Maj. Gen. Rodney Faulk, commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 99th Readiness Division, has confirmed the appointment by Lt. Gen. Jody J. Daniels, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, of J. Matthew Lissner as a United States Army Reserve Ambassador for Pennsylvania.

Lissner retired from military service with over 29 combined years of active, National Guard, and Army Reserve (AGR) duty. He held a wide variety of infantry assignments through battalion level with the 7th Infantry Division (Light), 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (OPFOR), and the 39th Separate Infantry Brigade (Enhanced), and has held staff positions at the 77th Regional Readiness Command, TRADOC, Third U.S. Army, US Joint Forces Command, I Corps, and the 99th Regional Support Command.

Lissner’s combat deployments include Operation Just Cause (Panama), Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (Kuwait), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq). He culminated his Army career serving as the Senior Army Reserve Research Advisor, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College. He attended various military schools including, Airborne, Air Assault, and Ranger courses, the Infantry and Artillery Advance Officers courses, and is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College, the Joint Forces Staff College, and the Army War College.

Prior to military service, Lissner worked with severely mentally and physically handicapped children, taught Physical Education at the scholastic and collegiate levels, and coached a wide variety of sports. He also held supervisory positions with U.S. Electric Motors and the Tenneco Packaging Company. He currently coaches the Shippensburg University Women’s Rugby Football Club and resides in Carlisle.

The Army Reserve Ambassador Program was established in 1998 to promote awareness of the Army Reserve, its goals and objectives, and to serve as a vital bridge in our states/communities to further educate and garner support for the Army Reserve. Army Regulation 140.1, Chapter 9 outlines the role, function and operational level of the USAR Ambassador. Ambassadors are a powerful means of message delivery to the American people.

The function of the Ambassador is similar to that of Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army, and carries a protocol status equivalent of a Major General that is a key means by which Ambassadors are able to effectively execute their responsibilities.  Ambassadors are Special Government Employees who represent the Chief of the Army Reserve without salary, wages or related benefits.

Ambassadors provides Community Outreach assistance to Army Reserve members/families, other military personnel/families as needed, and provide feedback on plans, programs and needs to the Commander of the Army Reserve, the Regional Support Commander and to local USAR Commanders.

Additionally, Ambassadors build relationships and strive to improve the understanding and knowledge of the Army Reserve within the business and social sectors of communities across America. They help to educate the public, community leaders, and congressional staff offices about the capabilities and values of the Army Reserve and the Soldiers who live and work in their communities. They establish open lines of communication with the local communities; and they work to support recruiting efforts by assisting community and business leaders in recognizing that the Army Reserve strengthens the Soldiers, the community, and the Nation.
 
While not all ARAs have military experience, many are retired officers or senior non commissioned officers who wish to remain engaged in military affairs. Each state and territory has at least one ARA.

For more information, visit http://www.usar.army.mil/Featured/Ambassador-Program/