Maj. Gen. Mark Palzer, 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 Phillip Michael Churn Sr. as a United States Army Reserve Ambassador for Washington D.C.

Churn is the Founder, CEO, and President of Syzygy International, LLC, a security risk management company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Mount Saint Mary’s University. He serves on the Smithsonian Institutes’ Advisory Board for the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. He is a life member of the Association of the United States Army and AUSA Region II, Vice President Reserve Component; the Reserve Officers Association, and The ROCKS Inc. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. He is the 2019 recipient of the Elis Island Medal of Honor.

Churn retired from the Army in 2019 as a major general. His key assignments include assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve Matters, commanding general of the Army Reserve’s 200th Military Police Command, and commanding general of the Army Reserve’s 333rd Military Police Brigade. Churn holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. He was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011, and to Bagram, Afghanistan in 2012 and 2013.

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/