-makers. Navy Reserve personnel have been training and deploying with Reserve and active Marine units all over the world since 9/11. Most impressively, this support in either the continental United States or abroad has been exceptional. Regardless what the missions are, Navy Reserve Sailors have distinguished themselves to Navy and joint command leaders and to communities at home and abroad alike.

But we cannot be complacent. We must continue to sustain and maintain maximum readiness in all areas. Command master chief and senior enlisted leaders must embrace the master chief petty officer of the Navy's mission of "Zeroing in on Excellence." They must lead their Sailors and commands with accountability to good order and discipline, constantly developing leaders and controlling what chief petty officer messes own.

This is an exciting time of opportunity for the Navy Reserve. We must be always ready-in our units, personally, and on the homefront with the support of our families and employers. We face challenges ahead. As the Navy evolves to face different threats and takes on new missions, Navy Reserve Sailors must be flexible, professional, and of course, ready to live up to our motto! Thank you for your service and sacrifice. You have helped make us the best navy in the world.

Coast Guard ReserveCGRF-MC Mark H. Allen

Your Coast Guard Reserve shipmates continue to defend America at home and abroad and stand ready to respond to the nation's next contingency or incident.

In places such as Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as ports and waterways throughout the United States, Reserve Coast Guardsmen serve proudly alongside more than 1 million of their DoD "shipmates" to comprise nearly half of America's military capability.

They work in joint operations to defend our inalienable rights, our fellow Americans, and our loved ones from natural and man-made threats. They also train diligently to maintain mobilization readiness.

Operation Foal Eagle, an annual combined field training exercise conducted by the Republic of Korea and U.S. armed forces, saw Coast Guard Reservists getting real-world training this year. Last year, Reservists trained in a mobilization exercise in the Coast Guard Atlantic Area in a cost-conscious approach that used their annual active duty for training to respond to a fictional disaster. This year they trained in an even more cost-effective manner that combined a mobilization exercise in the Coast Guard Pacific Area with ports, waterways, and coastal security patrols for the America's Cup sailing race.

The result of all this training is proficiency that has risen to the point that hundreds of certified boat crews stand ready to answer the call to mobilization. Coast Guard Reservists' administrative readiness also has reached an all-time high, with about 90 percent of the Coast Guard Reserve Component ready to deploy at any time.

While they face significant budget challenges, rest assured that your Coast Guard Reserve shipmates continue to serve and train, and stand always ready to respond to America's call.

I have felt privileged to serve as the Coast Guard Reserve force master chief for nearly four years with the best-trained and -educated Coast Guard and DoD shipmates America has ever known.

Semper Paratus!

Air National GuardCMSgt Jim Hotaling

It is a privilege to represent the more than 90,000 enlisted Airmen of the Air National Guard. I serve along with my Air Force Reserve counterpart, Chief Master Sergeant Cameron Kirksey, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Cody, representing the Total Force in global vigilance, global reach, and global power for America.

As a component of the Air Force, the Air National Guard is prepared to serve alongside active and Reserve command forces to engage any threat against American liberty around the world. At the same time, your Air National Guard has a dual-role responsibility to serve and protect the homeland. As the air component of the National Guard, the Air National Guard leverages Air Force resources within the Total Force construct in a dual-use manner, which ensures we have the capability and capacity to seamlessly support both state and federal missions.

Due to how the Air National Guard employs its personnel and resources, we are able to maintain efficiencies in training, equipment utilization, and force generation, which enables us to meet both homeland and combatant commander requirements. As such, the Air National Guard is America's first choice for homeland operations, a relevant choice with combatant commanders for the war fight, and an enduring choice for security cooperation relationships.

Every Air National Guard member meets the same standards of professionalism and proficiency that our Reserve and active duty counterparts must meet. Undermining those standards undermines the Air National Guard's ability to serve our nation, both at home and abroad, and I know I echo Lieutenant General Stanley Clarke when I say that this is not an option for the Air National Guard. Bottom line: We are always on mission.

It is on behalf of these Airmen that it makes me proud to tell the Air National Guard story.

Air Force ReserveCMSgt Cameron B. Kirksey

The Air Force Reserve is a proven, combat-ready force of more than 70,000 Citizen Airmen, supporting our nation's defense with operational capability, strategic depth, and surge capacity. Stationed locally and serving globally, our Citizen Airmen contribute daily to the total Air Force team through air, space, and cyberspace.

As we draw down in Afghanistan and look toward the future, a key consideration is to find ways to increase the predictability in how our Citizen Airmen serve.

Predictability helps our Citizen Airmen maintain a healthy balance between Air Force duty, employer responsibilities, and family life.

The establishment of deploy-to-dwell mobilization standards has assisted our Citizen Airmen, while meeting the requirements of combatant commanders. Our Citizen Airmen also serve through volunteerism, which is additional time away from family and employers. Are there improved ways to account for time away, as well as ways to better match our support with predictable requirements, to make best use of how Citizen Airmen serve? I think this is an important question as force structure changes are discussed.

This past year, our Airmen and civilians dealt with furloughs, sequestration, and a government shutdown. The stress of the many unknowns tested our service members' resiliency. Maintaining a vigilant watch on our people's welfare will be critical during this time of fiscal uncertainty.

The "service before self" attitude of our Citizen Airmen this past year once again demonstrated their commitment to serve our great country. If we take care of them, they'll take care of the mission.

By CMSgt Lani Burnett

Executive Director, Reserve Enlisted Association