2021 RNG JULY-AUGUST

Some of the smartest career advice I have ever heard came during two separate interviews, months apart, with military leaders. Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, Chief of Army Reserve, were asked about their top piece of advice to those looking to progress in their careers. Both gave a similar response: Look two positions ahead.

“So, not your next job but the one after that,” Daniels said.

It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day, leaving little time to think about what’s down the line. For example, when I’m planning out content for magazines, we are so focused on the issue ahead of us, that 2022 ideas sit on the backburner. Attacking a career in this way is a lot like running on the treadmill, we might be getting the job done but we really aren’t going anywhere. Why does this matter so much?

Whether it’s a military or civilian career, you are in a constant state of evaluation for the next promotion, award or billet, and that race is against yourself as much as it is against your peers. If you want to stand out from the pack, mediocrity and checking the box on daily tasks isn’t going to cut it. Things like off-duty education, improved PT scores, and excelling at challenges [see page 16] can put you on the radar of those decision makers. And seeking out mentorship from experienced leaders, like retired

Maj. Gen. John Gronski, who isn’t afraid to reveal the mistakes he made during his 40-year career. He opens up about the hard lessons he’s learned on page 20.

What are you doing to prepare for two positions from now? Share your comments at managing.editor@ ameriforcemedia.com

Bianca M. Strzalkowski Managing Editor

Crystal Kupper

Kari Williams

Rebecca Alwine

Andrea Downing Peck

Chris Adams

Rich Dolan

ABOUT THE COVER

On campus at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut, we spoke to faculty and students about the college’s innovative programming. Photo by Kvon Photography. @reservenationalguard @RNGmagazine @ReserveGuardMag

Bryan Kirk

Kristen De Deyn Kirk

by Kari Williams

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DOD announces update to education benefits

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER

The Department of Defense issued a memorandum in May approving the concurrent use of Federal Tuition Assistance and the Montgomery GI BillSelected Reserve Education Benefit (MGIB-SR or chapter 1606).

This policy change means that all qualified MGIB-SR service members are authorized to use both benefits at the same time when enrolled in an education program that is at least half-time or more.

DOD previously prohibited simultaneous receipt of TA and chapter 1606 benefits, meaning that men and women in the National

Guard and reserves had to choose between one or the other. Nearly 41,000 students used the MGIB-SR in 2020 alone, according to a VA spokesperson, and with the added benefit of concurrent TA and MGIB-SR that number may climb, though “it’s too early in the process to see if there is an increase in usage,” the spokesperson said.

The update is aimed at aiding reserve component members “training at half-time or more in order to more fully cover the costs associated with education or training,” the spokesperson added.

As the Chief of the Education Services Branch at the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia, Dr. Kenneth A. Hardy knows the

PHOTO BY NELL KING

history of education benefits well. The simultaneous use had initially been authorized for decades, he said, but that ended in July 2014.

“At that time, DOD decided that both TA and MGIB-SR benefits could not be received for the same course at the same time,” said Hardy. “Since the change, the ARNG, HQDA, congressional leaders and other key stakeholders have been actively engaging with DoD to reverse their decision and reinstate the simultaneous use of both benefits.”

The new change should help significantly, Hardy believes.

“By allowing reserve component members to once again use both benefits simultaneously, RC SMs will now be able to reduce their out-of-pocket costs by using their MGIB-SR benefits to help pay any additional tuition costs, fees, books, housing, transportation and other related costs of attendance,” he said.

Hardy’s office has done its part to spread the word by providing the 50 U.S. states and territories with operational messages, flyers, and social media posts to help market the new change. Individual states quickly jumped on the bandwagon, like Montana Army National Guard’s Instagram page: “Did you know? You are now able to use your GI Bill + TA!” The June post racked up dozens of likes.

While this policy update will cost the U.S. government additional dollars, Hardy said it is a worthwhile investment.

“The ARNG strongly supports education benefits, as they are the number one reason applicants join,” he said. “In addition, the use of education benefits helps soldiers in their military and civilian careers, so it also positively impacts retention rates as well.”

The automation system for Federal Tuition Assistance recently transitioned from GoArmyEd to ArmyIgnitED, which will impact the number of guardsmen and reservists using both benefits. But Hardy and his colleagues are hopeful that when the transition is completed by this fall, the numbers of beneficiaries will climb with autumn enrollment.

“Our hope is that this change will positively impact recruiting and retention efforts by encouraging soldiers to attend college, reducing their out-of-pocket expenses, and reducing the amount of time it takes for them to complete their degree,” Hardy said.

For questions or concerns about how to access these concurrent TA and chapter 1606 benefits, please contact your DOD Education Services Office or your unit’s education officer. The VA’s Education Call Center can be reached at 888-442-4551 between 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. central time on Monday through Friday.

SENIOR SPOUSE

SFRG MORE EFFECTIVE PUSHES TO MAKE THE

BY BIANCA STRZALKOWSKI

Retired Army Col. John McCarthy met his wife, Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, through trail running. The couple married in 2013, but his familiarity with the military started long before that. The New Jersey-native enlisted in the New Jersey Army National Guard in 1980 as a minor student who needed his parent’s signature to forge ahead with his contract. McCarthy then completed basic training between his junior and senior years of high school, attaining his first rank before he even earned a diploma.

McCarthy experienced several transitions throughout his career that spanned more than 28 years, including going from enlisted to officer and switching from the Guard to active duty in 1985, until his retirement in 2013. He said “it was always the plan, to stay in until they kicked me out.”

His marriage to Daniels drove his decision to retire ahead of the three-decade mark, he adds, because her career was on an upward trajectory as she was offered a billet overseas.

“She taught me a lot about how to listen,” he said.

McCarthy knew from the onset that he wanted to be engaged in his new role, especially since it would afford him the opportunity to continue helping soldiers and their families. It took him five months to specifically land on how we would accomplish this: Soldier & Family Readiness Groups (SFRG).

“It’s broken — if I can help and motivate people to fix it in the next two years, then I’ll move on to something else,” he said. “And here’s why it’s my thing; I was talking to a brigade-level command sergeant major spouse. She said, ‘my husband [an Army reservist] got mobilized, he was out the door in seven days; he was supposed to be gone for six months and he was gone for 18 months.’ No one called her. No one from the unit, no other spouses. No one, and she had three young kids.”

McCarthy admits hearing her story angered him, but then it focused his resolve.

the perception is there’s food insecurity, employment insecurity, but we don’t know. And I happen to have dinner with the person who can help that.

