Top Army Reserve Public Affairs Soldiers

Four Army Reserve communication professionals recently earned top honors for their work in 2009.  They will now vie for journalism recognition at the Department of the Army level.

The winners are:

• Army Reserve Military Journalist of the Year - Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell, 211th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Bryan, Texas.

• Army Reserve Rising Star/Outstanding New Writer - Spc. Elisebet Freeburg, 143rd Expeditionary Support Command Public Affairs Office, Orlando, Fla.

• Army Reserve Military Broadcast Journalist of the Year - Sgt. Thomas Bramble, 222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment (BOD), Bell, Calif.

• Army Reserve Rising Star/Outstanding New Broadcaster - Spc. Christopher Tobey, 222nd BOD.

A Chicago native, Burrell is currently the print journalist noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) working at Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Iraq.  There he oversees more than 300 print and photo products he and five other public affairs Soldiers produced.  He graduated at the top of his journalism class at the Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md., in 2008.  He also completed a combat tour in Baghdad from April 2007 to March 2008 working as an administrative and opearations NCO for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Burrell joined the Army Reserve in 1998 because he wanted to do something different than the rest of the kids in his neighborhood.  "The Army Reserve appealed to me because it provided an opportunity to challenge myself in ways that I hadn't been tested before," he said.  "Also, my recruiter promised me that I'd be able to travel and see the world.  So far the Army Reserve has done both of those for me -- I've been able to travel the world and tested myself in ways that I didn't know were possible!"

Freeburg is presently working in Afghanistan with the 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, which leads the Joint Sustainment Command (JSC).  Her duties include identifying issues of interest relevant to JSC's strategic communicaton goals and objectives, coordinating coverage, gathering information and imagery, producing print news and photography packages, and marketing the products to relevant media outlets.  Currently residing in Keystone Heights, Fla., she also edits and publishes the "Victory Sustained" newsletter.  When not wearing the uniform, Freeburg teaches English at Keystone Heights Senior High School.  She is a graduate of the Victory Baptist Academy in Niagara Falls, Canada.

"I joined the Army Reserve [in 2007] to serve my country and make a difference in the world," Freeburg said.

Bramble is currently the NCOIC of the Special Services Division for American Forces Network (AFN)-Iraq where he wears a lot of hats.  He's the producer, anchor, lead editor, lead writer, graphics artist and co-creator of "Freestyle Iraq," a television entertainment program that focuses on how deployed service members spend their free time and airs on the Pentagon Channel.

He earned Distinghished Honor Graduate honors in the Basic Broadcaster Course at the Defense Information School.  He holds an associate's degree from the College of Eastern Utah, and is pursuing his bachelor's in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Utah.

When Bramble first donned his military uniform, he served in the active Army from 2001 until 2005.  During that time, he was stationed at AFN-Korea and AFN-Honduras.  After completing this military stint, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Film and Entertainment.  Almost four years after leaving the active Army, he was recalled to deploy to Iraq because he still had a service obligation on his initial miliary contract.

"I reported to Fort Jackson [S.C.] on Oct. 5, 2008, and the journey began," he said.

After "re-greening" back into the Army, "I realized there was a lot I missed about wearing the uniform and the sense of pride and accomplishment that goes along with such an honor," Bramble said.

Shortly after being recalled, he reenlisted in the Army Reserve.  "I was confident I could make a positive impact on the Public Affairs Broadcast mission of the military and my junior Soldiers," Bramble added.  "It's been a very rewarding, personally and professionally, and I'm very proud to serve again."

Bramble currently resides in Los Angeles, and most of his immediate family lives in Saint George, Utah.

Presently serving as a broadcaster in Baghdad, Tobey joins Bramble to produce "Freestyle Iraq."  His versatility allows him to use music, graphics, creative editing and unconventional storytelling to entertain and inform an audience of up to 20 million viewers per day.  He has written, edited, shot and anchored numerous segments for the 30-minute program.  He also spent four months with AFN-Iraq's Freedom Radio as a co-host of the morning talk show "Iraqi Sunrise."

"I volunteered for this deployment with the 222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment and I feel it has helped me grow as a journalist and as a Soldier," he said.

Born in Detroit and raised in Tappahannock, Va., Tobey joined the Army Reserve in 2007 to augment a degree in Broadcast Communication.  "I chose the Army Reserve because I thought it would help give me a different, more intense experience in news gathering, and I couldn't have been more right," he said.

Tobey graduated from the Defense Information School in 2008.  He is pursuing a double major in Music and Communications Studies from Longwood University.  Tobey is an Eagle Scout and active with multiple Troops in Virginia.  He is preparing for a cross-country bicycle tour to raise funds for the Troops First Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports wounded Iraq War Veterans.  The trip is scheduled to start at the completion of his current deployment.

From Sorority Girl to Soldier

Being the only American woman in the courtroom during the first day of Saddam Hussein's trial in Baghdad is a distinction only one person can claim.

Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Kristen King was physically in the actual courtroom operating a video camera capturing historic footage broadcast around the world that day.  "I felt like I was part of something so much bigger than myself and as a journalist," she said, looking back on the experience.  While other well-known women journalists like Christiane Amanpour and Laura Logan were there, they were required to remain behind bullet-proof glass.

Check the block for "adventure" as a reason for joining the Army Reserve.

The energetic King has enjoyed the best of both worlds as a student and as an Army Reserve broadcast journalist.  In 2008 she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication/Journalism from Louisiana State University in Shreveport, which she was able to fund in part with education benefits she got from the Army Reserve.

Check the block for "education benefits" as another reason for joining the Army Reserve.

King put her military training into practice during two deployments to Iraq.  From 2005-2006, she worked in Baghdad as a reporter for American Forces Network, which provides broadcast entertainment for service members overseas.  There she relied on her "southern hospitality" to engage her radio audience during her wildly popular show "The Country Convoy" broadcast throughout Iraq.

During the most recent deployment in 2009, King worked with the 10th Mountain Division in Baghdad, and the 34th Infantry Division in Basra.  As the assignment editor, she was responsible for tracking down stories and helping the military reporters connect with their subjects.  She was also the editor, writer and producer of "The Red Bull Report," a two-minute weekly news cast highlighting 34th I.D. people and activities.

The hands-on experience King has gained has been the most useful aspect of her Army Reserve career thus far.  "I've learned so much about journalism that I could never grasp just sitting in a classroom," she said.  "The situations I've been in and the extreme pressures I've been under prepared me for life after college."

While an undergraduate degree may likely give King an advantage when competing for full-time civilian employment, she realized it wasn't enough.  "I also wanted something extra to boost my resume," she said.  King hopes to parlay the real-world experience into a career as a DJ on a morning radio show.

She added, "My Army career set me up for a successful civilian career.  During my first deployment, my radio show received national attention from the CBS "Early Show" and NBC "Nightly News."  I'm still feeding off that exposure and have a possible job officer in Seattle stemming from those news stories."

Check the block for "experience" employers respect as a reason for joining the Army Reserve.

In case you get the impression King is focused entirely on herself, think again.  She is most proud of being able to give back.  "During my first deployment I got to travel outside the wire a lot, and would have people send me care packages with goodies for the kids -- pens, pencils, colors, nail polish, etc.," she said.  "I always felt best on those days I could go out into the communities and put a smile on the kids' faces."

As an Army Reserve Soldier, King values the gratitude of the American people and Iraqi citizens.  "I'm constantly thanked for my service and what I'm doing.  I don't think about it as anything special, but it means a lot to hear thanks from the peoople at home," she said.

When King joined the Army Reserve five years ago, her family and friends thought she was crazy.  "I was a sorority girl, and this was the last thing anyone expected," she said.  "They were worried, but supportive."

Family and friends also sustained King during her two deployments to Iraq.  "They were very scared about me going to Iraq, but I've got such a great support system.  They constantly wrote emails and sent packages, letting me know I was on their mind," she said.

King found the best part of deployments was spending time in a country she never would have traveled to on her own.  Additionally, meeting the local Iraqi citizens and playing with the children were highlights of her experience.

Reflecting on her time in Iraq, King learned some things about herself, including the fact that she is strong and independent.  She added, "I tackled a lot that I never thought possible...I can take care of myself, and that makes me happy."

USAJOBS Announcement

Do you know someone who would be a great Public Affairs Officer or Public Affairs enlisted Soldier - either a Broadcaster or Photojournalist? Tell them about this job announcement on USAJOBS

Best Job in the Army Reserve

Twenty-three years in uniform, about half of it in Army Reserve communication and public affairs.  I can honestly say that "GI Journalism" is the best job in the Army Reserve.

I've been lucky enough to cover events on five continents and countless countries.  From missions in central and South America to a lengthy stint in Iraq, I've covered some amazing stories.  Later in my career, I've even had the opportunity to be a key advisor to senior members of a foreign government on dealing with the media.

Here are four reasons why Army Reserve journalism is the best job around.

1.  Cool electronics.  Got a geeky side?  We're operating the most advanced camera and editing systems around -- top-of-the-line professional stuff.

2.  We get to be infantry Soldiers one day, helicopter crews the next and transportation professionals the following.  We embed with the troops, do what they do, eat what they eat...but when we're done, we get to do something else.

3.  Soldiers.  Soldiers are cool, fun, funny, and each has a unique story.  We get to introduce the American people to the Soldiers who are defending our freedoms.  I've met some of the most interesting people in uniform because of my job.

4.  We make a difference.  I've seen how morale can be boosted by our coverage.  I've seen how families appreciate reading about their Soldiers or seeing a news story that shows what a great job their Soldier, father, mother, sister, brother, son, daugther are doing.

There's much more.  Too much to list.  I wouldn't choose to do anything else.

