Posted on Oct 23, 2015
Hello RP! USAR CSM Luther Thomas here, what questions do you have for me?
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From RallyPoint Team:
CSM Luther Thomas, is the Command Sergeant Major of the United States Army Reserve, and was recently selected to be the next Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Assistant SecDef for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. He has been an invaluable supporter of RallyPoint, and we are honored to welcome him here for a live Q&A next Tuesday, October 27th.
CSM Thomas would like to focus on transitioning to the civilian work force, and great ways to prepare for that change.
Please post your questions below. They will be answered live on 10/27 at 4:00pm EST.
If you'd like to follow CSM Luther Thomas you can also do so here:
https://twitter.com/CSMLutherThomas
CSM Luther Thomas, is the Command Sergeant Major of the United States Army Reserve, and was recently selected to be the next Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Assistant SecDef for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. He has been an invaluable supporter of RallyPoint, and we are honored to welcome him here for a live Q&A next Tuesday, October 27th.
CSM Thomas would like to focus on transitioning to the civilian work force, and great ways to prepare for that change.
Please post your questions below. They will be answered live on 10/27 at 4:00pm EST.
If you'd like to follow CSM Luther Thomas you can also do so here:
https://twitter.com/CSMLutherThomas
Army Reserve
Transition
Employment
Q&A
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 29
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No questions at the moment, but Congrats to you CSM Thomas on your new position.
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Hello CSM Thomas,
What is your best advice, as a CSM, for dealing in a professional manner with NCOs who don't respect Warrant Officers as officers? This is especially exacerbated because of my current commander having explicitly told all WOs in my detachment that we are not leaders. I'm not speaking specifically only for myself, I'm citing a general attitude that would be there even if I personally were not there.
One of the reasons (among many) that I left a previous unit was that a MSG got away with saying *TO MY FACE* that I wasn't a real officer because I'm a Chief, and this MSG was previously in my section's business (I was the OIC) with the support of the commander.
What is your best advice, as a CSM, for dealing in a professional manner with NCOs who don't respect Warrant Officers as officers? This is especially exacerbated because of my current commander having explicitly told all WOs in my detachment that we are not leaders. I'm not speaking specifically only for myself, I'm citing a general attitude that would be there even if I personally were not there.
One of the reasons (among many) that I left a previous unit was that a MSG got away with saying *TO MY FACE* that I wasn't a real officer because I'm a Chief, and this MSG was previously in my section's business (I was the OIC) with the support of the commander.
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CW3 (Join to see)
Yeah, that wasn't going to happen.
This particular MSG was *not* the unit 1SG, but was all up in my section's business anyway, even though my section had an NCOIC.
This particular MSG was *not* the unit 1SG, but was all up in my section's business anyway, even though my section had an NCOIC.
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CW3 (Join to see)
Plus, the O-grades looked at me as a 3rd lieutenant anyway. The only one that didn't was a complete bag of crap (and I'm quoting a LTC on this one...but everyone knew it anyway).
My at-the-time section NCOIC, a SGT, knew two battle assemblies in advance that we were having a dress uniform inspection. He shows up in ACUs saying "My only serviceable dress uniform has PFC rank on it." ....and the unit would not allow me to counsel him.
I could even see it if he said it had SPC rank on it, because getting the free alteration paperwork is sometimes a little tough...but PFC? Come on.
This is also a unit that slung around evals in personal emails with PII on them. I objected, and I was the bad guy. As much as I complain about my current unit, I'm still glad I'm not in that unit anymore.
My at-the-time section NCOIC, a SGT, knew two battle assemblies in advance that we were having a dress uniform inspection. He shows up in ACUs saying "My only serviceable dress uniform has PFC rank on it." ....and the unit would not allow me to counsel him.
I could even see it if he said it had SPC rank on it, because getting the free alteration paperwork is sometimes a little tough...but PFC? Come on.
This is also a unit that slung around evals in personal emails with PII on them. I objected, and I was the bad guy. As much as I complain about my current unit, I'm still glad I'm not in that unit anymore.
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SGM Luther Thomas
Sir, NCOs should always respect those senior to them. I concur with SFC Privette that the Soldier should have been counseled. Further, his disrespect and negative attitude towards Warrant Officers should be noted as a needs improvement on his NCOER.
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CW3 (Join to see)
Thank you SGM Luther Thomas . Unfortunately, that would have gone over like a lead balloon. This was the same unit that refused to let me counsel my subordinate for showing up in the wrong uniform for an inspection, and telling me the only proper uniform he had serviceable still had rank on it from two ranks down.