There are no problems in this world, there are only leader challenges. And if she [Lt. Gen. Daniels] pokes around and finds out, this challenge exists in New Jersey, and in California and in New Mexico, then she can tell her folks to find a programmatic solution to fix the challenge.”

“The two are definitely linked. Jody, my bride, had gotten a position in Stuttgart, Germany with Africa Command when I was still in. She asked if I wanted to come over [to Germany] … I could have stayed in until 30, but I wasn’t going to,” McCarthy said.

He was acclimated to the senior spouse role after receiving mentorship from Jenny Rodriguez, the wife of thenAFRICOM commander Gen. David Rodriguez.

The SFRG is a unit commander’s program that provides a network of support and assistance for personal deployment preparedness and enhances soldier and family readiness, according to the Army’s website. The Armysanctioned support groups are supposed to have a presence within every unit, CONUS and OCONUS. Levels of participation vary, as does the effectiveness, which is evident in the example cited by McCarthy. With such a vast AOR to evaluate, how will he begin to tackle his self-induced mission that started during a worldwide shutdown? Step one is to simply go back to Mrs. Rodriguez’s advice about listening, but in order to do that he needs Army families to use their voice.

“I need people to tell me what’s going on. Right now,

As a former intelligence officer, McCarthy said information is a powerful tool in combatting some of the issues that are prevalent — and that works both ways. He wants to be useful in disseminating resources across the Army Reserve, but he emphasizes the foundational work begins with facetime with soldiers and family members. The pandemic has limited in-person opportunities, but that has not stopped both McCarthy and Daniels from being active on virtual platforms. He plans to ramp up local visits as restrictions continue to loosen.

As for what a successful run will look like for him? McCarthy has set a pretty high bar, stating “if every unit, down to the company level, has a vibrant and active SFRG.”

SOUND OFF: What has your experience been with the SFRG? Submit your comments to managing.editor@ ameriforcemedia.com. We will share feedback with Mr. McCarthy.

The husband of the Chief of Army Reserve said he is focused on using his time in the senior spouse role to improve family readiness.

Daniels received her new rank from McCarthy during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 2020.

PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. EDGAR VALDEZ

Albertus Magnus College designs programs with military students in mind

BY BIANCA STRZALKOWSKI — SPONSORED

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Albertus Magnus College announced it will offer a new Bachelor of Science degree in Supply Chain Management starting this fall. The new program is part of the college’s strategic plan that calls for “the development of new academic programming that prepares students for a rapidly changing,

globally interconnected world.” It also aligns with a recent executive order President Joe Biden signed stating a need for supply chains that “will revitalize and rebuild domestic manufacturing capacity, maintain America’s competitive edge in research and development, and create well-paying jobs.”

Dr. Bill Aniskovitch, Chair of the School of Business and Director of the College’s Healthcare Management Program, says the addition of the Supply Chain Management degree makes sense because Albertus already had the foundation to build a program that prepares students for a technologically fast-paced environment.

“The best academic training for supply chain jobs is an experience that combines the critical thinking focus of a traditional liberal arts program with the more hands-on, practical forecasting, logistics, procurement skillsets. It also requires someone who can communicate within a team framework and demonstrate some leadership. Albertus is

A New England-based college is offering military-affiliated students the innovative programming needed to be competitive in today’s job market.

Tom Noonan (right) with student Jiron Cummings (left). An Army veteran, Noonan works with military-affiliated students to ensure their success.

interdisciplinary by nature, and so that fits right in our wheelhouse,” he said.

Aniskovitch, whose father is a Marine veteran, works directly with active-duty service members in his off-campus role as the CEO of Stonington Behavioral Health, Inc. He says the military’s focus on effectiveness and efficiency makes those who have served a natural fit for this program.

“Given my experience over the last 12 years working with service members in the program I run, I’ve learned that the military prepares a person with three crucial skills: problem solving, leadership, and a good work ethic — all three of those are crucial to the role of supply chain managers. One of the great things for active-duty service members and veterans is they already have the foundation [for this program] and we can layer on to that,” Aniskovitch explained.

He added that the market demand for students with this type of degree is “pretty significant” with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, citing an anticipated 8-12% growth of the field over the next six years.

For nearly 200,000 transitioning service members, the Department of Veterans Affairs finds employment to be a top challenge. The education benefits earned from a military career make the pursuit of a degree a common next step amongst those seeking to expand on skills already gained from service. In addition to the upcoming Supply Chain Management degree, Albertus Magnus offers a range

of program options including Cyber Security, Game and Computer Arts, and Criminal Justice, to name a few.

A student centric experience

Founded 95 years ago, Albertus Magnus was New England’s first residential, Catholic, liberal arts college for women. Its president, Dr. Marc M. Camille, says the Dominican Sisters of Saint Mary of the Springs who embarked on

this effort did so to give women access to the same quality education as men.

“They were really bold in doing this at the time, especially if you look at what was going on in higher education. But they had a calling about equity and access,” Camille said. “And from that moment to where we are today, Albertus has evolved to fully coeducational, as an example, but what it has never swayed from is a student centric experience.”

Despite the college’s growth that is anticipated to continue, Camille describes a “boutique approach to education” that is laser focused on student success.

“We want to see you grow and develop over your four years that you’re with us, into your best self; into a self that maybe when you started with us, you didn’t even imagine was in you. That’s one of the beautiful things about Albertus,” he said.

Camaraderie on campus

Campus culture includes a faculty that is reflective of its student body, like retired Master Sgt. James Scott who completed his undergraduate studies at

PHOTO BY KVON PHOTOGRAPHY

From left to right: Professor James Scott, Dr. Marc M. Camille, and Dr. Bill Aniskovitch.

Albertus and now teaches criminal justice as an assistant professor.

“I was what they considered a non-traditional student, where I came at nighttime to finish my degree. I was lucky because my faculty advisor now happens to be my colleague that I share an office with.”

Scott retired from both the Army National Guard and the Connecticut State Police after more than two decades. He said his desire for public service began in his youth when he interned at a police department. One of the officers he worked with was a command sergeant major and they talked about the benefits associated with the National Guard. After that, Scott decided to enlist when he was 17 years old.

“I knew I had an interest in becoming a police officer, and then when I joined the Guard I selected military police as my specialty, thinking I would get some skills to help me in the police process,” Scott said.

For others considering a similar path, Scott recommends prospective students explore the college because it offers a small student-to-faculty ratio.

“Some things that make Albertus unique, we’re going to provide you with a value-based education that is very well-rounded — along with that, it’s a very intimate

Veteran Nebiyou Masresha recently graduated with the Class of 2021. He described choosing the path of social work after seeing the mental health struggles of other veterans.

setting that affords me the opportunity to really learn about the students I have the pleasure of working with. I know everyone’s name. That kind of translates for a military person because it’s almost like a squad environment,” the Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran said.

