TROY, N.Y. –
The Albany Army Recruiting Battalion hosted a Recruiting and Reserve Partnership Council March 6, to assist recruiters in boosting Army Reserve enlistments and provide visibility to Reserve units around the east coast.
“This is a great opportunity to come together and share best practices, network, and for potential recruits to garner a better understanding of what serving in the Army Reserve is all about,” said Lt. Col. Joshua Dalton, commander of the 1st Battalion Army Reserve Careers Group out of Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
Albany Battalion company commanders and recruiters representing Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, and Connecticut, were briefed by Reserve unit leaders on their needs, capabilities and concerns about filling the ranks with qualified personnel. Dalton said because of the differences between active duty and Reserve soldiers, it’s imperative Albany Battalion recruiters are aware of the differences in those roles and the jobs that need filling by Reserve enlistees.
“The culture of the Army Reserves is a very different culture from the active duty side of things,” Dalton said, “and if Albany recruiters can understand those differences and share that with new recruits looking to join the Reserves, it’s going to make recruiting to fill those slots much easier. It’s a win-win for all of us. We get qualified Soldiers to fill our Reserve units, and Albany Battalion makes its Reserve recruitment mission.”
There are more than 130 Army Reserve Centers around the country and 13 battalions throughout the U.S. The Reserve accounts for 20 percent of the Army’s organized units with almost half of that force supplying maneuver support. Sgt. Maj. Richard Baur is the top enlisted Soldier in 1st Bn ARC Group, and he said if a young person is looking to join, the Reserve may be just what they’re looking for.
“When you’re an Army Reservist, you don’t deploy for state missions--you don’t answer to a governor in times of local disasters as the Army National Guard does,” he said, “and that’s what makes joining the Reserves so appealing. You can stay right near your home base and pursue a career path. Promotions are also much faster than the Guard.”
Some key discussions in the breakout session between Albany Battalion active duty recruiters and Reserve Soldiers included greater visibility of some of the Reserve units on the east coast, to include the 395th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Middletown, Connecticut. Command Sgt. Maj. Neuat Chanthavisouk is the top non-commissioned officer in the unit that’s comprised of the 304th Transportation Company, the 304th Quartermaster Company, and Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 395th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.
“Recruiters find Reserve units by using an online recruitment tool where they can put a zip code in and locate a nearby unit,” Chanthavisouk said. “The problem, though, is that our unit zip wasn’t in the system. Recruiters couldn’t find us to work with us or send potential recruits our way, so we could talk to them about what we do and what kind of jobs need filling.”
Albany Battalion recruiters and leaders now have direct access to the 304th because of the council meeting. Albany Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Martin DeBock said coming together with other members of the Army family means everyone wins.
“We now have a mutual understanding of the other’s needs and can work with each other for possible future benefits,” DeBock said. “We’re all on the same team, and it’s important to support each other as best we can.”