KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  –   James Balocki, the command executive officer for the U.S. Army Reserve, spoke with Soldiers and civilians from the 7th Mission Support Command during a town hall Thursday on Daenner Kaserne.

He visited with civilian and military leaders during his week-long trip, including the Army Reserve Engagement Cell at U.S. Army Europe, the USAREUR G8, the 21st Theater Sustainment Command Deputy Chief of Staff, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Installation Management Command-Europe and USAG Rheinland Pfalz. He also was interviewed by Stars and Stripes as well as the American Forces Network.

After the town hall, Balocki explained the main reason for his first visit to the 7th MSC.

“I have this really strong enduring belief that leaders need to be where the troops are … and especially right now when our nation is going through a very difficult time with the budget and the uncertainty,” Balocki said. “We need to be here to reassure them and to hear their concerns,”

He also spoke about the unique mission of the 7th MSC as the only U.S. Army Reserve command headquartered overseas and attached to an active component Combatant Commander with U.S. Army Europe.

“They bring all these unique civilian skills,” Balocki said. “They’ve got this broad set of skills.”

There are many Soldiers in the 7th MSC that are multilingual and they see missions through a military and civilian perspective, he added.

“The chance to serve in Europe, I don’t think there’s anything better,” Balocki said. “This laboratory for our young leaders to be able to get them out to do the kinds of missions that are being asked of them every day on the front lines of many of these [countries] that are looking for relationships and to develop long and enduring relationships with the United States and for our reservists to be on point to do that, that is an impressive feat and they’re doing it marvelously every day.”

Balocki has oversight of the USAR’s 11,300 civilian employees and manages acquisition, information technology, installation operations and services and military construction support for the more than 198,000 members of USAR.