The Department of South Carolina hosted their 2023 Department Convention in the final weekend of July at the Fort Jackson NonCommissioned Officers Club that included a series of briefings, and culminating with a semi-formal banquet Saturday evening.
The convention kicked off Friday evening with a social gathering at the home of one of our members, to include three representatives from North Carolina. New connections were made and rekindled old ones.
Members of the South Carolina Department pose for a photo with U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson (center). He is the most senior member of the House Armed Services Committee where he is on the Subcommittees on Readiness and Strategic Forces.
The Honorable Joe Wilson (SC-R),the most senior member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), addressed the SC department and joined members of ROA for lunch. He is a friend of the military having served in the Guard/Reserves.
From other guest speakers we learned about the Army Reserve’s Private Public Partnership (P3) initiative, the Partnership for Your Success (PaYS), and the Minuteman Campaign.
The PaYS program is a strategic partnership between the U.S. Army and a cross section of corporations, companies, and public sector agencies. The program provides America’s Soldiers with an opportunity to serve their country while they prepare for their future.
PaYS partners guarantee Soldiers an interview and possible employment after the Army. This unique program is part of the Army’s effort to partner with America’s business community and reconnect America with its Army.
P3 works to connect Soldiers and their family members with internship, employment, and education opportunities. P3 has been very successful in converting Active Duty to Reserve by partnering with the private sector.
We also heard from Matthew Schwartzman, Director, Legislation and Military Policy of the 118th Congress and Layne Wroblewski, our future national president.
We were energized by gathering and committed to “influencing” Reserve legislation through our elected officials and by visiting local Reserve units.