JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –
Christmas came early for one Army Reserve Citizen-Soldier who received a gift that will keep on giving for a lifetime.
Anthony Quattrone, a security specialist for the Army Reserve's 99th Regional Support Command headquartered here, was chosen to be part of a select group that would meet President Barack Obama during his visit here Dec. 15.
"This is something that I will be able to tell my children about," said Quattrone, who lives with his family in Deptford. "To say I was humbled is an understatement."
On the morning of the president's visit, Quattrone was assigned to answer phones and serve as the main civilian point of contact for the 99th RSC. After several hours of briefings and some uncertainty as to what exactly his role would be that day, the surprise was revealed.
"A member of the White House staff came in, and she said, 'I understand they've had you going through some training here, here's what you're going to be doing ... but instead of all that, how about we go meet the president!'" Quattrone explained.
He and his fellow selectees from units across the base were then led to the passenger terminal here before being escorted to the flight line where they awaited the president's arrival.
"To be there was a privilege," he said. "I've been fortunate enough to be close to Air Force One a few times, but never actually that close to the president, let alone to get a chance to shake his hand."
Quattrone was selected for this opportunity due to the work he has done not only as a member of the 99th RSC's Directorate of Emergency Services, but also as the lead for the command's new Operations Cell.
"It's always good to be rewarded for your work," said Quattrone, a Philadelphia native. "It really showed that some of the work I had been doing in this new Ops Cell did not go unrewarded."
In addition to working for the Army Reserve as a civilian, Sgt. 1st Class Quattrone serves as an intelligence analyst with 3rd Brigade, Atlantic Division, 75th Training Command here.
"For me as a military member, it was two-fold - not only did I get to meet our leader as a nation, I got to meet the leader of my armed forces," said Quattrone, who was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2004 and 2005.
As the new year approaches, Quattrone will continue to leverage his military and civilian skills, coupled with his training and experience, to add value to the Army Reserve and the Total Force.