Photo By Becky Gallagher | Army Reserve Ambassador John Dyess talks to a audience during the Army Reserve 100th...... read more read more
By Becky Gallagher
81st Regional Support Command
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., - To those involved in the Army Reserve Ambassador program, John Dyess needs no introduction. He has been one of the most active members since his first appointment to the voluntary position by Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly, former Chief of the Army Reserve, in September 2002.
He was reappointed in September 2005, was a member of the Executive Committee in 2006 and served as the host of the 2006 Ambassadors Conference in Atlanta.
Dyess, a native of Mississippi, now resides with his wife, Sandra, in Knoxville, hometown of the University of Tennessee Volunteers.
"You can listen to me and tell that I'm not from the northern environs," said Dyess. "I grew up in Mississippi, although some people say I have yet to grow up."
To those unfamiliar with the program, Dyess is one of 105 AR proponents appointed to three-year terms to serve as the CAR's eyes and ears out in the community. Selection of these advocates is based on their influence and connections with elected officials and local business leaders. They are civilian volunteers and no military experience is required, although most of them have worn the uniform.
Dyess, a retired lieutenant colonel, is proud of his successful career in the Army Reserve. He claims his long military career sneaked up on him. He graduated from high school in a small town then went off to Delta State University, a small college in Cleveland, Miss. After college, he moved to Columbia, S.C., to work for the federal government as a bank examiner.
"I joined the Army Reserve in 1965," said Dyess. "I enlisted in a civil affairs unit and, quite frankly, didn't care much for the Army or the Army Reserve for the first three or four years. Then it began to grow on me and I liked it well enough to stay a few more years. I retired in 1993."
So why would a young, recently married, gainfully employed lad, who did not care for the Army, volunteer to enter the military during the most turbulent years in our country's history of the draft?
"I had a call late one night from my hometown draft board," said Dyess. "She called me by my small-town name. You know, in small towns you get two names – your first and your middle. She said, 'John Lomas, this is Ann Daniel. Have you ever thought of joining the National Guard or reserves?'
"I said, 'No,' " said Dyess. "Then she said, 'Well, you might want to think about it because you're third on next month's draft list.' "
Dyess said he began to think about it, and then enlisted in the Army Reserve simply because he was familiar with their training center in Columbia.
He received numerous awards and decorations throughout his military career, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
He has also received numerous prestigious awards during his post-military career, including Mayor's Award for Public Service, the Tennessee Distinguished Patriot Award and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. Rutherford County, Tenn., also passed a proclamation for John L. Dyess Day on Oct. 30, 2002.
But one of his favorite achievements is being appointed by the CAR to keep our Soldiers a priority in our communities.
"About six years ago, while serving as the state chair for the Tennessee ESGR [Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve] committee," said Dyess. "I was invited to a meeting down at the 81st Regional Readiness Command in Birmingham where I met this group of Army Reserve Ambassadors. The term was not known to me then, but I realized what they were doing and that the potential for the ambassador program was really good. So, I thought I might be a nice fit for it. I have served, hopefully with some effectiveness, as an ambassador in Tennessee ever since."
In his duties as an ambassador, Dyess is concerned that reserve units are not taking full advantage of the services the program can provide. He feels that the problem stems from a lack of communication.
"We will gladly go forth and try to do anything a commander or Soldier asks of us," said Dyess. "But until we know what's needed, it's difficult to respond. I want to urge units to get to know the ambassadors – on a first-name basis. They should feel free to call them up or email them and ask, 'Can you do this for us?' I assure you the ambassador will gladly do it."
Dyess is also concerned about the reputation of the Army Reserve, or lack of it.
"I want to get the American public -- the business community and the elected officials -- to understand that the Army Reserve is a distinct organization apart from the Army and apart from the National Guard. We have really unique units and truly special
individuals who comprise the Army Reserve."
He stresses that ambassadors must encourage the community to visit our units and get to know our Soldiers. They must identify and get to know the people who influence a community's perception of the military and of the Army Reserve.
"What we have to work on is making people understand and appreciate that the Army Reserve is an organization and Army Reserve Soldiers are a vital part of our national defense," said Dyess.
| Date Taken: | 01.09.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.09.2008 14:58 |
| Story ID: | 24756 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 447 |
| Downloads: | 229 |
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