The U.S. Army Reserve command sergeant major participated in the Joint Monthly Access for Reserve Component, Aug. 2-6, in Kuwait. The JMARC enables leaders to observe first-hand the contributions of their deployed personnel in the U.S. Army Central area of operations. 

During a town hall meeting held, Aug. 3, Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Copeland, U.S. Army Reserve command sergeant major, laid out his vision and priorities for U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers. 

“In the Army Reserve component, (there are) a lot of the logisticians, lot of the sustainment type functions that support the force as a whole,” said Copeland. “The Army Reserve is a great force, one which I could not be any prouder of.”

Many of the Soldiers expressed excitement in meeting Copeland in person. For them, hearing his vision and plan for the future solidifies their personal commitment to the U.S. Army Reserve.

“I found Sergeant Major Copeland’s town hall meeting to be very informative and engaging,” said Master Sgt. Iris Everett, unit supply specialist, 335th Signal Command Theater-Provisional. “Sergeant Major Copeland answered all questions presented in a respectful and honest manner that made Soldiers feel comfortable.”

Sgt. 1st Class Scottie Ervin, horizontal construction supervisor, Area Support Group-Kuwait agreed with Everett’s opinion.

“It sounds like the drive is to go back to the way it was before … where we had our bags packed in a corner in case we were called (for duty),” said Ervin.  “It took a while for us to move all our equipment, but we were on duty within hours of a call.”