The Army Reserve’s senior enlisted leaders gathered at the 2025 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct. 15, 2025, to discuss what it takes to build a modern and combat-ready force that can train, mobilize, and fight at speed in the era of large-scale combat operations (LSCO).

During the “CSM of the U.S. Army Reserve Seminar: Leveraging Innovation to Modernize and Build Readiness through People, Training, and Equipment,” panelists underscored that true modernization begins not with technology or equipment, but with Soldiers who are trained, empowered, and led with purpose.

In front of Soldiers and civilians attending the 90-minute session, which opened with a highlight video celebrating the skill and motivation of the Army Reserve force, the panel discussed strengthening the Army Reserve force. The seminar’s theme, “Modern, Agile, Lethal: Redefining Reserve Power for the Modern Era,” framed a discussion focused on the Reserve’s ability to sustain the fight through adaptability, realism in training, and leader development.

Sgt. 1^st Class Garrett Buckner moderated the event, an executive noncommissioned officer to the command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, who guided an engaging discussion that balanced candor, humor, and hard truths about what it takes to prepare Soldiers for future wars.

Panelists included Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Betty, the 15th command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Reserve; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Lashon White, the command chief warrant officer of the U.S. Army Reserve; Sgt. Maj. Scott Holzerland, senior enlisted advisor to the assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Sgt. Maj. Laurinda Nabors, sergeant major for military policy integration with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1; and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Deanna Czarnecki, strategic engagement advisor for nuclear command, control, and communications with the Office of the Undersecretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment.

Hands-On Readiness for the Modern Fight:

“The Army Reserve has always sustained the fight through our motto, ‘Twice the Citizen,’” said Betty. “To win in large-scale combat operations, we have to modernize how we train and adapt for the fight.” Later, he added, “Soldiers are not coming to battle assembly to sit around and watch PowerPoints; they are there to touch weapons systems, turn wrenches, and be Soldiers.”

Betty explained that with more than 8,000 Army Reserve Soldiers currently serving forward, the lessons learned must be shared across the force. “When those Soldiers come back, they bring firsthand experience with emerging technologies,” he said. “We need to get them in front of their formations to teach what they’ve learned and help the rest of the force catch up.”

He also emphasized that readiness requires personal discipline between training events. “We have to stay fit for the 28 days between battle assemblies (BA),” Betty said. “This might be your last BA before we go. The time to prepare isn’t next month, it’s now.”

Back to the Basics:

Czarnecki drew from decades of enlisted leadership experience to remind the audience that the most effective units are the ones that master the fundamentals. “Great units do basic things really well,” she said. “Hip-pocket training drilled into muscle memory makes Soldiers ready. Leaders have to make that kind of training routine and build mentorship two levels down.”

She also discussed the importance of maintaining standards and enforcing honest feedback. “Stop having Soldiers write their own NCOERs,” she said. “Be honest, be direct, and use counseling as the leadership tool it’s meant to be.”

Leveraging Civilian Skills for a Multi-Domain Force:

Nabors highlighted how the Army Reserve’s unique composition, citizen-Soldiers balancing civilian and military careers, gives it a decisive edge. “One of our greatest advantages is that we are trained in two disciplines,” she said. “Our Soldiers are engineers, police officers, teachers, and technicians. Many already operate in multi-domain environments. When we can capitalize on that civilian expertise, it makes our formations stronger, more adaptable, and more relevant to the fight.”

She added that leaders must take the time to know their Soldiers’ full potential. “We’re not always able to capitalize on those civilian skills, but when we can, it’s a clear advantage,” Nabors said. “That’s what makes us truly twice the citizen.”

Training Until You Can’t Get It Wrong:

White echoed the emphasis on practical training, pointing to the critical role of NCOs and warrant officers in shaping readiness. Quoting Gen. Andrew Poppas, commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command, “Don’t train until you get it right. Train until you can’t get it wrong.”

White urged leaders to view every school and deployment as an opportunity for Soldiers to share knowledge. “When Soldiers come back from schools or operations, we need to put them in front of their peers to teach what they’ve learned. That’s how we grow a force that’s confident, capable, and ready for the next fight.”

Mobilizing at Speed and Scale:

Holzerland discussed the evolving challenges of mobilization and sustainment in modern warfare, noting that the Army Reserve must be ready to deploy on much shorter timelines than in past conflicts. “In previous wars, there was time to prepare,” he said. “That’s not the reality now. The total force depends on the Army Reserve to provide services no one else can provide. If we can’t get a Reserve unit forward, the entire Army will feel that.”

He added that complex, scenario-driven training is critical to staying ready. “We can always talk about shoot, move, and communicate, but you need the people to do that,” Holzerland said. “The more we can create realistic, integrated training environments, the more lethal and agile we’ll become.”

Mentorship Down and Investing in People:

As the discussion turned to leadership development, Betty challenged attendees to think long-term about succession and mentorship. “Ask your subordinates who is replacing me, and who is replacing you,” he said. “We have to be honest in our counseling, invest in our Soldiers, and mentor down. That’s how we stay modern, agile, and lethal.”

Czarnecki agreed, stressing that leadership is a deliberate act of investment. “Leaders have to make it a priority,” she said. “We have to see who’s in our formations and think about where they can be in three to five years.”

Buckner closed the session by connecting all the panelists’ points back to the Army Reserve’s core strength: its people. “Our Soldiers are our greatest asset,” he said. “If we train them right, lead them well, and keep them engaged, we’ll always be ready when the nation calls.”

The entire panel is available to watch on video on the U.S. Army Reserve Youtube http://www.youtube.com/TheUSArmyReserve.