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CSM,
I have a concern about the new NCOES program and how it will affect Reservists and Guardsmen. I understand the downsizing and pushing those NCO's who have procrastinated or were not diligent in getting to school being separated from service. My concern is quite the opposite. There are many Reservists/Guardsmen who have been desperately trying to get to WLC, ALC, and SLC and are repeatedly denied due 'to the lack of funding' or 'no funding' for these schools.
From a personal point of view, I have submitted four different ATRRS applications for ALC since January 2015 and every one of them has been rejected due to funding. Will there be waivers, Exceptions, Or any other way to protect ourselves from being separated due to failure to attend the appropriate NCOES?
There is another concern for myself and the inability to get into ALC. I enlisted into the Reserves in April 2013 after a 17 year break in service. I was dropped a rank to E5 and had to wait 20+ months to recertify my MOS (per regs), again due to funding; had to regain my E6 once MOS qualified and then made a mad dash to get into ALC. This December I will turn 55 years old and failure to complete the NCOES for the next level prior to my 55th birth date puts me in a non promotable status for the duration of my career.
Do you have any suggestions, work arounds or other avenues for someone like me and many other NCO's in a reserve or guard status that are trying to be aggressive in furthering our professional military careers?
Anxiously awaiting your point of view, comments or suggestions.
Sincerely,
SSG Steven Roussel
Drill Sergeant
A Co. 2/417th Reg, 4th Bde., 98th Division
I have a concern about the new NCOES program and how it will affect Reservists and Guardsmen. I understand the downsizing and pushing those NCO's who have procrastinated or were not diligent in getting to school being separated from service. My concern is quite the opposite. There are many Reservists/Guardsmen who have been desperately trying to get to WLC, ALC, and SLC and are repeatedly denied due 'to the lack of funding' or 'no funding' for these schools.
From a personal point of view, I have submitted four different ATRRS applications for ALC since January 2015 and every one of them has been rejected due to funding. Will there be waivers, Exceptions, Or any other way to protect ourselves from being separated due to failure to attend the appropriate NCOES?
There is another concern for myself and the inability to get into ALC. I enlisted into the Reserves in April 2013 after a 17 year break in service. I was dropped a rank to E5 and had to wait 20+ months to recertify my MOS (per regs), again due to funding; had to regain my E6 once MOS qualified and then made a mad dash to get into ALC. This December I will turn 55 years old and failure to complete the NCOES for the next level prior to my 55th birth date puts me in a non promotable status for the duration of my career.
Do you have any suggestions, work arounds or other avenues for someone like me and many other NCO's in a reserve or guard status that are trying to be aggressive in furthering our professional military careers?
Anxiously awaiting your point of view, comments or suggestions.
Sincerely,
SSG Steven Roussel
Drill Sergeant
A Co. 2/417th Reg, 4th Bde., 98th Division
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SGM Luther Thomas
Reach out through your NCO Support Channel to the BDE or DIV CSM and ask for their assistance. You should be able to get an ALC school seat. Funding should not be an issue.
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SGM Luther Thomas
SFC (Join to see) - I will check with your command to see what the issue is with school funding for Soldiers.
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SSG (Join to see)
CSM, thank you for your assistance in this matter. I'm sure SSG Jones, myself, and all the other DS in the 98th would appreciate your help.
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CSM Thomas. I retired in 1994 (MSG-AGR). During my tenure, the Active Army (pardon my French) treated us as their "bastard children". We were issued their old and outdated hand-me-down MTOE equipment. Since the USAR is now considered a vital part of the war effort, are we getting the same "top of the line" MTOE equipment needed for training at home station? As a side note. I was the Chief Supply/Operation's Sergeant in the 81st ARCOM DCSLOG and served under Maj Gen James Helmly when he was a Major and Chief Sup/Svc Officer. Thank you for your service and God bless America and out Troops.
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MSG (Join to see)
thank you for your responding , however, I expected a better answer to my concern from someone in your position . I have grand children who may decide to serve in the Reserves in the future. I will encourage them to do so. But if we can't (or won't) provide them with the best equipment in order to protect them and also to win , then I will also advise that there are other ways to serve our great country. I am not trying to be critical, just disappointed.
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SGM Luther Thomas
MSG (Join to see) - The Army Reserve is issued the same equipment as the AC based on MTOE. Our equipment is first rate and we receive the same new equipment training.