Like Scott, Keith Walker chose a degree that aligns with his military occupational specialty. A current accounting major at Albertus, he served as an Ammo Stock Control and Accounting Specialist in the Army from 2009-2013.

“I’m actually trying to be an accountant so I can work for the Army as a subcontractor,” he said.

Walker said he enlisted in the military to create a better life for his family after working twoto-three jobs that just paid the bills. Throughout his four years as a soldier, he was stationed in Kentucky, Alabama, Texas, and South Korea. He waited until he transitioned from active duty to start school because of the time restrictions, but has found the secret sauce to excel — the New Haven-native currently has a 4.0 GPA.

“Stay organized and stay focused. I’m on the dean’s list, and I just try to stay on a schedule. Always hand in assignments on time; early, if you can. Class participation is very important and helps you connect with your peers,” Walker said.

It’s personal

Recent graduate Nebiyou Masresha credits the community environment at Albertus with securing his success. And for this former soldier, education is personal.

Masresha enlisted in the Army in 2010 after watching his father serve. He says his family has always made school a priority, so the transition from combat to college felt seamless.

“It’s not that different. While you’re in your unit, you’re always training, and when you’re in school, you’re always learning,” he said.

Masresha, who graduated in the June, chose his major after seeing veterans receive inadequate care from the VA.

“I think mental health is a big issue. While I was in the military, I was a suicide prevention

specialist, and coming back from deployment, I lost friends. And personally, I was diagnosed with PTSD. That pushed me to go into social work,” he shared through tears.

He attended an evening program at Albertus that allowed him to maintain his other responsibilities — a demand not uncommon for adult learners.

In the spring, Masresha received his bachelor’s degree after an eight-year journey. He credits his

PHOTO BY KVON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY KVON PHOTOGRAPHY

COURTESY

PHOTO

Dr. Marc M. Camille, President of Albertus Magnus College.

Scott is a retired master sergeant who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

family’s support and his own personal drive with getting him to this point, but also the staff from Albertus who pushed him.

“Without Tom [Noonan], I don’t think I would have done it,” he added.

Veteran’s Liaison Tom Noonan is the intersecting point for all things military at Albertus. Whether a student is an active-duty service member, veteran, National Guardsman, reservist, or military spouse, Noonan is the go-to resource for undergraduate and graduate studies.

“I deal with anything related to student veterans, from admissions to retention issues to services if they need me. I also do a lot of outreach with different veteran groups around the state, to keep up with different policies that are changing all the time. This also helps me know about new resources that exist, especially as they pertain to mental health,” Noonan explained.

His own resume includes eight years of Army service, along with personal decorations like the Soldier’s Medal.

He left active duty in 2008 and quickly realized his interest in being an advocate for why veterans should pursue post-secondary education. Albertus Magnus’ Four Pillars resonated with Noonan’s familiarity with Army values, leading him to take on this pivotal role in 2018.

“It was easy for me to get on board here with what we are doing with helping students because of the mission of the college. Not only do we help students in their education, but with service and experience throughout the community as well,” he said. “I’m here mainly because I don’t want to see any veterans go through what I went through in my undergraduate degree.”

He cites the “fear of the unknown” as a big challenge faced by student veterans.

“We [veterans] have so much real-world experience and we become so proficient, and so good, at our military job, but we don’t know exactly what a college classroom is going to hold for us,” Noonan, who is currently pursuing his master’s degree, said.

Albertus Magnus College designed its offerings and support services in a way that adult learners, like military-affiliated students, have options that are adapted to a busy lifestyle. Noonan said that includes traditional undergraduate programs, but also online and

Seeking a career in art therapy?

Art therapy is a human service profession that blends the disciplines of art, psychology, and counseling.

Albertus Magnus offers a Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program that was first established in 1997. Its director, Dr. Lisa Furman, who has been a practicing art therapist for more than 30 years, says it prepares students to become career ready.

“We have always been the only accredited graduate art therapy program in the state of Connecticut. When students graduate from our program, they are eligible to sit for licensing as an art therapist, but they’re also eligible to sit for the exam for licensing as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC),” Furman said during an interview with Reserve & National Guard Magazine.

She explained the program is unique in that it does not fall under the Fine Arts program — like other art therapy programs — and instead is part of the Psychology Department, which means students conduct an “exceptional, culminating research project.” Albertus Magnus students have gone on to win awards for this research from the American Art Therapy Association

“It’s beneficial because most of our students go on to present, to publish, to expand on their research, which then has impact on public policy and literature in the field. I’m very proud of that,” Furman said.

Alumni have also worked as interns for the local VA center in West Haven, Connecticut, that offers creative arts as a form of rehabilitative therapy to help veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities.

The Department of Veterans Affairs boasts its status as “the largest employer of Recreation Therapists and Creative Arts Therapists in the nation” on its website.

Possible career paths with a Master of Arts degree in Art Therapy and Counseling include:

• Art therapist

• Private practice psychotherapist

• Family therapist

• Bereavement counselor

• Substance abuse counselor

• Art therapy researcher

• Group therapist

• Assisted living or senior center program director

What makes a student a good fit for this program?

Furman said that in addition to meeting the pre-requisites for the program, students should demonstrate a passion for the art process in their application essay and interview. Additionally, their portfolio should show an openness and a curiosity for trying a broad range of art materials that can fit the needs of future clients, along with various types of content like portraits, landscapes, and abstract work.

“You have to be sort of a Renaissance artist, a jack of all trades. We want to see that this person can support a variety of clients … and has a strong desire to be in the profession and a belief that it works and helps,” she added.

The Master of Arts degree in Art Therapy and Counseling is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Albertus Magnus College will host a virtual information session on Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. Prospective students should visit www.albertus.edu/art-therapy/ms or contact admissions at cobrien1@albertus.edu.

flex programs. His team is personally invested in not only ensuring students reach their end goal, but that they are armed with the tools needed to attain gainful employment after degree completion.

USES HUMOR & HELOS

DELAWARE AVIATOR TO ENGAGE FOLLOWERS

BY KARI WILLIAMS

When Spc. Jay Crimmins created an Instagram account two years ago to document the Delaware Army Aviation units, he never meant for it to become a recruitment tool. And yet – “We’ve got a really cool job, and we just wanted to show people that it’s a lot of fun,” said Crimmins, a helicopter repairer who currently is stationed in Kosovo with the 3rd Bn., 238th Aviation Regt., General Support Aviation Bn. “I mean, it’s still the Army, there’s negatives mixed in with positives, but at the end of the day, you’re getting paid to fly helicopters.”

