Veteran reservist maintains global view
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (USTCNS) --- Lt. Col. Edmund Capas has no problem maintaining a global perspective.
The veteran Individual Mobilization Augmentee officer with the 598th Transportation Group is his own recruiting poster image of the U.S. Army deployed overseas.
Capas, who completed his sixth tour with the group Dec. 13, has seen more of the Army's global missions than most soldiers.
Consider. After four years in the Army, Capas has now had 35 tours of duty since 1981 - including four Presidential Reserve Call-ups. Those callups include Bayonne, N.J., in 1990 to support Operation Desert Storm and the Pentagon in 1995 to support Haiti humanitarian assistance.
Later call-ups to the 598th were to support operations for Bosnia in 1999 and for Kosovo in 2000.
Capas has been the Senior Reserve Affairs Advisor for the command. In this position he manages the group's 400 Reservists. During a time of crisis, the Reservists would assist in special operations where needed.
"To get these Reserve individuals and units prepared is an intensive task," said Capas. "The main part of it is to make sure there is constant communication between them and the 598th Transportation Group.
"This is important because of the constant changes in personnel."
Constant preparation and organization are required, said Capas, to ensure success with any mission that is ordered.
In his last three successive tours of duty at the command, Capas has managed approximately 55 individual Reservists, mostly IMAs. He was also responsible for overseas training for two of the command's aligned Reserve units.
"The Individual Mobilization Augmentee program is by far the best program that the U.S. Army Reserves has to offer for dedicated Reserve soldiers who need maximum flexibility in balancing their civilian and military careers," said Capas.
As Capas returns to civilian duty, he will retain his global perspective.
Capas has a multi-dimensional life. He teaches English at the University of Siauliai in Lithuania and maintains a home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Of Lithuanian heritage, Capas will go back to writing articles and philosophical commentaries about the centuries old culture and post Soviet lifestyle of present-day Lithuania. The articles will appear in several newspapers, both in Lithuania and the United States.
But, most importantly, after six months of duty with the 598th Transportation Group, Capas is mostly looking forward to seeing his wife and two daughters. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
The veteran Individual Mobilization Augmentee officer with the 598th Transportation Group is his own recruiting poster image of the U.S. Army deployed overseas.
Capas, who completed his sixth tour with the group Dec. 13, has seen more of the Army's global missions than most soldiers.
Consider. After four years in the Army, Capas has now had 35 tours of duty since 1981 - including four Presidential Reserve Call-ups. Those callups include Bayonne, N.J., in 1990 to support Operation Desert Storm and the Pentagon in 1995 to support Haiti humanitarian assistance.
Later call-ups to the 598th were to support operations for Bosnia in 1999 and for Kosovo in 2000.
Capas has been the Senior Reserve Affairs Advisor for the command. In this position he manages the group's 400 Reservists. During a time of crisis, the Reservists would assist in special operations where needed.
"To get these Reserve individuals and units prepared is an intensive task," said Capas. "The main part of it is to make sure there is constant communication between them and the 598th Transportation Group.
"This is important because of the constant changes in personnel."
Constant preparation and organization are required, said Capas, to ensure success with any mission that is ordered.
In his last three successive tours of duty at the command, Capas has managed approximately 55 individual Reservists, mostly IMAs. He was also responsible for overseas training for two of the command's aligned Reserve units.
"The Individual Mobilization Augmentee program is by far the best program that the U.S. Army Reserves has to offer for dedicated Reserve soldiers who need maximum flexibility in balancing their civilian and military careers," said Capas.
As Capas returns to civilian duty, he will retain his global perspective.
Capas has a multi-dimensional life. He teaches English at the University of Siauliai in Lithuania and maintains a home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Of Lithuanian heritage, Capas will go back to writing articles and philosophical commentaries about the centuries old culture and post Soviet lifestyle of present-day Lithuania. The articles will appear in several newspapers, both in Lithuania and the United States.
But, most importantly, after six months of duty with the 598th Transportation Group, Capas is mostly looking forward to seeing his wife and two daughters. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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