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I want to echo the importance of transition to the civilian workforce. I remember very well my struggle in preparing a resume that was useless. I thought big words with catch phrases would get me somewhere but found out quickly I was wrong. Writing many OERs and EERs didn't prepare me for writing a resume. Please focus on your skills and how they translate to the civilian world where it can be understood. The civilian world doesn't understand the military jargon unless they have served in the military. Keeping it simple is so important. Thanks for listening.
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SGM Luther Thomas
Sir, great point. Soldiers should spend time on translating what they do in the Army to terms that can be understood by potential civilian employers. They should also focus on skills, knowledge and attributes that will be of value to employers.
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CSM Thomas,
The last information I was told was that the USARC CG will not sign off on APFT Failure Chapter packets. Is this correct information? Because, if this is correct, then how can we, as Leaders, enforce policy and standards when policy and standards are not being followed by higher?
The last information I was told was that the USARC CG will not sign off on APFT Failure Chapter packets. Is this correct information? Because, if this is correct, then how can we, as Leaders, enforce policy and standards when policy and standards are not being followed by higher?
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SGM Luther Thomas
LTG Talley is not in favor of keeping any Soldier who does not meet the Army standards. Leaders in the Soldier's unit should work with the Soldier, make sure the Soldier understands what is expected of them and if that they cannot meet Army standards, they should be processed for separation.
BLUF: Do not retain or keep Soldiers who do not meet standards.
BLUF: Do not retain or keep Soldiers who do not meet standards.
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MSG (Join to see)
SGM Luther Thomas - CSM, thank you for the reply. It had been passed down from my highers (BN and BDE) that APFT and/or HT/WT chapter packets would not be signed off. Thank you for the clarification.
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Hey CSM Thomas - great to talk with you again. I have seen the conversion of the standing up of the Army Reserve Cyber Operations Groups (ARCOG) from the former ARIOCs and have two questions related to cyber. The first is when the USAR will be allowed to vector to 17 series MOS? Currently it is active only. The second is when we will as a total force will start to incorporate cyber training skills in the form of actual bodies in the larger mainstream force as a whole? From my perspective we aren't making it a part of the training we do. Every piece of equipment and weapons system (if it flies, shoots, drives, moves, etc) that has software is susceptible to being exploited. I would love to help bring basic cyber training into our everyday army reserve warrior tasks. Our weakest link isn't our systems - it's our people! :) Congrats and best of luck in your new gig! Thanks...MAJ R
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SGM Luther Thomas
Sir,
The Army Reserve is working the Cyber CMFs. We have identified our Cyber Units and are starting to fill the positions. This will take time as you know because the training is extensive and the qualifications are high.
MTF
The Army Reserve is working the Cyber CMFs. We have identified our Cyber Units and are starting to fill the positions. This will take time as you know because the training is extensive and the qualifications are high.
MTF
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COL (Join to see)
Roger CSM. Ironically I just saw an ALARACT on S1net this am for a Reserve Cyber Summit in December that appears to address said issues. Regards...MAJ R
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When I graduated from college I was no longer eligible for the unemployment benefits I earned in the army. Why couldn't they have been frozen while I was using the G.I. Bill?
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SGM Luther Thomas
Unfortunately, I don't know enough about your situation to help you with an answer to your question.
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*Subject:* Request for Confirmation of Military Cooperation
Dear LTC Thomas,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Mustafa, and I served as a Sergeant in the Afghan National Army. I had the honor of working with U.S. forces during Operation Enduring Freedom, and I received a certificate signed by you in recognition of our cooperation.
Due to the current threats in Afghanistan, my family and I are in danger. I am applying for resettlement and kindly ask if you would be willing to confirm my service and collaboration with U.S. forces.
Your support could be life-saving for us. Thank you so much for your time and service.
Sincerely,
SSG Mustafa
Afghan National Army – 46A605
Dear LTC Thomas,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Mustafa, and I served as a Sergeant in the Afghan National Army. I had the honor of working with U.S. forces during Operation Enduring Freedom, and I received a certificate signed by you in recognition of our cooperation.
Due to the current threats in Afghanistan, my family and I are in danger. I am applying for resettlement and kindly ask if you would be willing to confirm my service and collaboration with U.S. forces.
Your support could be life-saving for us. Thank you so much for your time and service.
Sincerely,
SSG Mustafa
Afghan National Army – 46A605
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