Maj. Bernie Kale, director of public affairs for Delaware National Guard, said the public affairs office routinely monitors social media and kept coming across posts from Crimmins’ Delaware Army Aviation profile

“It certainly piqued our interest considering the amazing imagery, the way they had a sense of humor about things without going too far over the line,” Kale said.

The PAO office then reached out to Crimmins to use some of his images for their own social media accounts.

“I think that a lot of the best sort of recruiting material is not blatant recruiting material,” Kale said.

And that’s something recruiters have embraced, according to Crimmins.

“We’ve gone back and forth both in person and virtually and I’ve been told that it’s helped them give examples of things that we do on a regular basis,” he said. “So, that is a nice byproduct.”

The content has grown to showcase tonguein-cheek humor in the form of captions, but as with the recruiting aspect, humor was not the intent.

“Me personally, I like to think I’m relatively funny,” Crimmins said. “So that’s kind of where the captions come from. I’ve talked to some people within social media marketing spaces, and I’ve come to agreement with them that one of the hardest things to come up with is captions in general.”

But, put simply, humor causes engagement.

“If it’s something that makes you laugh, if it’s something that causes you to leave a comment, then I’m increasing the engagement on the page,” Crimmins said, “and I’m working toward Instagram’s algorithm to drive extra traffic there.”

While the account is unofficial, Crimmins said he has been given “a lot” of leeway.

“That’s basically because I haven’t put my foot in my mouth so far,” Crimmins said. “I mean, to be completely honest, it was something that the command team has embraced because I think they enjoy it as well.”

In addition to benefits for the Guard and its units – whether deployed or stateside –Crimmins said the account helps families to keep up with what the work their relatives are involved in.

“It’s not all from the deployed environment, but [it is] a regular reminder of this is what my loved ones are doing overseas, even if it’s just for a couple people, I think that’s helpful,” Crimmins said. “If a soldier in the unit is in one of the pictures and it gets out there and it gets some traction, there has to be a sense of accomplishment there.”

Even still, Crimmins said, he doesn’t have a “set purpose” going forward with the account itself, but more with aviation as a whole.

“I would like to see aviation grow within the state as this kind of thing has evolved,” Crimmins said. “It was never really supposed to be a recruiting tool and it’s become one. If I can help the community that I really, really love being a part of grow and continue, then I will do my best to do that.”

And all indications thus far, he said, are that it’s helping.

“There are a lot of people within the state that still don’t know that we have an aviation unit,” Crimmins said. “So, to get that word out and engage with people, I think that’s the goal.”

Follow www.instagram.com/ dearmyaviation for a daily dose of all things aviation.

ARMY RESERVE NAMES

BEST WARRIORS

BY BRYAN KIRK

2021 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition drew nearly 80 soldiers to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, and at the end of the 10-day contest, it was Staff Sgt. Jonathan Chacon and Spc. Nicholas Kyne who emerged victorious.

Chacon, 37, who is assigned to the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), won NCO of the year, while Kyne, 25, who is assigned to 416th Theater Engineer Command, won Soldier of the Year and was also a member of the newly-incorporated Best Squad, also from the 416th Theater Engineer Command.

Chacon, who has served for 13 years, competed in his first Best Warrior Competition in 2012 after being nominated by his NCOIC at the time. He was initially reluctant, but once the competition began, he was hooked.

“I love competing, and the experience was great,” he said. “You meet all kinds of interesting people, and win or lose you take home the experience, so it’s a good thing.”

The Best Warrior Competition is held annually and draws the Army Reserve’s best soldiers and NCOs, who are judged on their adaptability and drive to overcome in challenging situations.

Seventy-nine soldiers arrived at Fort McCoy in May. Over the next 10 days, soldiers competed in land navigation, the obstacle course, the Army Combat Fitness Test, Water Safety, and pistol and rifle qualification. These events are designed to foster competition in the ranks and test the technical and tactical expertise of all competitors.

Each of the competitors had to first win at their respective unit echelons of command, held at company, battalion, division, or the command level. Depending upon the organization to which a competitor belongs, this may have been the third, or even forth, competition.

Chacon said unlike his first time competing, he was excited about the challenge of going against other solders and NCOs who wanted to win as badly as he did. That meant working to enhance his land navigation skills, making sure he was proficient on the range, and keeping in shape.

Kyne, who has been in the Army Reserve for three years, holds down two jobs and attends college full time in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, when he’s not training. Kyne said before the competition, his goal was to go to Air Assault Airborne school, but he was having difficulty getting a slot.

“I was having a hard time getting a school,” he said. “I was talking with team leaders and squad leaders, who all said the only way to get into any kind of school was to compete and win the company Best Warrior competition.”

He competed and won on three levels before advancing to the next level, Kyne said. To prepare for the competition, he added more PT to his routine, which included cardio in the morning and weight training in the evenings, ruck training twice a week, and training at the shooting range.

Sgt. 1st Class John Freese, who serves in the public affairs office for the 88th Readiness Division, watched the competition and called this year’s event one of the best he’d ever witnessed.

“There are countless things that can go wrong, and countless ways for people to get hurt. This was a very well run, well managed event, and despite that people were ascending and walking atop 20-foot-high obstacles, firing live rounds on multiple ranges with various weapon types, and jumping from helicopters, there were no serious issues,” Freese said.

Unlike most active-duty training leading up to the Best Warrior Competition, Army reservists who work in the private sector train on their own time to prepare for the competition.

In the end, it was their determination, competitiveness, skill, and preparation that drove Chacon and Kyne to earn top honors in the 2021 Best Warrior Competition. Chacon and Kyne will compete against activeduty soldiers in the All-Army Best Warrior Competition that will be held in October.

“I am not leaving anything to chance,” Chacon said. “I am going to continually push myself, and I am going to do everything I can to bring home that victory.”

UNIVERSITY OFFERS

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES AND DEGREES FOCUSED ON MENTAL HEALTH

BY KRISTEN DE DEYN KIRK — SPONSORED

“For me, those two degrees go hand in hand,” said the 39-yearold Fort Irwin, California resident. “Therapies I was going through at the time had no body-soul unity aspect. I had been suffering after a divorce and a miscarriage. Those experiences were bringing me back to my faith. I was a ‘fallen away cradle Catholic.’”

Lujan hoped that learning psychological principles supported by biblical teachings would boost her personal growth and lay the foundation for a new career.

