Tuesday, October 18, 2016 -- ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.-- As leaders move into new roles it is important for them to understand the roles of their counterparts, especially if it is their first time working with a unique command like the 85th Support Command.

The 85th Support Command hosted the first portion of a two-part New Command Team Orientation Brief, October 15-16, 2016, at their command headquarters for First Army leadership.

The purpose of the Orientation Brief was to inform First Army senior leaders that the 85th Support Command is here to assist them and ensure the new active component leaders understand how to execute on the readiness of all of their soldiers within this multi-component structure, including their Army Reserve personnel.

“These leaders don’t know what they don’t know,” explained Col. Robert Cooley, Deputy Commander, 85th Support Command. “They (active duty leaders) are thanking me for this opportunity.”

The briefing is a tool where leaders from active components can learn the language of the reserve component, as well as share any questions or concerns they may have as they take their new commands.

“It seems the battalion commanders are getting a lot out of it (briefing),” said Capt. Shamika Hill, 188th Infantry Brigade, S3, Future Operations Deputy Officer in Charge, Fort Stewart, Georgia. “What you may be able to accomplish in a day as an active soldier may take two (reserve) drills. Now that they know that, they now what priorities they need to set first to keep them ready.”

The New Command Team Orientation Brief is being revamped to start happening every six months to ensure leaders at all levels are tracking how to maintain soldier readiness.

“There are differences between the Army Reserve and active component to get to the same end sate,” said Cooley. “The end state is to train soldiers at the right place at the right time.”

Cooley shared that the New Command Orientation Brief is something that he would like to do more with, but are limited by resources. Regardless he knows that these briefings make a stronger relationship in the multi-component make-up between the United States Army Reserve and their active component partners at First Army.

The second and final portion of the briefing for the newly assigned First Army commanders will be conducted at First Army headquarters at Rock Island Arsenal.