September 16, 2016 –
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – Mr. Stephen D. Austin, Assistant Chief of Army Reserve, met with senior leaders and staff members with Army Reserve Medical Command in Pinellas Park, Florida at the C.W. “Bill” Young Armed Forces Reserve Center on Friday, Sept. 16.
During his first visit to the command since being selected as ACAR in October of 2015, Austin discovered another first. In 2013, ARMEDCOM submitted a command implementation plan which began a transformation process for the command. Sept. 16 marked the effective date of those proposed changes with the completion of 63 activations, 19 inactivations and 23 conversions, creating a total structure for the command of 119 units located throughout the U.S.
“We need to continue to look for efficiencies in the Army Reserve and find better ways of doing business,” said Austin. “Regardless of change, there will always be a need for an Army and a U.S. Army Reserve.”
ARMEDCOM, commanded by Maj. Gen. Mary E. Link, is the key medical asset to Army Reserve readiness, providing enhanced medical skills that serve as a force multiplier to the total force. The latest transformation changes ensure the command is constructed to be more efficient to mobilize and deploy in support of the command's go-to-war mission with Army Medical Command.
“The Army Reserve has over sixty-percent of the medical capabilities for the total Army. The Army, the nation cannot go to war without the support that ARMEDCOM provides in facilities, in hospitals, in troop units throughout the country,” said Austin.
Prior to departing, Austin shared some final thoughts, “I’m always impressed by the quality of the Soldiers and [civilians] at our reserve centers, and I’m incredibly impressed by the full span of what ARMEDCOM does for the Army Reserve and for the Army. Keep pressing.”