She saw an advertisement for Divine Mercy University, an online school offering three degrees, a doctorate in clinical

psychology, a master’s in counseling, and a master’s in psychology.

“Oh, that’s perfect!” said Lujan, remembering her reaction to the information about the master’s in psychology. “It teaches about suffering and body-soul unity. It was my prayers being answered.”

M. Michele Drennen, a former Divine Mercy admissions representative and now the university’s alumni relations coordinator, notes that military enlistees have long faced mental health struggles, whether related to post traumatic stress disorder or training and on-the-job demands.

Divine Mercy student Lujan, who spent 12 years as a reservist.

Last year, Tricia Lujan, a former Army reservist, was researching master’s degrees. She wanted two: one in psychology and the other in theology.

“There was a time, especially with World War veterans and Vietnam veterans, that these issues were not treated as importantly as they are now,” Drennen said. “The interest in mental health is much more on the forefront.”

When she served, Lujan saw the need for prioritizing mental health. She recalls fellow soldiers defeated psychologically from past and current circumstances. Memories of their anguish drove her enrollment at Divine Mercy as much as her desire to develop herself. She began her studies in June 2020. Because her husband was in the Army at the time, she qualified for a 25% tuition discount.

The flexibility of online classes, which Lujan has taken advantage of before, is ideal. She’s a homeschooling mom, teaching her three children, three nephews, and a niece, so a traditional university, with the need to drive back and forth to classes, wouldn’t work. Lujan liked another feature of Divine Mercy even better, though: She can’t get overwhelmed studying several subjects at once, because the university paces her workload. Each term is eight weeks, one class only.

Lujan, who was a soldier for 12 years, shines when interacting with others. Divine Mercy feeds her extraversion. Classmates, described by Lujan as “so nice, so patient,” are connected on a WhatsApp group and hold out-of-class Zoom meetings. When a professor senses a student wrestling with a concept or an assignment, he or she suggests a Zoom call, too.

“Even though it’s an online program,” Lujan said, “you still have one-on-one capability with your professor.”

Including those who are currently enrolled, Divine Mercy has instructed more than 1,100 students. They range in age from 20- to 60-something and include housewives, church members, clergy, teachers, human resources executives, and current and retired military.

“We find that many of our students have been out in the world awhile,” said Drennen, “and are seeking fulfillment in their current career or changing careers completely.”

They also share a desire to be in a helping profession. Life coaches, medical personnel, and FBI employees all hold or are working on master’s degrees in psychology. An MBA-degreed writer from Louisiana enrolled after visiting Alaska and learning of high rates of alcoholism among the Alaska Native population. His wants to use his degree to assist them.

Lujan is thinking of a career with a Catholic diocese. That would be after continuing her studies further, earning a Spiritual Direction Certificate from Divine Mercy, in addition to her master’s degree.

An option she doesn’t mention, but her skills point to — being an admissions recruiter for Divine Mercy. Lujan told her best friend about the university, knowing she shares her faith journey. Eighteen years Lujan’s senior, she’s also planning her next steps in life. In spring 2022, she’ll be by Lujan’s side at graduation, as both her friend and her fellow graduate.

Gronski reveals leadership

lessons in new book

BY MELISSA STEWART

Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Gronski enjoyed plenty of triumphs during a 40-year career that combined highranking roles in the military and in the civilian sector. His biggest lessons, though? They came from making mistakes.

He explains why and opens up about all of his secrets to success in his new book “Iron-Sharpened Leadership: Transforming HardFought Lessons Into Action,” released in June.

“From my experience leading soldiers in the Army to my experience leading employees in a work environment, I learned a great deal of lessons,” he said. “Along the way, just like anybody, especially if you take on hard assignments, you do make mistakes. And I have felt when I make mistakes, I always learn more from that than I do from doing something well.”

Gronski has done many things well, including leading a group of 15,000 soldiers during a three-year stint as the deputy commanding general at U.S. Army Europe before retiring in June 2019. His impressive resume also details serving 12 years on active duty and consulting at Fortune 500 companies during his time in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

He has also faced his share of struggles. Gronski admitted to instances of arrogance early in his career. In “Iron-Sharpened Leadership,” he details lessons

learned during his time leading a small team as a colonel in Lithuania.

“I thought after leading 850 soldiers successfully, leading four military personnel in this remote country would be a piece of cake, but I underestimated the difficulty of leading small teams,” he said. After one of his majors confronted Gronski about dissent among the ranks, even telling him that he was “breaking the team apart,” Gronski said he realized the importance of trust in an organization.

“If an organization doesn’t have trust, everyone has to watch each other’s back instead of looking ahead at the objective,” he said. “In an environment like that it’s pretty hard to effectively and efficiently get to where you need to get.”

Gronski uses stories like these — his own and those of others he has learned from — to create a compelling narrative and make points that his audience can latch onto in his latest book, he said.

“I think stories are very powerful. They provide a teachable perspective to others. Most people will remember a story before they will remember a concept.”

“Iron-Sharpened Leadership,” a guide Gronski hopes readers will “keep at arm’s length on their desk” is broken up into digestible chapters covering the three components of his leadership philosophy — character, competence, and resilience. They are structured so they don’t have to be read in any particular order, and he added that readers don’t have to be in a formal position of leadership or even in the military to benefit from the contents.

“It’s even helpful to parents or leaders in a family unit,” he explained. “It casts a broad net. Stories apply to all sorts of people. It’s a good book for aspiring leaders, those new to leadership, and experienced leaders looking for new techniques and approaches.”

This is the second book for Gronski, who said he didn’t intend to become a writer in his retirement years but felt called to do so. His journey as an author began with “The Ride of Our Lives,” which documented a 4,000-mile bicycle trip he took with his wife more than 35 years ago.

With “Iron-Sharpened Leadership,” he goes in a new direction with the goal of teaching others the value of growing from others. The title is a nod to Proverbs 27:17 and the idea that one person sharpens another.

“I think the stories are very inspiring, not necessarily the stories about me but stories of people I have served with worked with or served with,” he said. “I didn’t want to keep those stories to myself. I wanted to share them to help other people become inspired and to learn some of the hard lessons I have learned.”

“Iron-Sharpened Leadership: Transforming Hard-Fought Lessons Into Action” is available now for purchase on Amazon at www.amazon.com/ Iron-Sharpened-LeadershipTransforming-Hard-FoughtLessons/dp/1735856363.

‘DIY-pilot’

soars in his career

BY REBECCA ALWINE

His background as a Command and Control Battle Management Operations specialist during his previous enlistment helped prepare him for what he learned when going through training for the Federal Aviation Administration after being selected as an applicant in 2015.

