Joining the Army Reserve can take to many places and give you many experiences

Army Reserve Officer 1st. Lt. Anthony Loween

1^st Lt. Anthony Loween is a 37-year-old Army Reserve Operations Officer stationed at the Columbia Recruiting Battalion at Ft. Jackson, S.C. The Battalion covers all of South Carolina, Western North Carolina and the Augusta, Ga. Area.

Why did you join the Army?

I decided to join the Army in my senior year of college.  While my peers were looking for teaching jobs, I felt I wanted to do something of greater significance for the nation.   I grew up in a rural town in Minnesota and went to college in the Twin Cities area.  During high school, a friend had invited me to join him when he was meeting an Army Recruiter. I was not interested in joining the service then.

Tell us about your Army jobs.

I enlisted in the Army and chose to be an infantryman on active duty. Later, I moved to the Army National Guard and served a Recruiting and Retention Non Commissioned Officer and then as a Supply Specialist.   

After a short break in service, I returned to duty but with the Army Reserve.  I was commissioned as an Adjutant General Officer in April of 2011. My first assignment was the Platoon Leader in Human Resource Company and subsequently served as the Executive Officer of that same company.  During this time I was deployed with a satellite cell of Medical Evaluation Board/ Physical Evaluation Board and worked with the case managers. 

As that tour ended, I was invited to the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) program with an initial tour of serving as the Army Reserve Operations Officer for the Columbia Recruiting Battalion. This position requires me to be the subject matter expert for the Army Reserve Recruiting process.  There is a steep learning curve.  I want to ensure the public knows the benefits of joining the Army Reserve and all the programs available to a person. I also work with all Army Reserve units in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina to keep abreast of their manning needs.  As we draw down our Regular Army slots, the global situation still requires a strong U.S. military presence.  More than ever, we need the Army Reserve to be at full strength and I am here to work to make that a reality.

What do you want to accomplish in the Army?

My hope is to be a competent leader who inspires those whom I come in contact with.  My aim is to walk the balance of being a leader who cares for his Soldiers and expeditiously knocks out any mission I am given.

Tell us one Army experience.

It’s pretty difficult to nail it down to one experience.   There have been many and they are quite varied.  Mainly, I enjoy is working with Soldiers.  No matter what level I find myself, I count it a privilege and a blessing to serve with those who serve the Nation.