U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned as career counselors to Army Reserve Careers Group, 9th Battalion, stationed near Fort Sheridan, Illinois, attend the first area five meeting and mission brief for fiscal year 2023 on Oct. 4, 2022.

The area leaders within 9th BN recently received their annual commander’s intent right before the fiscal year began and based on guidance; an expectation is outlined for each area. Area leaders are also responsible for coordinating and executing mission allocation to each assigned career counselor using various complex matrices in their area of responsibility.

Area five career counselors are expected to transfer 56 soldiers from the Individual Ready Reserve into the Troop Program Unit and re-enlist/extend 269 Soldiers in the TPU.

“A team meeting is necessary to discuss current standard operating procedures, expectations, and the mission assignments for area five in FY23,” said Sgt. 1st Class Stephen M. Cox, the newly assigned area five leader.

Additionally, we used this meeting as an opportunity to conduct required briefs and present a team member with some early baby shower gifts to build unit cohesion, said Cox.

Given the critical end strength trend within the USAR, area five career counselors will partner with the 9th BN Officer Accessions (Special Missions) team by pro-actively counseling assigned USAR soldiers in order to promote the various avenues to earn commission as an Officer or Warrant Officer.

This meeting also allowed the local special missions officer accession non-commissioned officer (OANCO) to join.

“Briefing the local career counselors is important,” said Sgt. 1st Class Victoria A. Morales, an OANCO and assistant area leader, assigned to Army Reserve Careers Group, 9th Battalion Special Missions, “because it provides a shared understanding of the role of the OANCO and how we assist in supporting Soldiers with career advancement opportunities.”

Shaping and sustaining the strength of the Army Reserve through aggressive retention and transition programs is part of the ARCG’s mission.

Generally, individual career counselors meet routinely with area leaders to evaluate the status of their mission within their AOR.

“We foster the command's philosophy of 'people, partners and processes' by partnering with our career counselor teammates to promote the re-enlistment program, as well as provide options for IRR Soldiers to explore after transferring into the TPU,” said Morales.

The next team meeting by area five is tentatively scheduled at the Armed Forces Reserve Center on Fort Sheridan before the end of the first quarter of FY23.