“My old Air Force job and being an air traffic controller are very similar,” Silva said. “I’m just not controlling the air space in a tactical environment anymore.”

Silva then started working as an air traffic controller in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he lives with his wife of 10 years and three kids who have interests that keep the family busy, like karate, dance and, well, being a toddler.

On top of his work as an air traffic controller for the FAA, Silva commutes from Puerto Rico back to his unit for drill weekends. The trip from Puerto Rico to Delaware — where he recently transferred — is just a bit shorter than the one to Arkansas where he was receiving training at Little Rock Air Force Base.

Silva explained that when his unit changed its mission set into a Contingency Response Group, he started looking for another option.

“I wanted to keep flying so I applied to different units and Delaware accepted me,” he said. “I love both of my jobs. It’s not really a job, I have a passion for it.”

Silva finds himself constantly pushing forward in his pursuits, whether it’s working on his Master’s in Business Administration or pursuing another FAA civilian pilot rating to further his aviation career. He also prioritizes family time and makes sure to hit the gym.

And sometimes, he admits, it gets tough balancing everything.

“There was a time I had three jobs — full-time with the FAA, drill weekends, and I was doing some part-time flight instructing build-up hours,” Silva said. “I was doing all three jobs in

the same month plus commuting four hours every day.”

But the support of his family and the love he has for flying is what gets him through.

“My wife has been there to support me in everything,” he said. “We make decisions as a family and I’m very grateful for her — she’s put things aside so she can raise our family and support me.”

One of the things Silva’s wife supports is

his passion for flying. A childhood goal, it’s part hobby and part job. He wants to fly as much as possible and keeps an open mind as to what the future may bring. He added that he has thought about opening a flight school and finding additional ways to fly more permanently.

Follow “your friendly neighborhood DIYpilot” on https://www.instagram.com/ alexis_diy_pilot where he shares photos of his family, travels, and his flight.

As a company-wide investment, Caliber continues to support and hire members of America’s military and their families.

Capt. Wilfredo Silva straddles all sides of the flightline, piloting the C-130H for the Air National Guard while working as an air traffic controller.

5 ways to unwind after AT

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER

Life may still be in a COVID-19 reopening flux, but one fact remains unchanged in 2021: when the optempo is busy, what you do in your off-duty time matters. We found five of the top ways to recharge your battery by getting outdoors.

GET SOME BITES

No matter what kind of pole you use, fishing requires intense concentration and patience. Ironically, those qualities also allow the mind to relax, said Micah Clark. As the founder of Camp Patriot, a recreational therapy ranch in Montana geared toward veterans and military members, Clark has seen the effects of casting a line on hundreds of stressed-out military men and women.

“Like with fly tying, you have to pay so much attention, it takes your mind off things,” he said. “The outdoors has an easy gravitational pull.”

Connect with Camp Patriot online at https://camppatriot.org

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

When you sign up for something, you’re far less likely to bail. Why not register for a race after AT is done? Any kind or distance will do: running, walking, swimming, obstacle courses, mud or glow runs or a triathlon. Find races through websites like Active or Race Find. You can even work a destination race into a post-AT reward.

HIT THE DIRT

When your engine’s been gassed, changing gears can recharge your spark plugs. If you don’t own a dirt bike, quad, or dune buggy, check out local rentals for guided tours. Off-roading has the dangerous element, Clark pointed out, which lends itself well to many military personalities. Check out your state’s game and fish department for off-road safety classes

HUNT FOR TREASURE

Sean Gobin, executive director for Warrior Expeditions, said the most important part of destressing is not exactly what you do in nature, but that you simply do something.

“When you’re outside, you link up your sleep cycles and put your natural chemicals back into sync,” he said. “Getting endorphins from physical activity helps combat depression and burns off anxiety.”

Finding hidden items through geocaching, a giant GPS-guided treasure hunt, is an easy, familyfriendly way to do exactly that. Download apps like Geocaching, Cachly or GeoCaches to get started. Soon, you’ll receive coordinates to find something fun in the outdoors near you.

Connect with Warrior Expeditions at https:// warriorexpeditions.org.

BE A FARMER

Clark hopes to expand Camp Patriot’s gardening capability for one simple reason: it’s healthy for both body and spirit.

“It’s easy to dismiss the value of activities like gardening, but if you can reconnect with it, it’s just good for your soul,” he said.

So, grab a trowel, watering can, and seed packet. Check with your local extension office or gardening centers for education. Start with just one plant and see what happens. Besides herbs or veggies, you might find yourself growing, too.

STAFF SERGEANT OFFERS ADVICE FOR THOSE LOOKING TO CLIMB THE RANKS

BY ANDREA DOWNING PECK

As a career counselor with the Michigan Army National Guard, Staff Sgt. Devin Smith can’t offer junior enlisted soldiers a fail-safe formula for promotion success, but he can provide an arsenal of advice capable of changing the trajectory of a career.

Smith’s decade of service includes five years on active duty, four years with the Ohio National Guard and his current assignment in Michigan. A combat medic by trade, Smith’s past assignments include time with the infantry, cavalry, and airborne units, most notably as an Air Assault “Black Hat,” rappel master, and medical sustainment instructor, as well as senior medic for Ranger Training and Assessment Course.

Members of the reserve component encounter different career progression challenges than active-duty service members because of restrictions on the number of positions and vacancies available to them. But, Smith maintains, cream rises to the top.

“I believe the heritage and spirit of the military holds true regardless of what component you belong to. An enlisted soldier who aspires to be an NCO should approach promotions the same whether they are active, Guard or reserve,” he said. “Just be the best soldier you need to be and the promotion will take care of itself.”

Here are ways to make that happen:

• Character counts. “Have the attitude of gratitude and be thankful for any opportunity that comes your way,” Smith said. “Many people check all the boxes. On paper they are ready to become NCOs, but their hearts and minds aren’t crafted in a way that is becoming of a noncommissioned officer.”

• Complete PME as soon as eligible for career advancement. “Care about your career because nobody else will,” he said.

• Be ready physically, mentally, technically, and tactically to assume the next level of responsibilities. “Know your job and up, all the way to your boss’s boss, and the different programs associated at the unit level,” Smith said.

• Find a mentor with a proven track record of integrity. “Success is different for all of us,” Smith said. “But if you only look up to those with your military occupational specialty or with the qualifications you plan to have one day, then you will fail to find a mentor of true substance that can break through to you.”

• Embrace change by moving to different units, locations, and types of missions to learn and gain a wide range of experiences.

