Ready Reserve Commander Loves a Challenge

The Public Affairs Office (PAO) recently interviewed Lt. Col. Ismael J. Rodriguez, Commander of the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Ready Reserve.

Lt. Col. Rodriguez retired from the U.S. Army. While in the Army, he served in field artillery before he transferred to the Army’s military police unit.

Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) Lt. Col. Ismael Rodriguez (right) is Commander of the GSDF Ready Reserve.

PAO: What is Ready Reserve?

Lt. Col. Rodriguez: Soldiers in the Ready Reserve are unable to maintain full-time active status for various reasons. However, they can be available during emergency call-ups. Ready Reserve also provides entry in the GSDF for prior military service applicants with valuable skills, who possess rank for which there is no available GSDF Table of Allowance Vacancy.

PAO: How do Ready Reserve Soldiers serve the GSDF?

Lt. Col. Rodriguez: The Ready Reserve promotes the best interests of the GSDF in that the Ready Reserve allows for retention, in an organized structure, of trained and skilled Soldiers.

PAO: What is your vision for Ready Reserve?

Lt. Col. Rodriguez: As Commander of Ready Reserve, my vision is to establish teamwork. With healthy teamwork comes confidence in the personnel who form the unit. I believe that being an officer/noncommissioned officer assigned in any capacity to work with troops is a privilege. One should accept that responsibility with a determination to succeed.

Lt. Col. Rodriguez as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1978.

PAO: When did you join the GSDF?

Lt. Col. Rodriguez: I joined the GSDF in February 2011.

PAO: Where in the GSDF did you serve prior to Ready Reserve?

Lt. Col. Rodriguez: I previously served in the 76th Support Brigade.

PAO: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Lt. Col. Rodriguez: This Command will be challenging, but I love a challenge!