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READING, Pa. (1/19/2013) - Soldiers may find themselves holding
many different jobs and responsibilities over the course of their
military career, but leadership has always remained the driving
force behind the integrity and success of the US Army. No matter
their rank or position, soldiers are expected to display the quality
of leadership in everything they do.
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Maj. Mary L. Olodun, 326th MPAD Commander, speaks with her Soldiers about the importance to leadership during a promotion ceremony on Nov. 17th, 2012, at the Reading Reserve Center in Reading, Pa. U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Thompson
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The US Army Reading Reserve Center in Reading, PA is home
to three US Army Reserve units: The 333rd Engineer Company,
the 733rd Transportation Company and the 326th Mobile Public
Affairs Detachment.
Unfortunately, over the last few
years, these three units have lacked leadership in some
form. Even though Non-Commissioned Officers have done a
great job of taking care of individual Soldiers and making
sure day-to-day operations run smoothly, Commanders provide
a unique ability of understanding the bigger picture and
place their Soldiers in the best possible situation to
successfully achieve the mission at hand.
While many exceptional NCOs have
served in these units, they have struggled to receive
consistent guidance and direction from a Unit Commander.
This lack in direction was not due to any one commander's
inability to lead, but the Reserve's constant battle to
provide assigned leadership for these units. Previous
commanders assigned to the units here, at the Reading
Reserve Center were part-time soldiers who were not assigned
to their units for adequate periods of time to make an
impact on the unit.
Over the past year, the Army
Reserve has made even greater strides to ensure that
soldiers receive solid leadership on a consistent basis. The
Reserve's commitment to leadership has been supported by
their action to place the three units with their own
full-time commanders, marking the first time there has been
three full-time commanders at the Reading Reserve Center at
one time. The Army Reserve has acknowledged the importance
of providing each unit with the consistent command
leadership in order to ensure administrative and
mission-ready tasks are completed.
The mission of the
733rd Transportation Company is to provide ground
transportation for the movement of containerized cargo and
other bulk cargo, ammunition, and bottled water on
palletized load system flat-racks. When equipped with tank
racks, the 733rd can also transport bulk petroleum products.
Missions such as these generally require a lot of oversight
and logistical considerations that a commander must be
responsible for.
Leadership within the 733rd is of
great importance and a top priority of their new Commander,
Cpt. Edgar Borgella who stated that good leadership
throughout his career has encouraged him to stay in the Army
Reserve. “At first, I joined to help pay for college and I
only intended to stay in for a few years but here I am 13
years later,” Borgella said. Borgella initially enlisted in
the Virginia National Guard but was encouraged to consider
becoming an officer after his Drill Sergeant at basic
training believed he possessed exceptional leadership
qualities.
After completing the Senior Reserve
Officer Training Corps., at Virginia State University and
earning a degree in sports marketing, Borgella was assigned
to the Army's Human Resource Command in St. Louis, MO where
he was surrounded by numerous senior-ranking officers. “It
was great because it was a place where leaders helped other
leaders,” said Borgella. At this point in his career,
Borgella said he was uncertain about his future in the Army
Reserve but gained direction from mentors who took the time
to invest in his life. “I actually got to sit down and talk
with my career counselor. She helped map out my entire
career path in the Army,” said Borgella. “I am thankful for
the people that saw more in me than I saw in myself.”
Borgella stated that he remains close to his mentors, as
they have helped him think through the decisions he has made
in his military career. He attributes good leadership as the
primary reason he has served in the Army Reserve for so long
and now finds enjoyment in providing mentorship for his
Soldiers. “It is interesting to see where the path goes and
seeing your impact on people,” Borgella said. Borgella has
found satisfaction in the gratitude he has received from
Soldiers he led in other units and stated that he hopes to
continue to mentor and develop well-rounded Soldiers in the
733rd. “It is a privilege being able to affect Soldiers,”
Borgella said.
