Gaining a Master's Degree (and more)
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Staff Sergeant Kenneth Kinlaw
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Army Reserve
ROLE OF THE ARMY RESERVE
PART-TIME SERVICE. FULL-TIME STRONG.
You may be asking yourself, “What is the Army Reserve?” The Army is the most powerful and sophisticated military force in the world. This force consists of two groups: active duty Soldiers and Soldiers in the Army Reserve.
The difference between the two? Active duty is similar to working at a full-time job — with the Army — while Army Reserve is more like a part-time job with the Army, which still lets you keep your civilian career. You can live where you want, receive medical benefits, tuition assistance, and build for retirement. In other words, in the Army Reserve, you can continue your career or education while training close to home and standing ready to serve with your valuable job skills.
Army Reserve Soldiers serve the nation in the following ways:
HOMELAND SECURITY
When active duty Soldiers deploy overseas, Army Reserve Soldiers often fill their positions at home, serving as drill sergeants, instructors and security personnel. In the event of national disasters such as hurricanes or flooding, Army Reserve Soldiers are on the scene to support humanitarian and relief operations.
Careers include:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Soldiers in the Army Reserve use their civilian and military training to safeguard the nation’s data and develop secure communications technologies. They also maintain, process and troubleshoot military information systems.
Careers include:
BIOHAZARD PROTECTION
The Army Reserve responds to chemical and biological threats, and provides biohazard training to federal agencies. Army Reserve Soldiers play a crucial role in the maintenance and supervision of nuclear, biological and chemical detection, and decontamination equipment.
Careers include:
LOGISTICS
Soldiers in the Army Reserve operate the transportation and supply systems that keep the Army in motion, supplying troops around the world with everything from Stryker vehicles to mail from home.
Careers include:
CIVIL AFFAIRS
During times of both war and peace, Soldiers in the Army Reserve help countries establish or restore governmental institutions and functions. To support this effort, the Army Reserve trains cultural experts to coordinate with local populations.
Careers include:
- Public Affairs Specialist (46Q)
- Engineer Officer (12)
MILITARY INFORMATION SUPPORT OPERATIONS
In times of peace as well as times of crisis and conflict, Army Reserve Soldiers support Military Support Operations. Psychological Operations Specialists assist foreign governments, militaries and civilian populations. They analyze, develop and distribute information designed to positively influence the attitudes and behavior of foreign populations in a manner favorable to friendly forces.
Careers include:
MEDICAL SERVICES
The Army Reserve staffs most of the Army’s hospitals, triage centers, clinics and field medical-care units. As you might expect, the medical capabilities of Army Reserve Soldiers often exceed active duty’s because they bring their civilian experience to the table.
- Staff Sergeant Kenneth Kinlaw - Civil Affairs Specialist
- Second Lieutenant Ingrid Alvarez - Civil Affairs Officer
- Specialist Luis Estrada - Civil Affairs Specialist
SECOND LIEUTENANT INGRID ALVAREZ
Civil Affairs Officer
I am Second Lieutenant Ingrid Alvarez; Civil Affairs Officer of the United States Army Reserve.
What inspired me to join the Army Reserve was mainly the focus that I was looking for. I needed some personal growth and I'm the only one in my family serving in the military, so I guess that was another good motivator being a pioneer in my family.
What I do for my civilian job I work for a major computer manufacture. I am the customer's last resource pretty much when it comes to issues with their computer. I have a lot of resources that I can use in order to give them something better than they had and they're usually very happy, the customers very happy about that.
As a civil affairs officer what I've learned is that we're there to fight the kind of insurgency is reshaping their environment to make it safer and as a byproduct then the population benefits from that.
The way that my civilian job and my military job translate from one to another one is because it has to do with the public, and also taking care of the interest of the organization.
I take care of the customer however; I have to also watch for the interest of the corporation at the same time.
With the Army I deal with the public, the population, the locals and so forth, but also I have to keep in mind that there is always the mission first.
The Army Reserve overall has given me the confidence that I'm capable to do just about anything. I'm a completely different person that I was 2-½ years ago. Now I can look in the mirror and tell to myself ‘yea, this is a woman that I always wanted to be'.
I rather live a short life of the service of others than a long life of service of myself. And that's what the Army is all about. It's just not about you its about the team, the mission. For us it's mission first and that is something that you don't often time see in the civilian world.
My favorite part of the Army Reserve, I would say its flexibility. The reason that I decided to go on the reserve instead of active duty is because I wanted to live at home, and you get to stay with your friends and family that kind of thing. You get the same quality training and the same opportunities but it's a little more flexible. That definitely my favorite thing is to go work, even if its civilian, but I know that I can stand proud and say ‘yes, I am a Soldier' and I get to do things the guy next door wouldn't be able to do