Lt. Col. Gerald Ostlund
Chief, Army Reserve Social Media and Web Communication

Spotlight: Army Reserve Couple Communicates Together

Nina and Robert Ramon are not your average couple. The Army Reserve communication professionals spent a year together in Afghanistan accompanying the media into the field to cover military operations. Nina, a sergeant, and Robert, a sergeant first class, are currently training military public affairs units that will be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. Read more about this couple's story in Ladies' Home Journal where the article appeared.

Meet us at the National High School Journalism Convention

Find out how you can get an edge by becoming an Army Reserve photojournalist or broadcaster by meeting us at booth no. 338 at the National High School Journalism Convention, Nov. 12-13, 2009, at the Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, DC.

Achieve Your Career Goals in Communications

The Army Reserve is a positive return on investment for America. Community-based and federally directed, the Army Reserve provides our Nation with trained Soldiers who complement both the Army and civilian Employer workforce. The Army Reserve is unique because the military training Soldiers receive is not combat-specific, but rather supports the overall Army mission. This results in skills that are easily transferrable to the civilian world. Because of this role, more than 60% of Army Reserve Military Occupation Specialties (MOSs) have direct civilian equivalent positions. The public affairs military career field translates directly into the mass media, journalism, broadcasting, marketing, advertising and public relations industries.

Our Soldiers are highly skilled, full-time patriots shared between the Army Reserve and civilian Employers. The communications skills Soldiers gain in the military give them a competitive edge in the job market, while Employers have access to experienced communications professionals who are continually enhancing their skills through training, professional development, and hands-on experience.

The Army Reserve is a reservoir of talented communicators, with Soldiers holding careers as professionals in public affairs, advertising and marketing, as well as photographers, broadcast journalists, sound technicians, and film editors, among others.

Communications is a dynamic career field, both in the military and in the corporate world. The demand for communications professionals within the Army is high with the field projected to grow in the private sector over the next several years. From 2006-2016, the demand for marketing managers is expected to increase more than 14%; PR managers nearly 17%; audio and video equipment technicians more than 24%; broadcast and sound engineer technicians and radio operators more than 14%, and technical writers 20% (1).

Army Reserve Soldiers have played a vital role in every American military and humanitarian mission of the past 100 years. Today, more than 206,000 trained Army Reserve Soldiers in units across the country stand ready to serve the Nation when called upon by the President of the United States. The quality of our force has never been higher. Our Soldiers are one of the best returns on investment American citizens make for the security and freedoms they enjoy.

U.S. Army Reserve Employer Partnership

The Employer Partnership is a bold and innovative program that enables the Army Reserve and Employers across America to jointly attract, develop and retain talent. The Army Reserve is collaborating with business and government leaders to develop staffing solutions to meet America’s industry demands, tackle the issue of workforce preparedness, and reinvigorate America’s human talent to remain competitive in the global economy. Mutually advantageous, the Employer Partnership facilitates job opportunities for Soldiers and gives Employers and the Army Reserve a highly capable Soldier-Employee who is trained, knowledgeable and experienced, and who contributes to both a robust national economy and to the defense of our Nation. Together, the Army Reserve and Employers are working to enhance the skills and career opportunities for Soldiers and to keep our Nation strong – militarily and economically.

Army Reserve Communications Experience
--Army Reserve Soldiers gain extensive real world experience in every aspect of communications and public affairs. Soldiers use their communications skills to promote Army Reserve activities at home and overseas via print, broadcast and online media. They facilitate media interviews; coordinate community events; create online publications with desktop publishing software; conduct media training; research, prepare and disseminate information through news releases, radio and TV products; create podcasts and multi-media products; credential and escort members of the press; and create and post content for social media sites.
--When not in uniform, Army Reserve communications professionals use their tangible skills in a wide array of corporate and non-profit careers including advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, event management, radio and TV production and announcing, reporting, writing, editing, broadcast and sound engineering technician, photography, media relations, video camera operation, editing and desktop publishing.
--The hands-on experience and training gained in the Army Reserve provides Soldiers with invaluable learning opportunities, giving Soldiers a competitive edge in the civilian job market.
--The Army Reserve contributes to the Army’s total force by providing about one-third of all communications and public affairs expertise.

Business Incentives for Employer Partners
--No-cost link to the dynamic Army Reserve workforce.
--Potential to reduce recruiting costs. Army Reserve Soldiers undergo a thorough screening process which includes medical evaluation, aptitude testing, background checks and drug screening.
--Potential to trim training costs. Army Reserve Soldiers receive rigorous training at military schools before they are awarded their military occupational specialty, which translates into the skills Employers need.
--Employers benefit from the additional training, professional development and hands-on experience that Soldiers bring to the civilian workplace.
--Personal involvement from Army Reserve senior leaders who will work with business executives to tailor a partnership that meets company staffing goals.

(1) Source: US Department of Labor, 2006-2016 Occupational Employment Projections, National Employment Matrix