CJCS SEAC talks servicemember issues

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Warren Spearman
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  On the final stop of his multi-country USO holiday tour, Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talked about what it feels like to be the highest ranking enlisted person in the armed services, as well as other topics pressing today's military.

Along with Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the Sgt. Maj. has visited troops, U.S. combatant commanders and military leaders in Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and now Germany on his first major trip as SEAC.

"It's an honor and a privilege to serve as the Armed Forces SEAC," he said. "And most notably as a voice for all enlisted service members and their families."

Battaglia said one continuing challenge facing the DoD and servicemembers was the issue of suicide. Battaglia said that he hopes during his tenure, he can help reduce suicide rates.

"Unfortunately suicides continue to rise, and we just have to work hard to crack that code," the sergeant major said."I am open to any criticisms, comments, recommendations, suggestions, one may have to help us solve suicides."

The SEAC Also chimed in on the big news affecting the military.

As war in Iraq draws to an end, Battaglia reflected on his feelings about the conflict.

"That was a bittersweet moment for me," he said thoughtfully. "I had two solid years in that theatre, and while I was happy to see closure, in a way, it also brought a degree of sadness that the day to day relationships a lot of us had with the Iraqi soldiers, Iraqi policemen and military leaders throughout Iraq, wouldn't necessarily end, but change."

When talking to young service members, the 32-year-veteran stresses one message: resiliency.

"Resiliency is going to play more and more of an important role in our military as we forge through some upcoming challenges," he said." We welcome challenges as leaders and service members. There's not a challenge we can't conquer."

Total Force Fitness is one of the ways that Battaglia talked about building and maintaining resilience is a Total Force Fitness is a program that focuses on psychological fitness, physical fitness, nutritional fitness, and other concepts to make a stronger, more resilient military.

"When I say total force I mean the military child, the service member serving in uniform, the spouse who is part of that military family, the veteran who is already retired and a lifetime member of the American Legion. That's what's inclusive of the total force."

This stop was a part of the USO holiday tour along with the CJCS General Martin Dempsey, Sergeant Major Battaglia expressed his gratitude for the USO and commends them on their positive influence to service members.

"That's an organization that we want to keep close to us", he said. "Because they serve the call of our nation just as well as we do." We just want to give them thanks for what they do and being part of the total team as well."