USSTRATCOM Enlisted Corps Spotlight
The Enlisted Corps Spotlight highlights U.S. Strategic Command's best enlisted Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines hand-picked by USSTRATCOM's senior enlisted leader for their job performance, leadership and service. A new enlisted servicemember will be chosen and recognized each month.
Enlisted Corps Spotlights
Spotlight HomeSpotlight for October 2011
How does your job support USSTRATCOM and our missions?
As a "Commo," I am one of four individuals that provide communications support, to include both classified and unclassified data, as well as a secure voice capability, directly to the commander and deputy commander of USSTRATCOM while they are traveling.
What has been a challenge for you regarding your work at USSTRATCOM and how have you overcome that challenge?
I consider myself pretty technically proficient when it comes to computers and troubleshooting issues that may come up. But, believe it or not, that's only about 30 percent of my role as a Commo while traveling with the commander. The equipment we use to keep the commander connected while traveling - sometimes to the other side of the world - would be useless without the scores of individuals working together to ensure STRATCOM network resources are available while the commander is abroad.
Although the technical aspect of my job can be challenging at times, the other 70 percent is the part I find most challenging. This part requires me to be something that doesn't particularly come natural to me. If you asked my wife, she would tell you the same thing, and that is, that I'm not a planner. Since I became a Commo, I've learned, much through the advice and experience of my coworkers, how to be prepared for just about anything and with that be able to quickly adapt to changes in schedules while traveling. This typically means running through comm scenarios in my head to ensure, no matter the location, that the commander will be able to have the communications capabilities required as a combatant commander.
Although the technical aspect of my job can be challenging at times, the other 70 percent is the part I find most challenging. This part requires me to be something that doesn't particularly come natural to me. If you asked my wife, she would tell you the same thing, and that is, that I'm not a planner. Since I became a Commo, I've learned, much through the advice and experience of my coworkers, how to be prepared for just about anything and with that be able to quickly adapt to changes in schedules while traveling. This typically means running through comm scenarios in my head to ensure, no matter the location, that the commander will be able to have the communications capabilities required as a combatant commander.
What is the one piece of information or advice about working at USSTRATCOM that you'd pass on to new members of the STRATCOM team?
No matter what your grade is or what directorate you serve under you are a value-added member of this command.
| Name: | Staff Sgt. Reiss Sleeper |
| Duty Title: | Communications NCO to the Commander |
| Directorate: | C4 Operations Division, Executive Communications |
| Time in Service: | 11 years |
| Hometown: | Elkhart, Kan. |