By Alan Morales, WTC Stratcom
AW2 Advocates are charged with the mission to provide individualized support for AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families.
It’s only been six months since I first started working with AW2. During that time, I’ve had phone calls, e-mail exchanges, and even text message conversations with dozens of individuals who AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families interact with everyday—Advocates.
In that time, it’s been easy to note the determination of this team. However, this week, my perspective reached a new level of understanding. Interacting with AW2 Advocates has demonstrated to me more than just their determination. It has helped me understand their pure energy and passion.
Just a few hours ago, I sat at lunch with several AW2 Advocates. Over the course of the hour, I later found out I had interacted with these individuals quite a bit, but never face-to-face. One conversation after another, I sensed the energy in their tone and facial expressions. Whether it was a discussion about day-to-day challenges or ways they overcame those challenges, there was a compassion in their demeanor that was contagious.
One conversation in particular resonated with me. AW2 Advocate Tim Battle from Walter Reed Army Medical Center shared his experiences in the past three years. Battle started his AW2 career as an Advocate, then as a supervisor, and now—an Advocate once again. The young go-getter in me was confused about his progression. He seemed to be promoted, yet returned to his original position as an Advocate.
Battle quickly sensed the confusion in my face and knew before I even spoke what I was thinking. “It’s about interacting with the Soldiers,” explained Battle. For him, the reason he became an AW2 Advocate was to empower Soldiers. As a former Sergeant Major, Battle was always determined to remain on the ground with Soldiers. He further mentioned, “the desk job in Washington was important and was a chance for me to help groom the new classes of AW2 Advocates. But once that was done, I was ready to head back to what I truly love to do.”
Battle is just one of the 170+ Advocates who this “Washington D.C. brat” (yours truly, if you were confused) has had the pleasure to engage. Advocates are a different caliber of people and based on the Facebook comments I review daily, it seems that several AW2 Soldiers, Veterans, and Families would agree. Today, I thank AW2 Advocates for energizing me and offering me lessons that I am sure to bring back home.
