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James Balocki, command executive officer for the U.S. Army Reserve, speaks with Soldiers and civilians from the 7th Mission Support Command during a town hall Oct. 22 on Daenner Kaserne. He visited with multiple civilian and military leaders during his weeklong trip.
A key U.S. Army Reserve executive officer held a town hall meeting to speak with Soldiers and civilians from the 7th Mission Support Command Oct. 22 on Daenner Kaserne.
James Balocki visited with civilian and military leaders during his weeklong trip, including the Army Reserve Engagement Cell at U.S. Army Europe, the U.S. Army Europe G8, the 21st Theater Sustainment Command Deputy Chief of Staff, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Installation Management Command-Europe and U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz. He also was interviewed by Stars and Stripes and the American Forces Network.
After the town hall, Balocki explained the main reason for his first visit to the 7th MSC.
“I have this really strong enduring belief that leaders need to be where the troops are … and especially right now when our nation is going through a very difficult time with the budget and the uncertainty,” Balocki said. “We need to be here to reassure them and to hear their concerns.”
He also spoke about the unique mission of the 7th MSC as the only U.S. Army Reserve command headquartered overseas and attached to an active component combatant commander with USAREUR.
“They bring all these unique civilian skills,” Balocki said. “They’ve got this broad set of skills.”
There are many Soldiers in the 7th MSC that are multilingual, and they see missions through a military and civilian perspective, Balocki added.
“The chance to serve in Europe, I don’t think there’s anything better,” Balocki said. “This laboratory is for our young leaders to be able to get out to do the kinds of missions that are being asked of them every day on the front lines of many of these (countries) that are looking for relationships and to develop long and enduring relationships with the United States. For our reservists to be on point to do that, that is an impressive feat, and they’re doing it marvelously every day.”
Balocki has oversight of the USAR’s 11,300 civilian employees and manages acquisition, information technology, installation operations and services and military construction support for the more than 200,000 members of the USAR.