• Constantly seek to improve. “We’re talking about going on orders, volunteering for community events to represent the Guard. Increase your domain knowledge. Your accolades and achievements are your resume,” Smith said. “You want to be the type of leader others would follow.”

• Maintain copies of your documents, including awards, certificates, and appraisals.

When M-Day soldiers feel “stuck” in their careers, Smith believes a change of scenery can be the answer. He says applying to another unit, switching to a new MOS when renewing a contract or going on orders can reignite a career.

“Maybe you need to have your passion come find you,” he said. “Let’s put you in a different experience, immerse you into the military culture and see what you like and don’t like. Then they can feel less stuck.”

Smith expects this year to be another good year for NCO promotions.

“Last year was a really good year because they

were promoting people who were eligible and due to COVID, we were able to promote based off of need and not who first completed PME. Soldiers were promoted through our Exception to Policy program,” Smith said. “This year is a good year because there are a lot of vacancies force-wide.”

While there is no golden ticket for promotion, Smith says it takes an investment of more than one weekend a month and two weeks a year to steadily climb the promotion ladder.

“No matter how hard you work during those

36-40 days, it is still 40 days,” he said. “You must design your life to be an example of the rank you plan to hold; becoming a leader in life so that you can exude leadership qualities and deserve promotions. If you plan to lead soldiers, the regular M-day investment won’t cut it.

“Stop thinking you can put in the same effort a private does when you’re an NCO,” Smith added. “The NCO corps is hard work. Every chevron and rocker is earned. If that commitment is too great, then stay lower enlisted and serve the best way you know how, as a citizen soldier and a member of the team.”

ARMY MUSEUM

REOPENS AT FORT BELVOIR

BY SUSAN MALANDRINO

The National Museum of the United States Army opened yesterday on the Army’s 246th birthday. The celebratory event featured music from the Army Band and the Fife and Drums Corps, along with period costumes, cupcakes, and more.

According to officials, the opening of the D.C. area’s newest tourist attraction was well worth the wait. The Fort Belvoir-based museum initially opened in November 2020 but closed temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic. Kerri Kline, vice president of operations at the Army Historical Foundation, said this week’s event is a true celebration.

“Sharing this opening on the Army’s birthday and seeing visitors back in the building has been a great thing,” Kline said.

“What’s been really exciting is the amount of interest that people have had in the museum,” she added, noting that during the pandemic the foundation and museum staff maintained engagement through virtual programs, email blasts, and a variety of videos.

Capturing the contributions of U.S. soldiers

According to officials, the museum interprets the Army’s history by telling stories of soldiers and their experiences. The displays and interactivelearning exhibits illustrate the Army’s role in building and defending the nation, humanitarian missions, and technological and medical breakthroughs.

The lobby, which measures 8,600 square feet, contains illuminated glass panels overhead and a black granite wall with engravings of every campaign throughout history.

Forty-one 7-foot stainless-steel pylons contain etched images of both famous and lesser-known soldiers throughout history, telling their personal accounts. Fighting for the Nation Galleries on the first floor share the role of the Army in the founding of the nation from 1607 until the present day through six chronologically ordered galleries. Additional features include a multi-sensory 300-degree theater and a tranquil rooftop.

Artifacts that tell a story

Army veteran Lou Dorfman, who retired after 34 years of service,

now works as a volunteer tour guide. He loves the museum and is passionate about the way the artifacts share untold stories. Those of particular interest to him are a Civil War-era saber, World War I steel helmet, Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s cap, and one of six remaining Higgins boats that allowed American soldiers “to run to the beach” during the invasion of Normandy.

In the Cold War Exhibit, Dorfman told the story of how the Army Jeep was derived from slang for both new recruits and vehicles.

“This was a light general-purpose, 4-wheel-drive vehicle, but that

was too much to say. The Army soldiers shortened to generalpurpose vehicle and later ‘GP’ during World War II.”

Dorfman shared that this was later colloquially called “Jeep” and has been integral to the Army ever since.

“This vehicle here was a favorite when I was a soldier,” Dorfman said pointing to a vehicle and recalling his time in Italy three decades ago. “The passenger seat of this particular model was converted to a cooler for soldiers to secretly store beer. We always wondered why the guys who rode in this model were so happy,” he said with a laugh and a wink.

Army Lt. Col. Paul Tanghe, professor of military science at Fordham University, who was touring the Changing World Gallery, which features exhibits from Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan, found numerous personal connections during his tour of the museum.

“It’s like visiting Disneyland,” he said.

Stumbling upon an exhibit featuring a Taliban motorcycle that was confiscated during combat operations in Qalat, Zabul Province, Tanghe recalled his unit’s experience confiscating a similar bike in 2009 while supporting Afghan troops in the region.

“This brings back distinct memories,” he said.

When asked what this museum means to the Army, veterans, and the general populous, Tanghe said that having a dedicated museum is tremendously special.

“The U.S. Army and our troops are national treasures. It’s neat to see the way that the museum is sharing this experience,” he said.

Free, timed-entry tickets are now available through the museum’s website at www. theNMUSA.org. All tickets must be reserved in advance online.

Personal war reflections

BORDER MISSION SLATED TO CONTINUE

BY CHRIS ADAMS

The actual southern border mission in Arizona and New Mexico is being conducted by the federal government, casting the state National Guard missions in a support role.

“Basically, the southwest border mission right now is…that’s a federal mission,” Brig. Gen. Kerry L. Muehlenbeck told Reserve & National Guard Magazine. “So, we don’t have any guardsmen supporting the federal mission.” Muehlenbeck is Arizona’s

Adjutant General and the director of Arizona’s Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.

She said they’re calling their mission the Southern Arizona Law Enforcement mission and believes it aligns with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s recent emergency declaration.

“So we’re really trying to go in and provide the background support to the law

enforcement agencies,” Muehlenbeck said. “So we want to give them the administrative, the logistical and the medical support so that we can take some of their officers out of their positions where we’re filling and send them out into the community. So your inserting badges into the community.”

Ducey issued the declaration in April. By utilizing National Guardsmen, the governor’s emergency declaration will allow first responders to deploy to mission-critical tasks partnering with federal agencies, said Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot in an April news release issued by the governor’s office.

Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone echoed Wilmot in the same news release saying that the availability of National Guard

As the influx of people crossing the U.S. southern border and into the country surges, the National Guard in states adjacent to Mexico is lending support to local and state agencies feeling overwhelmed.

resources to support law enforcement efforts is an asset.

The Arizona National Guard is currently staffed at 150 for the mission but is authorized to provide 250 personnel.

