Who We Serve

America is preserved by the best military in history . . .

Yet it is a thin line, an all-volunteer force comprising less than one percent of those it serves. It is over-committed, underfunded, and increasingly isolated from the very people it safeguards. The Reserve and Guard stand shoulder to shoulder along that line, providing nearly half the nation’s armed forces. Proven in battle, nearly a million have mobilized since 9/11; more than 1,200 have made the ultimate sacrifice in that fight. Theirs is a total commitment to America; to leave all they love to defend the nation they love.

Lieutenant Carl Aguilera, USAR of Boise, Idaho, enlisted in the Army four years ago. A move he describes as the best thing (he) ever did. As if that wasn’t enough, the 35-year-old father of four has maintained his civilian job in the financial services industry. The pressure to keep pace at home, in the workplace and on the battlefield can be overwhelming. That’s when LT Aguilera attended a STARS Foundation sponsored seminar and was able to get the resources he needed to help balance his life in and out of uniform.

“I’m a believer that people can help you get to where you want to be. The networking opportunities I’ve made with the help of the STARS Foundation got me here and I’ve been blown away by STARS, ROA and this event.”

Major Gerald Bolden, USAR of Chicago, Illinois, spent fourteen years on active duty before transitioning to the Army Reserve. Although he’s spent the better part of the last two decades in uniform he’s just beginning to understand the unique challenges associated with Reserve duty. As those challenges begin to add up, that’s where the STARS Foundation gave MAJ Bolden the resources he needed to navigate his new career as a citizen warrior.

“It gave junior officers access to leaders, we were able to get high-level questions answered through first-hand access. ROA and STARS is a resource that I didn’t even know I had. ROA is an awesome organization and this is the kind of forum that allows you to address particular issues unique to Reservists.”

Major Nicole Mitchell, USAFR of Minnesota, has spent 20 years in the Air Force. In her civilian career, Major Mitchell worked as an on-camera meteorologist for The Weather Channel for 7 years. When she was fired from her job, Major Mitchell was referred by a friend to the Service Members Law Center and found a wealth of information on the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).

“I came across CAPT Wright’s law reviews, specifically the ones that dealt with USERRA. They were helpful because I didn’t know what to expect (in the process of the case. It was great to have a personal connection with ROA; it provided a great system of support.”

Join us! We can make a difference when we Stand Together for America’s Reservists!

For more information, levels of support and sponsor benefits, please contact us at (800) 809-9448 or roainfo@roa.org.

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