For the first time in nearly four years, the U.S. Army Reserve has exceeded 100 percent strength in sergeants. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general, U.S. Army Reserve Command, has a "Big Hairy Audacious Goal" (BHAG) of increasing sergeants to 3000 over authorized strength.  This measure improves the future talent pool for senior leadership in the U.S. Army Reserve.

This initiative was spearheaded by the Enlisted Management Branch and the Training Division in the U.S. Army Reserve Command G-1 and G-3, respectively. However, it could not have been done without the support of human resource professionals at every level.

“Exceeding 100 percent strength in sergeants really shows what we can accomplish through teamwork,” said Sgt. Maj. Demickel McGrigg, the U.S. Army Reserve Command G-1 sergeant major.

The U.S. Army Reserve met this milestone with the promotion of Ashlee Salazar, a combat medical specialist, out of the 7458 Medical Operations Readiness Unit at Fort Liberty, to sergeant. For Salazar, the U.S. Army Reserve continues to be a positive aspect of her life.

“In the Army Reserve, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to choose my own path, on my own time, and on my own terms,” Salazar said. “This has allowed me to progress in both my military and civilian career at the same time.”

The promotion of Salazar is symbolic of the large amount of talent throughout the ranks of the U.S. Army Reserve.

“She is one of many up-and-coming junior NCOs who show great potential to lead our Soldiers,” said Michael Masley, the deputy G-1 at U.S. Army Reserve Command.  “She represents success of the CAR’s intent to achieve the BHAG as it is a significant achievement to achieve 100 percent for the first time in nearly four years.”

This achievement is just the first milestone of many as promotion based on potential is an overarching priority within the U.S. Army Reserve.

“We have a lot of potential out there,” said Daniels in a recent brief to Soldiers. “I need my specialists to have confidence that they can become, and have the potential to become, sergeants.”

The U.S. Army Reserve Command G-1 and G-3 are leading the BHAG initiative. Updates on continued promotion of talented Army soldiers are available on the G-1’s Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/USARCG1.