General reconnects with local communities
Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Daniel Christian of Fort Eustis, Virginia, formerly of Lansingburgh, returned to the Capital Region not for reunions but for several important military missions as well as to reconnect with communities. The general is the son of the late Joseph and Marilyn Christian of Troy.
As an Army Training and Doctrine Command representative, the Lasalle Institute, Troy, graduate, was on a “March to Service” mission as he connected with Albany, Troy, Saratoga Springs and other communities, veterans’ organizations, civic affairs and business leaders, government leaders, law enforcement representatives, schools and colleges.
His objectives included encouragement of recruit prospects to consider making Army duty a career, encouragement of corporations and businesses to hire veterans as they leave active duty and encouragement of veterans to be “soldiers for life” through volunteerism and community service.
Christian tells “the Army story” and the job and career opportunities in that service, as well the availability of the Partnership for Youth Success program, jobs programs and programs to transition soldiers back to civilian life.
“There are more than 9,400 different jobs (military occupation specialties),
including in cyber and other newer fields,” he tells his listeners. He also encourages corporations and businesses to participate in programs that help soldiers become veterans and make a smooth transition into civilian society.
“There are opportunities (for businesses) to do a better job to help soldiers to transit back to civilian community,” Christian said. “We are trying to find more businesses and corporations that have a passion to hire veterans as a way to bring veterans back to the tricounty area. Soldiers for life can and do contribute through volunteerism and can be recruiters.”
Christian, an Iraq War veteran, currently serves as deputy chief of staff of the Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
Christian’s and other TRDOC leaders’ missions include recruiting and training soldiers, developing leaders, guiding soldiers through Army doctrine and shaping the Army by integrating formations, capabilities and materiel as well as overseeing 32 schools, according to Christian.
A connection that existed before the pandemic had been lost, in part, according to Greg Mueller, Army Training and Doctrine Command spokesman.
“Because of the pandemic there haven’t been face-to-face meetings with potential recruits,” Mueller said. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Army has found it more challenging to interact with young adults who are eligible to serve their country. In some instances,
we have lost the close partnerships that we had with cities and towns across the nation. But now the Army is working to reestablish those relations to ensure we bring in the right people needed to defend the nation.”
But, recruiters were able to talk with prospects online and via telecommuting, Christian said.
Mueller said the timing of Christian’s visit is just right.
“With high school and college graduation approaching and young people looking for careers after they finish school, our goal is to have them at least consider service in the Army as a job option,” he added.
Christian spent several days visiting Lasalle Institute, Christian Brothers Academy in Colonie, a Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps program at Siena College in Loudonville, a Junior ROTC program at Albany High School, a military processing station in Albany, radio stations and other sites to remind folks of opportunities in the Army and how business and civic leaders can help with a soldier’s transition from duty to civilian life.
Christian began his military career 41 years ago. He earned his commission as an engineer officer through a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at Niagara University. Christian was the Distinguished Military Graduate of the ROTC program at Niagara University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in computer and information sciences. He earned a Master of Arts in strategic studies from the Army
War College and a master’s in organizational leadership at Regis University, Colorado.
He previously served as deputy commander of the Sustainment of the 8th Army in South Korea. He is a former commander of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and commander of the 95th Training Division, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He also served with the 108th Training Command as the chief of staff and deputy chief of staff in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a former commander of the Fourth Brigade of the 98th Division (Training) in Buffalo and executive officer and deputy chief of staff of the 98th Division in Rochester.
He has earned three Legion of Merits Medals, a Bronze Star Medal, seven Meritorious Service Medals, an Army Commendation Medal with combat “V” device for valor, another Army Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, nine Army Reserve Components Achievement Medals, a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, a Combat Action Badge, an 18th Airborne Corps Combat Service Badge, and a German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency.
As a civilian, he is vice president (information technology) for AAA Cooper Transportation, Alabama, a private national transportation carrier.