April 18, 2016  –   JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – Soldiers of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, Army Reserve Careers Division, expanded their resiliency skills during Master Resiliency Training here April 18.

These retention and transition NCOs and career counselors gained valuable knowledge for success during the unit’s annual training April 16-23.

“It’s important for our Soldiers to get this training,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick McKie, ARCD command sergeant major.

MRT is designed to build Soldiers’ resilience and enhance their performance, as well as equip Soldiers with skills to thrive throughout Army life while meeting a wide range of operational demands.

“I believe that anything that’s good that happens in the Army comes from right here. It comes from non-commissioned officers,” McKie said. “We’re the backbone of the Army.”

In addition to MRT, Soldiers in the battalion gained knowledge from classes geared toward the unit’s Mission Essential Task List, which includes re-enlisting Army Reserve Soldiers, transitioning Soldiers from the Individual Ready Reserve to the Selected Reserve, prospecting Soldiers for Army Reserve officer-producing programs, assisting units in the recovery of unsatisfactory participants and providing officer career management with assistance.

“What I care about, or what I want you to be, is a good non-commissioned officer because a good non-commissioned officer can do anything,” McKie said.

The 2nd Battalion consists of 97 Soldiers throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware who specialize in re-enlisting Army Reserve Soldiers and determining their eligibility, as well as preparing and distributing contracts.

ARCD’s vision is to develop a command of highly motivated professionals who enable the Army Reserve to provide skill-rich operational forces to combatant commanders