V Corps Soldier turns words into a thousand pictures
Staff Sgt. Brandon Pomrenke, ISAF Joint Command Public Affairs
May 10, 2011
Sgt. Michael Reinsch, a V Corps public affairs specialist currently deployed to Afghanistan, sets up the video camera that will be used to film deployed parents reading to their children back home. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Pomrenke)
KABUL, Afghanistan – Unlike many journalists who just write, photograph or shoot video, one military journalist has found a unique way to keep deployed service members in contact with their loved ones back home.
Sgt. Michael L. Reinsch, a military journalist assigned to V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany, believes he joined the military through a short series of coincidences beyond his control.
“A series of random coincidences led me to join the Army,” Reinsch explained. “I hopped on the wrong bus one day and met this girl. She said she was going to her recruiter’s office and that she would give me a ride home because she left her car there. So, we showed up there and I met her recruiter, Sgt. Smith, who worked with a friend of mine who was in the military. It was series of coincidences that I couldn’t ignore.”
Upon his arrival into Afghanistan, Reinsch realized that although many great projects were happening throughout the country, several coalition troops and nations had no idea what kind of work their people were doing. He felt that his writing skill and desire to do his job could help make a change.
“In this war, for example, I can’t count how many times I’ve gone somewhere and they will have built a school for 300 or more kids and nobody knows about it, because it hasn’t been written about yet.”
Reinsch not only works to keep families, the military community and the public informed, but connected, too.
Shortly after his arrival to IJC, another opportunity presented itself. The soldier in charge of United Through Reading was heading home and the program needed a new leader. Reinsch decided this, too, was a chance to make a difference. He took on what some refer to as “The Read-A-Book” program to help service members get in touch with their families back home.
He keeps them connected through reading. With the United Through Reading program, deployed personnel can film themselves reading a book to their children and use any leftover time to tell their children about their day or to share stories about their time deployed. Reinsch then gives them the book and the DVD so they can ship them home for the child’s enjoyment.
“When I took control of the United Through Reading program here, it was kind of in a bad way,” he explained. “There were only about 20 or 30 books and not many compact disks.”
Reinsch didn’t let the challenge stop him, though.
“I took it as a challenge to make it right again because I’ve got a son at home and I know how much other people must miss their children,” Reinsch explained. “I wanted to do something for the rest of the people. So, I started sending out a bunch of fliers for book donations (which now number approximately 400) and people to sign up and got back in contact with the United Through Reading people.”
Petty Officer 1st Class Hueming Mui, a U.S. Navy mass communications specialist in the IJC Public Affairs Office, also works with Reinsch to streamline the United Trough Reading program.
“The best part is helping service members connect with their family, especially their kids,” said Mui.
With his contacts made and the information steadily flowing to the people of ISAF Joint Command, Reinsch’s new and improved United Through Reading program took off.
“I’m still working on trying to get more people from other nations, which has been working really well because I’ve already had a Romanian and a Belgian that keep coming back,” Reinsch explained about the multinational aspect of the program. “There are about three or four regulars that continuously fill some of the 10 slots each week. If I could get more people, I would like to have [the program] two times a week, or possibly bring it out to other posts.”
The desire to help others is what helps to build Reinsch’s reputation among his peers.
“He’s very enthusiastic about [the program],” explained Mui. “He’s happy to give out the books and set up the video. Reinsch has even helped with buying DVD’s out of his own pocket.”
For Reinsch, the job is never finished. He currently edits the Hamkari online magazine which, under his creative control, has now reached the different Regional Commands of IJC. He continues to write, photograph and connect all the nation’s troops with their families.
“I never do anything like this because I want something out of it or because it makes me feel good,” Reinsch said. “I feel compelled to do it. It’s like an innate need to help people as much as possible.”
Chance brought Reinsch into the military and opportunity led him to help service members in a new way - connecting with their families.
For more information on the United Through Reading program or how you can donate books, time or equipment, please contact Sgt. Michael Reinsch at DSN 318-449-9151.