Major General Luis R. Visot has been in the military for more than 31 years. The two-star general commutes between Tampa and New Orleans, and is the senior logistics commander in the U.S. Army Reserve.
With 44,000 U.S. soldiers under his command, Visot has plenty to stress over. Yet, he doesn't.
With nerves of steel, a soft voice and Colgate smile, Visot handles the needs of 44,000 soldiers in 40 states and 4 countries! "I take care of everything from beans to bullets," laughs Visot, the commanding general of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command.
He's a logistician, the ultimate expert on everything from food, fuel, to fatigues. But don't assume he's at his best behind a desk. Visot has served two 1-year deployments in Iraq and Kuwait in 2003 & 2007 and would do so again if called to serve.
"We are responsible for receiving the troops and their equipment from all services (branches of the U.S. military) and from our Allied partners," says Visot. "Having this responsibility was a tremendous challenge at the beginning of the war as we established operating bases, secured the lines of communication, and built our supply stocks. We were committed to ensuring the troops had all the supplies, materials, and equipment they needed to successfully accomplish their mission. We have to be thankful every day for the quality of life we are blessed to enjoy in the United States."
Here at home, he's also the Executive Director of the Joint Military Science Leadership Center at the University of South Florida. The center on the main campus of USF in Tampa educates more than 520 ROTC students, training them in the art of maneuvering between the cultures of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
For this veteran with 4 medals, including a bronze star, it's a dream job, 2 dream jobs! His love for the armed forces is equal to his passion for meeting the troops and their families.
"The one defining moment in my 31 years of service to our nation was when I was selected to Command a Transportation Corps Battalion on active Duty. I was the first United States Army Reserve Transportation Officer to be selected to Command an Active Duty. This gave me an opportunity to be with soldiers and their families on a full-time basis," says Visot, referring to some of the soldiers as "friends for life". "It was quite an honor to be able to serve with these great Americans," he says.
Visot will be joining ABC Action News at Noon on Tuesday, November 11th, for a Veteran's Day Salute on Positively Tampa Bay.
Talking about the upcoming television interview, it's easy to see he's more comfortable talking about other veterans and what we can do as a community to help today’s wounded veterans returning from war. Borrowing a phrase from the chief of the Association of the U.S. Army, Visot declares "saying 'Thank you for your service' is no longer enough".
"Every day I realize more and more that our nation is a very grateful nation. As we all know, the challenges and battles continue for many upon their return to the United States. They need the support, assistance, encouragement, and love from the community. These are the fine men and women, America's greatest asset, who have selflessly and faithfully served our Nation," says Visot.
"Veterans Day is set aside to thank and honor all men and women who served honorably in the military, in wartime or in peacetime. Above all, we must be mindful of the wounded warriors and their families as they travel through the challenges of recovery and rehabilitation towards well-being," says Visot, emphasizing the importance of job re-training programs, medical treatment and research of traumatic brain injuries and assistance programs for employers with workers deployed.
For more with Major Visot, tune in to Positively Tampa Bay on November 11th on ABC Action News at noon.
Did you know: The Veteran's Day holiday goes back 90 years to then U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. On November 11, 1919, President Wilson proclaimed it as 'Armistice Day'.
