ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. –Many of us start off the new year with the idea that it is time to make some new beginnings, or maybe readjust some priorities. I am not a big fan of making annual resolutions, but there really is value in finding a way to focus on one aspect of your personal or professional life with an eye towards improvement.
While I truly encourage personal growth, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about some things that can help on the professional side. I think, actually, that in large part they go hand-in-hand.
Our Junior Advisory Council provides multiple opportunities for our junior civilians, anyone from GS-1 to GS-11, to strive for a more fulfilling professional career. They also give that group a voice with CECOM leadership, the chance to take an active role influencing decision making for CECOM and its subordinates.
And yes, the JAC is not just for the HQ, there is equal membership from throughout SEC, ILSC and TYAD in their projects, and they are looking for representation from directorates, special staff and ALL the MSCs.
I am lucky to be able to attend JAC meetings and can tell you that it represents a real chance for growth, to network across the command, to get involved with command events and initiatives, to be involved!
I urge you to use the JAC to engage in some professional growth this year. You can find more by visiting their SharePoint portal https://cecom.aep.army.mil/cecom/home/CG/JAC/SitePages/Home.aspx or contact the JAC President Mariah Curry at mariah.a.curry.civ@mail.mil.
The JAC feeds directly into our Army’s, and of course my, top priority, and that is our people.
Throughout CECOM, there are real, valuable programs and councils which are aimed at improving the overall health and well-being of our workforce.
One I would like to highlight is the Employee Service Center at Tobyhanna. The ESC makes short-term counseling available for a number of different issues. They focus on prevention, education, training and short-term counseling in the areas of substance abuse, suicide, sexual assault, and employee work/life well-being. All services are confidential and take place on post.
As Brittany Anderson, the TYAD ESC’s Community Support Advocate says, while their services are short term and solution-focused, “even after referral, we maintain contact and offer follow-ups to ensure Tobyhanna Army Depot is an environment that supports employees during their times of need. We want to ensure employees know that we’re here as they move on to the next step of their journey.”
The ESC fits glove-tight with two other TYAD programs. The VOTE or Voice of the Employee council sessions solicit employee input and feedback, enabling proactive response to employee needs. Importantly, VOTE Council notes are shared transparently so employees can track those issues. For more information on the VOTE councils, contact Dr. Heather Fiedler at heather.l.fiedler2.civ@army.mil.
Disclosures of sexual harassment/assault, suicidal ideations, substance abuse, barriers to inclusion, or mental health issues are usually made not to trained professionals, but to a colleague in the workplace. At TYAD, in a new pilot program, they train members of the workforce, one “peer” per area, with a working knowledge of how to recognize or detect these issues. They can then provide a “warm hand-off” to the trained first responder. Good news – even though it is a pilot we can offer seats to all of CECOM if interested, and once the pilot is completed we will roll it out command-wide! For more information please contact Ricardo Horn, ricardo.d.horm.civ@army.mil.
What wonderful initiatives and great investments in our number one resource – you, our workforce.
And don’t forget, that regardless of where you work in CECOM, be it APG or TYAD or Fort Hood or Fort Huachuca, all the MSC’s have Diversity and Inclusion Councils that give everyone a chance to ensure we are addressing the needs of our entire workforce, and doing it impartially and with care.
All of which makes me look forward to the rest of 2022 with eager anticipation, that we all will be able to grow in a welcoming, caring, inclusive and professional environment as we go about our business of supporting our Soldiers!
People First
Army Strong
Your Command Sergeant Major,
Kristie Brady
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