Sisson: No higher calling than serving the American people

(This show originally aired May 6, 2015.)

This week on Women of Washington hosts Gigi Schumm and Aileen Black have a conversation with Barbara Sisson, assistant chief of the Army Reserve.

Sisson explained why it is important to keep investing in the Army Reserve as we wind down operations abroad.

“Over the last 10-15 years, we’ve built these incredible operational relationships.” she said. “And now that we have fewer deployments, the fear is that if sequestration holds and the budget comes down, we’ll lose that operational expertise and go back to being only a strategic force.”

“As an American taxpayer, we’ve made this investment, and we should continue this investment and not let it wither on the vine,” she said.

When asked if she would recommend working for the federal government to young people, Sisson said, “Yes, I highly encourage people. The benefits are great, and the education is fantastic. You’re going to work on a lot of exciting programs. I can’t think of a higher calling than to serve the American people.”

Sisson also talked about her background and said her mother inspired her to go into the military.

“My mother was a newlywed when [my father] left to go to war,” Sisson said. “And she always told me that if she had had the opportunity to serve, back in those days in the 1940s, she would have. So I think that was always in the back of my mind. Through my mother, I kind of got that love of service.”

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