In New Mexico, the National Guard’s southern border mission seems similar to its neighbor to the west. According to Albuquerque’s KOB 4 TV, Gov. Michelle Lujan’s office indicated the New Mexico National Guard is presently involved in staffing Covid-19 testing sites, assisting with a vaccination campaign and delivering essentials to communities.

Reserve & Guard Magazine reached out to the New Mexico National Guard for

this story, but they did not respond to this publication’s questions.

Conversely, the National Guard in Texas is has deployed on the border to fortify the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS). The DPS is the lead agency in the Texas border mission.

Under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive, the Texas Military Department (TMD) mobilized nearly 700 members to furnish additional support to the DPS and local authorities, said a statement sent to Reserve & National Guard Magazine by the TMD public affairs staff.

“TMD will detect and deter/observe and report from observation points established along the Texas-Mexico border, enhancing the Texas Department of Public Safety’s “eyes and ears” on the ground,” the statement read.

The security of the southern border is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), via Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The Council on Foreign Relations, a New York City-based nonpartisan think tank, said the

Biden administration anticipated the highest influx of migrants along the southern border in two decades.

The past three presidential administrations have sent National Guard service members to the southern border. President George Bush, and President Barack Obama maintained approximately 6,000 and 1,200 guardsmen, respectively, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. During the Trump administration, guardsmen deployed to the southern border to support the CBP.

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Ducey meets with federal agencies about the border.

FROM ACTIVE TO RESERVES

BY RICH DOLAN

Many service members contemplate switching branches or components throughout their time in the military. The question of switching from the National Guard to the reserves, or active duty to a reserve component can be a difficult decision to make — especially when information on transitioning isn’t always easy to find. Each component within each branch of service offers very different opportunities that could make the difference in the overall happiness and fulfillment of a career.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Perionio Brito faced this choice in 2012. He was serving in the Navy Reserve at the time as a seabee, but wanted to better himself and seek out more opportunities for advancement. This led him to become a warrant officer in the Army Reserve.

“I felt like there were more advancement opportunities for me in the Army,” said Brito. “The Army Reserves was the quickest and easiest way of becoming a warrant officer in my field, and they took my civilian engineering experience into account.”

Brito now serves as a Construction Engineering Technician in the 301st Forward Engineer Support Team - Main. He says he doesn’t regret his decision to switch, but has words of wisdom to share with those contemplating becoming a warrant officer in a reserve component.

“We only represent a small percentage of the force, and we’re understaffed,” said Brito. “I was tagged for a deployment right after I finished my initial military training and was MOS qualified.”

Capt. Nicholas Cardon, a Career Management Officer with 1st Battalion Army Reserve Careers Group, says that he encounters service members looking to switch components frequently.

“People approach me all the time to inquire about switching to the reserve component,” said Cardon. “Many of them recently left active duty and miss serving, as well as benefits like affordable health insurance.”

With average health insurance premiums surpassing $1,000 per month for a family in the U.S., the $238.99 monthly premium of Tricare Reserve Select stands

Sailors discuss details of the Reserve Component to Active Component program.

PHOTO BY PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS JOSEPH RULLO

out as a major benefit to those active duty members contemplating transitioning to a Reserve component.

In addition to being a USAR Career Manager, Cardon serves as a police officer in the Suffolk County Police Department, a job he says is perfect for someone in his position.

“As a reservist on Title 10 orders, I’m able to accrue time not only toward my federal pension with the Army, but toward my county pension as well,” said Cardon.

Like the Army Reserve, the other components of each branch of service offer multiple ways of serving full time.

The Active Guard and Reserve program covers the USAR and National Guard, Navy Full Time Support, Marine Corps Active Reserve and Air Force Active Reserve. AGR offers service members a way to serve full time with full federal benefits for a threeto-four-year term and return back to their civilian career when those orders are done. For members of the National Guard there are a few more options such as Title 32 orders and State Active Duty. When placed on Title 32 orders for less than 30 days, most federal benefits will not be available, and when placed on SAD their time won’t count as “active service” for VA benefits.

Capt. Patric Brown recently transitioned to the New York Army National Guard in 2020 after eight years on active duty. Brown, a former West Point instructor, now serves as an Officer Candidate School instructor at the 106TH Regiment Regional Training Institute. Brown cited the ability to continue instructing future officers as one of the main reasons he selected the Army National Guard over the Army Reserve.

“I specifically chose the National Guard because they had a job opportunity with a unit close to my home and it was a position that allowed me to continue to teach,” said Brown.

The Army National Guard stands out as the only reserve component in any branch of the military offering OCS on a part-time schedule.

However, Brown points out that regardless of component choice, the transition off active duty isn’t an easy one.

“I can honestly say that the switch was harder than I thought it would be,” said Brown. “You don’t realize how regimented you become when you serve on active duty — walking

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into a life that doesn’t have the structure or discipline that you’re accustomed to while serving is hard to get used to.”

Medical coverage was another hurdle that Brown had to overcome in his transition.

“The largest drawback from the switch was transitioning medical coverage for my family and I,” said Brown. “The switch over wasn’t as easy or as quick as we were told it would be, which left my wife and I a number of medical bills after she gave birth that

we had to work through while we got the coverage squared away.”

Regardless of which component a service member may decide to switch to, understanding VA benefits eligibility status is crucial information when making the decision. Benefits vary across components and depend on what type of orders you serve under. Ultimately, factors such as job type, rate of promotion, medical benefits and quality of life will be the most important criteria to consider when contemplating a switch in component.

Photography by Sharen Dewitt

RAPID

FIRE

Q&A WITH STAFF SGT. JODI JOHNSON

Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Jodi Johnson’s military career has taken her from New Mexico to Hawaii, but her personal journey has been an even longer one. This summer, she made that journey public by appearing on “Botched,” a reality TV show on E! that follows two plastic surgeons as they try to correct unsuccessful cosmetic procedures.

What led her to apply for this show?

When Johnson was in New Mexico preparing to join the Air Force as an active-duty civil engineer, she was overweight and had to lose 30 to 40 pounds just to get into the military. She dropped another 30 pounds at boot camp, and saw her breast size decrease significantly.

How many surgeries did she have before appearing on the show?

15

How was she chosen to appear on “Botched”?

The producers liked her story, about a woman in a man’s world, struggling with her femininity.

What’s next

Johnson is scheduled to begin nursing school in August, using the GI Bill, and she’s considering a focus on reconstructive or cosmetic surgery to help people avoid the experience she went through.

Her message to others

“You always have to try to stay positive through the hard times. Even though it might feel like it’s never going to get better, you just have to keep pushing, keep looking to the future. You have to truly believe that something better is around the corner.”