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While there was a lot of talk of baby-steps, the combined impact leaves a significant footprint. Day three of the recent Family Readiness Group Leader Certification course at Pulaski Barracks seemed to be firmly in the hands of members of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command.
Two of the three spouses attending the classes and two of the three instructors
teaching them that day are members of the 21st TSC. Catherine Little and Betrena Christian, spouses of 39th Transportation Battalion Soldiers, were getting certified to co-lead a 39th Trans. Bn. Family Readiness Group.
Jacky Porter, who taught a class on Time and Meeting Management, is the wife of a 21st TSC sergeant major, and Command Sgt. Maj. Ismael Rodriguez who taught classes on Communication, Military and Community Resources and the Chain of Command, is the command sergeant major for the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, which falls under the operational control of the 21st TSC.
They all share a desire to volunteer their time and give back to their military
community.Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez, who claims to have a colorful background, credits the Army with saving his life. He has been active as a volunteer instructor and motivational speaker for the past 13 years.
“This is a way to give back just a little bit,” he said. “A Soldier cannot be a good Soldier without the support of his or her family. Teaching military spouses about the military makes things easier for the Soldiers and the spouses.”
Ms. Porter, who also has about 13 years of Army volunteer service to her credit, arrived here just a couple months ago but had already volunteered with Kaiserslautern’s Army Community Services during her husband’s previous tour here from 1996 to 1999.
“By being involved, you become a part of the community. I really like helping military spouses because it is very important that they understand the military language and the way things are done,” Ms. Porter said. “The Army has done a lot for me, and this is my way to give some of that back.”
Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez said he likes to teach communication because communication has the most potential of causing friction between people and within chains of command.
“I want them to understand how to peel away barriers to communication and how to communicate more effectively,” he said.
A lively, fun, but also very empathetic instructor, Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez repeatedly encouraged his audience.
“Practice, practice, practice! Take baby-steps, baby-steps, baby-steps,” he kept
reminding his students.
He called his greatest reward the “WOW” factor.
“I just love the WOW factor. It’s awesome to see on their faces and hear in their voices that they learned something that may make their lives a bit easier,” Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez said.
He seems to have succeeded.
“This helps a lot. It makes things a lot easier when you know how things work and where you can find more help, who to contact, where to go,” Ms. Little said.
“I want to make spouses new to the community feel like they are welcome, like they belong,” Ms. Christian said. “Everything I learned today will help me do that.”
Networking and that same feeling of belonging are other benefits of volunteer work that Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez lists.
“The 405th AFSB is now op con to the 21st TSC and we want to show that we are part of this community, not just as far as our mission is concerned, but also by doing volunteer work to help the community,” he said.
