From L to R: Staff Sgt. Keith Moses, Sgt. Juanita L. Barber, Sgt. Shawn Dunlap, Sgt. Michael Hilty (holding flag), Master Sgt. Robert L. Olack, Sgt. Michael Maggio, and Sgt. Carl W. Smith

Although the New Kensington United States Army Reserve Center often looks very quiet with little activity, these U. S. Army men and women are our neighbors and have already suffered the loss of two of their own in the Iraq war with another 20 wounded. Two wreaths quietly are set in front of the Reserve Center commemorating their deaths. A large display of yellow ribbons is not far from these wreaths, counting the number of soldiers currently serving in Iraq. It is a stark reminder of the price being paid for freedom. Thousands of cars pass every day by the Reserve Center, located at the corner of Craigdell and Leechburg Roads, and probably most drivers and passengers have little knowledge of what goes on behind those walls. These men and women not only play a key element in the current Iraq war, with one unit currently in Iraq and one unit recently returned, but in recent years has been mobilized two other times, once to Bosnia and the other immediately after the September 11th tragedy. The Reserve Center houses two major companies and other services. The 307th Military Police Company with 181 soldiers and the 458th Engineering Company C with 175 soldiers are stationed here. In addition to that the United States Army Command Readiness Team has their office here. These are officers that form an Inspection Team for the Reserves. A Retention and Transition Non Commission Officer (NCO) is also stationed here. Sgt. Juanita L. Barber holds this position and has been serving her country for 20 years. This office is responsible for re-enlisting soldiers. The final service at the New Kensington Reserve Center is Area Maintenance that is civilian mechanics responsible for the motor pool vehicles. Ninety percent of the mechanics, according to Sgt. Olack, are Reservists. We met with Master Sergeant Robert L. Olack who has served his country for 35 years. He oversees the Reserve Center for commanding officers during the week as a civilian and as a Master Sergeant on weekends. He explained the United States Army Reservist is part of the United States Army. The regular Army is serving full time in active duty while serving as a Reservist enables soldiers to maintain civilian positions and serve their time on one weekend a month and two weeks a year at a military camp. They receive the same basic military training by going through a nine-week boot camp and the undertaking further training in their vocational field. Their service option is six years with two more years in reserve and if they reenlist they can choose three of six-year periods. They also have an option of extending their service term one extra year. When interviewing Sgt. Olack and other soldiers at Reserve Center, we found that all of them had a number of service years. Most were 12, 14, 17, 19 and 20 or more years. Soldiers mostly come from a 25 to 50 mile radius of the Army Reserve Center, but one was from Baltimore, MD., and Sgt. Olack is from Ohio. To maintain unit strength, the Army often will make “involuntary” assignments to career soldiers and officers. That is how one officer found his way here from Baltimore. Fortunately, he is a native of Vandergrift and is staying with his mother while his wounds are being assessed. The building itself houses a drill center, instructional rooms, offices, dining facilities, storage and supply rooms and a communications center. One other area caught our attention. Called a Biological Room, we were assured it contained nothing dangerous, but in preparation for today’s needs contains gas masks, detection equipment and other accessories to combat biological warfare. Every weekend the Reservists arrive for training on Saturday and Sunday. After formation in the Drill Center they go to their assigned duties. A few times a year they go on field trips for training in the field and once a year spend two weeks at a military camp. The 30th Military Police Company has already been in Iraq for a year. Their main mission was to assist the Iraq Police at their stations. They patrolled downtown Baghdad and also assisted in supply routes. The 458th Engineering Company C are currently in Iraq and are involved in demolitions, clearing out mines and IED’s (Improvised Explosive Device). They also build obstacle barriers, defensive positions, clearing and improving roadways, recover mine fields and are considered a light wheeled combat group. The United States Army Reserve Center is part of the 99th Regional Readiness Command headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. They are one of ten Army Reserve regional support commands and cover a 120,000 square mile area encompassing five states and the District of Columbia. There are more than 25,000 soldiers serving under this command in 200 United States Army Reserve Centers. Be sure to watch our video interview of this story to meet many of the soldiers and learn more about the New Kensington United States Army Reserve Center.

The 458th Engineering Company C insignia is painted on a rock in front of the U.S. Army Reserve Center in New Kensington. The yellow ribbons represent their troops currently serving in Iraq.

View the complete interview at: http://www.alle-kiskitoday.com/webcasts/1145