Week 3:

The week consisted of giving my presentation to LTG (R) Foley of the business case that was presented to me to improve AER's mailing system. After briefing the COL(R) multiple times, I essentially had my presentation memorized and I was really comfortable and confident when I presented it. LTG(R) Foley was impressed and without hesitation stated that they will implement my recommended improvements. I was able to answer questions confidently and engage in discussion with the panel in which I presented it to. LTG(R) Foley noted how my efforts will have meaningful and lasting benefits in AER’s ability to care for Soldiers and their Families.

My next task this week was to create a key control log. There were SO many keys! The organization had just moved into a new office and there was literally a key for everything. COL(R) Mullis explained the importance of key control to me; when he was a 1LT there was an incident in which he could have been relieved of duty but they key control log saved him for he signed his keys back in before he had left for TDY. They ended up being very impressed with the key control log and my key box due to the quality of the products. I was very happy with what I had created for them and it proved to be effective 2 days after it was put in place when someone had locked their keys in the production room. Instead of the boss having to come all the way back to the office, he was able to tell the employ where she had to go to find the spare key for the production room and she was able to get her keys so she could leave the office.

Week 4:

My last task while I was at AER was to compare AER to other organizations that provide financial assistance to soldiers. I was asked to do this due to the fact that AER's annual total of help given to soldiers dipped a little from the previous years and I was asked to look up organizations that were top competitors to AER. In my findings there are lots of organizations reaching out to soldiers but none of them can even compare to the financial foundation and stability that AER has. The top competing organization had $16 million in total assets where as AER has $265 million in total assets.

One thing that I enjoyed was "networking" with big brass. I met the Commanding General for the Warrior Transition Command and I ate dinner with him and a bunch of his staff of LTCs and COLs It was nice to talk to a bunch of old grads and talk about the new and "improved" corps. They gave me a hard time but I was able to keep my composure and roll with the punches.

Overall, I can’t say that working with AER was a great learning experience, but it was a great experience in that I had a great time with my co-workers in the IT pod and I enjoyed the little perks such as visiting the pentagon and working at an AER section for a day!