FORT CARSON, Colo. - Spc. Helen Cales isn’t your average human resources specialist. She’s traded the typical 42A work day to welcome back Soldiers who have taken a break from Army life. Call it “Operation Second Chance,” where she helps these Soldiers return to formation with a smile.
“Being a Soldier is more than what is provided in the office,” Cales said. “It’s how others feel your presence in the community.”
Cales, from Long Island, New York, joined the Army in 2023, and is currently assigned to the READY Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division.
Cales has been doing this job for several months and has helped dozens of Soldiers, but for one Soldier, she went above and beyond to prepare him to return to Army life.
Pfc. Trevon Allen, a military police officer with the 759th Military Police Battalion, said she helped him set up his direct deposit and provided him with tips to improve his credit score. She went as far as taking him to the bank to make sure everything was completed correctly.
“That helped me in a big way, more than she even knows,” said Allen. “She went the distance for me on that, and that was greatly appreciated.”
Soldiers often approach Cales because she offers great advice and will go out of her way to find answers to oftentimes complicated and unique questions.
“When they get here, it’s nice to be that point of contact,” said Cales. “We’re going to square you away before you get to your unit. Being a mom of five kids myself, it just comes naturally to help and want to make sure they’re good and their time coming back into the military is everything they expected.”
Another Soldier who benefited from Cales’ support, starting at the READY Company and continuing after he got to his assigned unit, is Spc. Brandon Swarn
Swarn, a signal support systems specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Division Artillery, 4th Inf. Div., said he thought Cales has a great work ethic and carries herself professionally. He added that she goes out of her way for every Soldier who comes through.
Her husband retired from the Marine Corps after 20 years of service. Cales said she joined the Army because it offers many opportunities and she missed being a part of the military community.
Cales said she chose the military profession of human resources in order to make a difference for Soldiers by improving problems she witnessed service members encounter before she joined the Army. She hopes to be able to continue her contributions at a higher level.
“An opportunity as an HR specialist is to go the warrant officer track,” said Cales. “If I work towards it, hopefully I can achieve it.”
4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson definitely support Soldiers’ career growth, Cales said.
Cales stands out as a hard worker according to Master Sgt. Anthony Hernandez, the first sergeant of READY Company.
Cales hopes to retire as a warrant officer after 20 years of service.
“It’s just good to serve, and the military is a good community to be involved with,” Cales said.
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