The 333rd Engineer Company specializes
in horizontal construction and is capable of performing
missions such as repairing, maintaining or constructing air
and ground lines of communication, emplacing culverts,
hauling equipment and conducting limited clearing
operations.
1Lt. Rebecca Wilson assumed command of
the 333rd in July 2012 and like Borgella she too places
great emphasis on leadership. “I'm here to empower my staff
to be able to accomplish our mission,” Wilson said. “They
work really hard for me.”
Wilson said she understands
the importance of leadership due to her experience as an NCO
prior to becoming an officer. She was encouraged by her
commander to consider becoming an officer after he saw
Wilson consistently display exceptional leadership qualities
while serving in the New Jersey National Guard (NJNG).
Wilson graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort
Benning, Ga. in November 2009, making her the first female
soldier in the NJNG to graduate from the federal school.
After fulfilling some part-time responsibilities as a
platoon leader in the NJNG, Wilson began seeking a full-time
position due to her belief that leadership requires a daily
effort. “Some commanders are very engaged but some don't
fully understand the big picture of what needs to happen on
a daily basis,” said Wilson. “That's not to say that they
don't care, it's just that they can't fully grasp what is
going on with their company.”
Understanding her
company well affords Wilson the opportunity to see the
mission in greater detail and get a better grasp of
everything that goes on in the unit on a daily basis. This
comes at no better time as the 333rd has been designated for
deployment this spring.
“I know everything that is
going on in the company. It's good, especially since we are
getting ready to mobilize, there is a lot to get done,” said
Wilson. “If I was trying to balance a civilian job with my
family life and then try to make decisions for the best
interest of the company prior to a deployment it would be a
real challenge. I'm able to focus my energy.”
With a
planned deployment coming, Wilson believes it is good for
her to be a constant presence at her unit as it gives many
of her soldiers confidence in the mission and a leader they
can depend on. “I think it puts the Soldiers at ease because
they know that there is someone here who is acting in their
best interests and really advocating for them.”
This
sentiment was echoed by 326th MPAD Commander, Maj. Mary L.
Olodun who took command of the unit on August 26th, 2012.
Olodun is one of only four full-time Public Affairs
Commanders in the entire Army Reserve. “We are aware of what
our Soldiers are going through and dealing with, and they
have 24/7 access to us,” said Olodun.
The 326th MPAD
provides direct public affairs support to units in support
of Army, Joint, Combined or Unified operations. Public
affairs fulfills the Army's obligation to keep the American
people and the Army informed, and helps to establish the
conditions that lead to confidence in America's Army and its
readiness to conduct operations in peacetime, conflict and
war.
“We help change and shape the way people see the
military,” said Olodun. “We help memorialize the sacrifices
of our nations sons and daughters.”
Olodun stated the
decision to employ three full-time officers at the Reading
Reserve Center was done to bring leadership back into focus.
“As officers, we are trained and tracked to be leaders,”
said Olodun. “It is extremely honorable but carries great
weight. The calls you make can mean life or death.”
Olodun has seen the great need for full-time commanders and
believes the Army Reserve's commitment to leadership has
allowed the 326th to run more smoothly. “We can be an asset
that is always ready to deploy,” Olodun said.
“Rome
was not built in a day, but brick by brick,” said Olodun,
acknowledging the difficulty of completing tedious
assignments with limited time for commanders who can only
honor their commitment along with their soldiers during one
weekend a month when most of her soldiers are present.
Part-time work may be suitable for some vocations, but
as the mission of the Army continues to grow and take on new
roles, the Reserve is being asked to take on even greater
responsibilities. Leadership that understands the mission
and the unique dynamics of their units is now of even
greater importance. The three commanders at the US Army
Reading Reserve Center embody this kind of leadership,
looking to shape and challenge the next crop of leaders
coming up through the ranks.
“The greatest
contribution I can make as a commander is one that impacts
our unit in a positive way that will last a lifetime,”
Olodun said. “The best way to accomplish this is by doing my
very best every day.”
By U.S. Army Spc. David Thompson
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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