European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 12, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday november 12, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 3a reservist counts his blessings weekend Warrior proud of second career Sas eth Buthen pinning insignia on sgt. 1st class Nathan Hon in Are Milf. Gen. Roger Sander left and Brig. Gen. Richard Dirgins. By Effie Bathen Nurnberg Bureau i Hillesheim Germany a Nathan i Henry left the army almost 10 years ago. He did no to think head Ever see the Day head make the rank of sergeant first class in the reserves. He also never thought that the people pinning the insignia on his Collar would be two generals a one of them with two stars. A it Felt heavy a said Henry sporting his new stripes after a recent ceremony honouring him and others in his army Reserve unit at a Lesheim a Storck Barracks. A so called a weekend Warrior a he is with the 166th combat aviation regt one of 19 army Reserve units in Germany. Three others Are in Italy and the United kingdom. A a reservist has the Best of both worlds a said Henry who is one of 715 civilians in Europe who Are part time soldiers. Reservists from All ranks attended the party that followed the ceremony. They munched meatballs on cellophane feathered toothpicks and sipped White wine. Many at one table said they had never even seen a general when they were in the regular army. A i wanted to be around americans a Little bit a said Henry whose unit includes a wide Range of jobs such As Reserve pilots Drivers and personnel clerks. A you can actually be a civilian and military at the same  he joined the reserves because it also meant a second career working in the personnel Field extra income and flexibility he said. The former infantryman did no to find Many Job opportunities in his Hometown of Shreveport la., in 1982 when he left Active duty. So he returned to Germany because it had a More secure retirement system he said. Now 37, he has been with the reserves seven years and has a German wife and two children. In civilian life he works As a Mechanic for a German electrical firm in nearby Rothenburg of Der Tauber he a luckier than most reservists who sometimes become a Road warriors with Long commutes to their two Day a month jobs a and sometimes longer for their two week full time duty once a year. Henry left the regular army a frustrated with the system a he said. His career with the reserves also got off to a Rocky Start. But he received encouragement from Brig. Gen. Richard Dirgins commander of the 7th army Reserve come a one of the men who pinned on his new stripes that Day. Dirgins took the time to talk to Henry a few years ago about working for promotions. A a he a my inspiration Henry said. People join the reserves for a pay patriotism and camaraderie a Dirgins told the stars and stripes at the reception. Regrettably the part time brigadier general said Many people do not know that there is a Reserve program in Europe since the organization does not have an Active recruiting program. Those who join usually hear about it through word of Mouth or while out processing from Active duty. Also the current troop withdrawals will probably cause the number of reservists to decline said Dirgins who is an investment Counselor in civilian life. Unlike Henry nearly two thirds of the 7th army Reserve Comdr a reservists in Europe work full time for Dod or government contractors or Are married to someone on Active duty. As that Force shrinks so will the Reserve Rolls he said. A we expect to see a 50 to 60 percent  but More . Companies arc coming to set up shop in Europe because of the change in political climate he said a and so will More reservists he Hopes. Worldwide reservists May number As much As 75,000 to 100,000 greater than the Active Force someday said maj. Gen. Roger Sandler full time commander of the . Army Reserve come and the chief of army reserves from Washington. His Stop at the Hillesheim unit was part of a tour of european Reserve units and talks with army commanders. Congress is not reducing the budget for reserves a much at ally in 1992, Sandler said. Reservists Are a considered less expensive to maintain than Are their Active duty counterparts a he said. A you done to have the costs for dependents and things of that nature. And yet we can train up to the same standards depending upon the  indeed five Germany based units were deployed to the Middle East during the persian Gulf War. In 1990, reservists from 22 units served in operation just cause in Panama. Half of the Hillesheim units 80 reservists were activated to help deploy in Lesheim a 11th aviation brigade to the persian Gulf. Although reservists average More than five years Active duty experience they do not need prior military service said sgt. Anne Marie Mcdonald 28, one of the unit personnel clerks. A a lot of dependent wives done to know they can do it a said Mcdonald whose Mother is in the National guard in the states. A it Breaks the stereotype that wives should be Home and women done to have any business in a Many a  the Mother of two children Ages 7 years and 18 months Mcdonald has been in the reserves nine years. She joined for the education and retirement benefits she said. A a it a the easiest Money i Ever  reservists can receive tuition assistance and after 20 years and reaching the age of 60, qualify for retirement benefits. Those who Drill for two Days each month get paid for four. But that did no to mean Mcdonald a role was easy. Her husband an Apache attack helicopter Pilot deployed to Turkey for six months. He was part of the american forces operation provide Comfort which helped with kurdish refugees after the persian Gulf War. That left her with the children an already scheduled move into government housing and a full time Reserve Job when another reservist deployed too. A it was the hardest thing i Ever did but it also gave me self gratification a she said. Quot i feel like in a doing 1 something for the country. I feel the Little i do Means . Travis Robinson 22, said he liked the army Reserve better than Active duly lie is a civilian warehouse worker from Lanau and a medic in the combat Reserve unit. Reservists Quot really want to be there a he said. A if i had to go to War the Bond Between us is different a he said As he was called Over to a group of his buddies who were mugging for photos with Dirgins. A yeah camaraderie a he said. And he snapped a photo of a weekend Friend a private shaking the european commanders hand. A lot of dependent wives Don t know they can do it join the reserves. It Breaks the stereotype that wives should be Home and women Don t have any business in a Man so sgt. Anne Marie Mcdonald