Washington (Army News Service, Dec. 16, 1998) -- There's an old saying in south Louisiana that is meant as a compliment and that is to say someone has "an old heart." It's an old French compliment meaning a person does what is right, for the love of the job or service provided, simply because that person cares.

I think active component leaders need to remember National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers work much harder than the phrase "weekend warrior" implies. They love what they do and find the utmost honor in what they represent. Most reservists only want to be respected and appreciated for their commitment and service. Therefore, they serve with an "old heart."

Up front I should say that I am the active-component lieutenant colonel who commanded the 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery of the Louisiana National Guard in New Orleans, La. That tour of duty was the only Reserve Component experience I have had, and I feel obligated to share some of my lessons learned with my peers.

National Guard and Reserve soldiers do not serve for the glory; we in the active component will make sure that doesn't happen. And, it is not for the money; we in the active force, if any, should realize monetary inspiration isn't enough. It is for the love of country.

The purpose of this article is to influence the way active soldiers think about Reserve service. This issue is important because the day is past when young active-duty officers think that they can serve 20 years and never serve with or around the Reserve Component. These young warriors need to realize that the study of that piece of our profession of arms deserves as much work as learning to synchronize a movement to contact. When our Army fights the next battle, it will be "One Army, One Fight," so everyone might as will accept it, study how reserve units work and professionally prepare.

Often my active-duty peers associate the time spent working on a project as a tool to judge how much someone cares about their work and as a measurement of their professionalism. As a member of the active force it is often transparent that the Reserve Component soldier/leader usually has a full-time civilian boss, possibly the CEO who may be as demanding of him as any military commander. That same CEO may expect him or her (your soldier) to work on weekends or late into the night on a special project - gosh!

That hard-charging employee who exhibits that work ethic in the civilian sector is exactly the type of soldier you want in your unit. He or she will make the impossible happen routinely! Yet, we tend to forget it is that Guardsman's civilian job (not the military) that provides the compensation which maintains a roof over his family's head and puts food on the table.

Reservists are often those hard-charging individuals, who in addition to an already demanding schedule, also have committed to an active participation in a Guard or Army Reserve unit.

In addition to their civilian jobs, reservists may be called upon at any time to ensure that training is properly prepared for, complete administrative and logistics duties, or to do other tasks which would be considered everyday operations in active component. Although additional meetings are required (which usually occurs at least twice a month and after work), they often involve no pay or compensation. Furthermore, their leaders are still required to maintain the same standards as their active-duty counterparts.

We must also recognize that Reserve Component leaders must complete required Army courses of instruction to advance (OAC, CGSC, BNCOC and ANCOC), participate in state and higher headquarters (MACOM or Brigade) drill weekends, community relations, recruiting and retention, and emergency/disaster relief exercises. These responsibilities further tax the traditional one-weekend a month concept, and we have not begun to explore what they may be required to accomplish at home.

Some of these non-drill status requirements may include, but are not limited to, correspondence, other classes, numerous e-mail and phone messages. And, we should remember that most do not receive additional drill pay, are not considered 24-hour/seven-day-a-week soldiers, nor do they demand the compensation that any business would consider them well deserving.

We all have held up our right hand, and history has provided us proof that each component has made an equitable sacrifice. Therefore, a Guard member or reservist equally deserves the same treatment as any other soldier wearing the uniform. "One Army, One Fight" and "Seamless Force" remain key phrases in the U.S. Army. Why? Because the patch that adorns a soldiers' shoulder at the time of our country's call has no relevance to the level of competence for which our Total Army demands.

While enroute to my command I often heard from peers that this was going to be a "high quality of life" duty, meaning not very hard. However, it didn't take long for me to figure how far that was from the truth. Some of us in the active component don't know how much it costs to be a member in the Reserve Component. Like having to drive 100 miles to a weekend drill, pay for a hotel room and drive home Sunday. In some cases their individual OPTEMPO is much higher than their active-force counterparts.

In all fairness, I must point out that active-duty leaders also want what is best for the force. Those Army officers on the Joint Staff are able to rise above service parochialism and make the right decision. This is exhibited in the Joint Staff where Army officers are known to often make decisions based on what is best for the armed forces, not what is best for the Army, their service.

In the joint world, soldiers are often a few degrees more purple than the other services, even if that is to the detriment of the Army but in the interest of the "Total Force." It also needs to be clear that the Army senior leadership supports that attitude; it is the right thing to do. This same philosophy is carried over to active-duty leaders working with the Reserve Component; they also have an "old heart" and want to do the right "Total Army" thing and not just take an AC position.

I cannot say I have the answers to current funding concerns or even suggestions on how to make hard decisions easier. But one thing is certain: Freedom is not free. The Reserve Component has sworn to the ultimate commitment and has demonstrated a readiness and willingness to serve. In return, this Army and country should meet that same level of commitment. Do we not owe them as much in return?

(Editor's note: The author of the following commentary, Lt. Col. John Hennigan Jr., recently finished a tour as the first active-component commander of a National Guard battalion. He now serves in Army DCSOPS at the Pentagon. The battalion he commanded until Oct. 18 was part of the 256th Enhanced Brigade which had been activated during Desert Shield.)