Army Reserve Chief visits, meets with Reservists serving in Afghanistan

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Tyrone Walker | 1st Sgt. David Smith, 425th Transportation Company, briefs Army Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, chief of the Army Reserve, about soldiers' responsibilities in Kandahar, Afghanistan. In a three-day tour, Stultz visited Army Reservists serving across Afghanistan, including Camp Eggers, Forward Operating Base Fenty, Camp Sabalu-Harrison, Bagram Air Field, Camp Leatherneck, and Kandarhar Airfield. During the visit to Afghanistan, Stultz dined with soldiers, visited and talked with them in their work areas and hosted several town hall meetings, where he talked about the Army Reserve and answered questions about soldiers’ concerns.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

01.23.2011

Story by 1st Sgt. Tyrone Walker 

210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Army Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, chief of the Army Reserve, recently completed a tour of Afghanistan to greet and meet hundreds of Reservist soldiers serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.

During a three-day trip that included stops in Nangarhar, Helmand, Kandahar, and Paktika provinces, Stultz visited Army Reservists serving at Camp Eggers, Forward Operating Base Fenty, Forward Operation Base Sharana, Bagram Airfield, Forward Operating Base Leatherneck and Kandarhar Airfield. As of mid-January, more than 6,000 Army Reserve soldiers serve in bases, camps and outposts in Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class Robbie Roe, the 1st Sgt. of the 592nd Ordnance Company, based in Billings, Montana, said the face-to-face talk with the general is a morale booster for his soldiers who operate an Ammunition Supply Point at Bagram Air Field.

“The visit helps us know that leadership in the states cares about what we do over here,” said Roe, who lives in Butte, Montana.
In all, Stultz visited and dined with Soldiers from more than 20 units. He awarded a Purple Heart, re-enlisted 17 Soldiers, pinned 25 Combat Action Badges on soldiers, and presented his commander’s coins to nearly 50 soldiers.

In five town hall meetings, Stultz first thanked soldiers for their service and reminded them of the important roles they play in Afghanistan and around the world.

“The Army can’t do what it does without you,” Stultz said.

Stultz also shared his insights on present and future issues affecting the Army Reserve and his vision with dealing with each. He touched on a range of topics, including the posture of the Army Reserve after the Operation Enduring Freedom, stressing the need for the Army Reserve to remain an operational reserve that provide citizen-warriors with meaningful, value-added training.

Stultz also spoke about employment for soldiers who return home after deployments, and the need civilian employers have for employees who are physical fit, disciplined and drug free.

“Employers are looking for you. They value you,” Stultz told soldiers. “You’re a national treasure.”

As he traveled across Afghanstan, among those with whom Stultz met were soldiers operating or repairing million-dollar military equipment, training the Afghan National Army soldiers, manning entry control points of forward operating bases, clearing improvised explosive devices from roads and piloting UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.

He talked with mothers and fathers, husbands and wives. He talked with landscaper and students, biochemists and factory workers. The Soldiers were from across America, from small cities like Cary, N.C. to large cities like San Diego, Calif.

• Date Taken: 01.23.2011
• Date Posted: 01.27.2011 11:52
• Story ID: 64308
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF