ESKAN VILLAGE, Saudi Arabia -- Personnel from the Office of the Program Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program gathered to recognize the contributions of its administrative assistants April 20 at the Eskan Community Center.
Fifteen administrative assistants and their division chiefs attended the luncheon, held in conjunction with the nationally recognized Administrative Professionals Week, celebrated annually the last full week of April.
According to OPM-SANG's senior administrative professional, the luncheon was a small, but significant, way to honor employees who many consider the backbone of any business.
"Not only do these men and women work hard at their respective organizations conducting their individual missions, but they also provide endless support to the program manager's office," said Barbara Arthur, the executive assistant to OPM-SANG program manager Brig. Gen. Paul Laughlin.
"They make my day go a lot smoother," said Arthur, who coordinated the luncheon. "If I ask them to adjust or to contribute anything to benefit the mission, and I frequently do just by the nature of my job, they make it happen and without complaint. It's good to know we can depend on them. They really are the grease that make the wheels turn."
During the luncheon, division chiefs presented their administrative assistants a yellow rose and a photograph signed with a personal note of appreciation. The photo featured all of OPM-SANG's admin assistants and was taken by a professional photographer.
Arthur, a retired sergeant first class, is no stranger to the career field. Her military occupational specialty was 71L admin specialist. She has been the OPM-SANG executive assistant since February 2014, but has worked at several locations in the U.S. and abroad, both as a civilian and on active duty. She said she has found great satisfaction in a profession that has provided many opportunities to see the big picture.
"My interaction with senior military and civilian leaders at higher headquarters has been professionally enhancing in CONUS and OCONUS assignments worldwide," Arthur said. "I have had rare opportunities to see, firsthand, the decision process, the impact on the workforce, and the lessons learned in a different light."
Arthur said this year's admin luncheon went well and she hopes to build on next year's event with a tour of the Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University, a public women's university in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. It is the largest university for women in the world.
"We want to keep this appreciation for OPM-SANG admin professionals going," Arthur said. "They, like any professional, need to know they are valued."
OPM-SANG is a subordinate organization of the Security Assistance Command, which executes the Army's security assistance and foreign military sales program.
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