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SEAC talks service member issues
Posted 12/30/2011 Updated 12/22/2011
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by Staff Sgt. Warren Spearman
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
12/30/2011 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- The senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff talked about what it feels like to be the highest ranking enlisted person in the armed services as well as other topics pressing today's military during a visit here recently.
During a multi-country USO holiday tour, Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, has visited troops, U.S. combatant commanders and military leaders in Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and now Germany on his first major trip as SEAC.
"It's an honor and a privilege to serve as the armed forces SEAC," he said, "and most notably as a voice for all enlisted service members and their families."
One continuing challenge facing the Department of Defense and service members is the issue of suicide, Battaglia said, adding that, during his tenure, he hopes he can help reduce suicide rates.
"Unfortunately, suicides continue to rise, and we just have to work hard to crack that code," the sergeant major said. "I am open to any criticisms, comments, recommendations (or) suggestions one may have to help us solve suicides."
The SEAC also chimed in on news affecting the military. As war in Iraq draws to an end, Battaglia reflected on his feelings about the conflict.
"That was a bittersweet moment for me," he said. "I had two solid years in that theater, and while I was happy to see closure, in a way it also brought a degree of sadness that the day-to-day relationships a lot of us had with the Iraqi soldiers, Iraqi policemen and military leaders throughout Iraq wouldn't necessarily end, but change."
When talking to young service members, the 32-year veteran stressed one message: resiliency.
"Resiliency is going to play more and more of an important role in our military as we forge through some upcoming challenges," he said. "We welcome challenges as leaders and service members. There's not a challenge we can't conquer."
Battaglia talked about total force fitness as one of the ways to build and maintain resilience. Total force fitness is a program that focuses on psychological fitness, physical fitness, nutritional fitness and other concepts to make a stronger, more resilient military.
"When I say total force, I mean the military child, the service member serving in uniform, the spouse who is part of that military family, the veteran who is already retired and a lifetime member of the American Legion," Battaglia said. "That's what's inclusive of the total force."
Battaglia also expressed his gratitude for the USO and commended them on their positive influence to service members.
"That's an organization that we want to keep close to us, because they serve the call of our nation just as well as we do," he said. "We just want to give them thanks for what they do and being part of the total team as well." |
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