Top enlisted servicemember visits Joint Base

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The Defense Department's highest ranking enlisted member visited here April 14 and 15.
Marine Corps Sergeant Maj. Bryan Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the principal military advisor to the chairman and the Secretary of Defense on all matters related to the enlisted force.

Battaglia's visit was intended to give him a closer look at some of the installation's missions and its enlisted servicemembers, which hail from all five branches of the military.
The first stop of his base tour was the C-17 Globemaster III flight simulator where Maj. Edward Yeash, 732nd Airlift Squadron, coached Battaglia through several scenarios, including a take-off, an air refueling and an approach.

Following the simulator, the SEAC headed to the Timmermann Center to converse with enlisted servicemebers about the current climate within the Department of Defense.

Battaglia's message focused on the importance of keeping faith as budget cuts force the reshaping and reorganization of the military. He said servicemembers should know that addressing the unique needs of military families and the development and education of the enlisted force are two top priorities of the military's most senior leaders.

"Have trust in your leadership," he said. "If our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have faith in us and vice versa, we will get through these challenging times."

He said the reshaping and restructuring of the military has happened many times in his career, and despite its inherent challenges, U.S. servicemembers have always delivered the world's finest military.

"The force is doing fine," he said. "While folks are concerned with the potential uncertainty, we have addressed and are working to upgrade, remodel, enhance and augment many issues currently challenging our organization."

To help address the significant Reserve population on the joint base, Battaglia was joined by subject-matter expert on issues that are particular to citizen servicemembers.
Command Sgt. Maj. John Gipe, the senior enlisted advisor to the assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, said he is seeing progress in efforts to educate legislators who are well-intentioned, but don't always consider the Reserve component when drafting legislation.

Gipe also said reservists should expect to be treated fairly by their civilian employers when reporting for military duty, but they should not take undue advantage of the protections afforded to them.

"It's a two-way street," Gipe said.

Reservists have a responsibility to work with their civilian employers to perform military duties at times that the least disruptive when possible, he said. Giving respect the needs of civilian employers helps ensure they will continue to support and employ reservists in the future.

During his visit, Battaglia visited several units from a variety of military services and acknowledged the complexity of the joint base.

"Having all five services represented here projects a great optic - it really defines a joint base," he said. "I would like to see this base become the template in which future joint bases can perhaps model their success."

Battaglia's final message was to encourage servicemembers to remember why each of them chose to serve.

"We are a special breed of people, ladies and gentlemen," Battaglia said. "We are part of the greatest team sport in the world. America loves us because we are a trusted institution who serves with integrity and we will never waiver the high ground. That's what your country thinks of you. Isn't that worth serving for?"