SEMBACH, Germany – When the U.S. Army announced its Voluntary Recall Program back in March, one retired Army officer decided it was time to put her uniform back on and lend a hand in the fight against COVID-19.
Maj. Valerie Smith, who retired in 2006, volunteered to come back on active duty.
The Army recently reached out to over 800,000 retirees to assist in the COVID-19 pandemic response, according to Army Personnel officials. During times of national emergency, the Army voluntarily calls upon retired and Individual Ready Reserve Soldiers to augment Active-duty and Reserve Soldiers to maintain readiness and meet mission needs.
“When the Army put out the call for help and was looking for volunteers, I felt that this could be my opportunity to do something and get involved,” said Smith. “I did ask my kids for their input and they all agreed that I should respond to the volunteer request. I also felt that I could return to the military and finish what I had started.”
Originally from Cardiff, Wales, Smith moved the United States when she was 19.
“I decided that I would continue my education in the U.S. and I moved to Connecticut where I lived with my mothers’ youngest sister,” she said. “I enrolled in Greater Hartford Community College where I pursued an Associate’s Degree in data processing.”
Prior to moving to the United States, Smith was in the Territorial Army of England, which is a part-time force that supplemented the British Army.
“My goal was to find something similar in the U.S.,” said Smith. “After some research, I found that I could join the Army National Guard.”
As a result, she ended up enlisting in the Connecticut Army National Guard and spent a couple of years serving as a records clerk before deciding to become a commissioned officer.
“I enrolled in the Connecticut National Guard Officer Candidate program,” said Smith. “After graduating OCS, I was assigned to the 118th Medical Battalion in New Haven as a Medical Service Corps officer. I served in that unit for my entire career.”
In October 2003, Smith’s unit was notified that it was being activated and deploying to Iraq. During her deployment, Smith served as the battalion operations officer. Her unit was responsible for Level 1 medical care and treatment that stretched from Kuwait to the Turkish border.
Shortly after her redeployment to the U.S. in 2005, Smith’s husband passed away unexpectedly.
“At the time of my husband’s death, my children were ages 13, 7, and 4,” she said. “In June 2006, I decided to retire from the military and focus on raising my children. I returned to my job as an educator/administrator with the Connecticut State Department of Correction where I retired in January 2016 and moved to North Carolina. I then started working part-time for an airline company as a customer service agent.”
Making the decision to come back on active duty after a 14-year break was a family affair for Smith.
“I consulted with my children, who at this point, were somewhat independent and could support each other,” said Smith. “My main motivation for volunteering was that I wanted to be involved in giving some type of support in fighting COVID-19. My hope is that I make some contribution, however small, in making sure that our medical force continues to be well trained, physically fit and medically/technically ready to support our Soldiers.”
Smith is currently assigned to Regional Health Command Europe, where she is working in the G-3 Future Operations Division. She is assisting in the planning and support of upcoming operations and events. According to the Army Human Resources Command, the standard initial tour of duty for participants in the Army’s Voluntary Recall program is 179 days. However, that can be extended in additional increments as demand warrants.
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