UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

DIRECT SUPPORT COMPANY

INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT BATTALION
7 NORTH SNOWMASS STREET BUILDING 1301 STOP 2
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE AURORA CO 80011-9599
IN REPLY REFER TO

1000
Initials
06 May 21
Name EDIPI
From: Chief Warrant Officer (2) /0205
To: Officer Selection Board, United States Air Force

Subj: LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR STAFF SERGEANT NICHOLAS C. REITHMAIER

/0231
EDIPI
1. I wholeheartedly recommend Staff Sergeant Nicholas C. Reithmaier for a
commission in the United States Air Force Medical Service Corps (MSC). For
the last 18 months, November 2019 to May 2021, he served as the staff non-
commissioned officer-in-charge (SNCOIC) for a 35-person multi-intelligence
discipline Direct Support Team (DST-5), Direct Support Company (DSCO) while I
served as the acting officer-in-charge (OIC).

2. In November 2019, he joined the unit after completing a Joint combat

deployment where he served as an intelligence analyst and received accolades
from the commanding general. He immediately integrated with DST leadership
and took initiative to develop training plans for the detachment’s drill
weekends. He navigated the detachment of 35 Marines through an unprecedented
persistent pandemic environment caused by the Coronavirus disease of 2019
(COVID-19). The travel restrictions enacted due to COVID-19 forced the
Reserve Component to intermittently drill virtually for over a year. He
coordinated with the Inspector and Instructor (I&I) staff to bring the
detachment up to near full medical and dental readiness despite the COVID-19
environment while simultaneously providing comprehensive intelligence
training for the junior Marines.

a. As soon as the COVID-19 outbreak occurred, he recommended and tested

the Defense Collaboration Service (DCS) conferencing system with the
detachment’s OIC ahead of the first virtual drill. DCS’s capabilities
allowed the detachment to communicate via phone and screenshare across five
different states and two time zones while allowing the detachment to process
unclassified For Official Use Only (FOUO) information. He provided detailed
guidance to the detachment ahead of the first virtual drill, including
communications backup plans and troubleshooting instructions. He effectively
led and managed each telework session by consistently applying Marine Corps
best practices, such as maintaining accountability through roll call and
reviewing timelines, events, and tasks. This freed the detachment OIC’s
drill periods to focus on unit planning and coordinating future drills with
company leadership.

b. Staff Sergeant Reithmaier increased and maintained detachment

readiness to over 90% throughout the persistent pandemic environment. He
converted training requirements into customized telework logs ahead of each
drill that clearly laid out for each of the 35 Marines in the detachment what
trainings they had to do, the venue they had to do it, and when the training
was being held. He included the websites and course numbers for web -based
training, and conference numbers/passcodes for phone -based training. This
collectively saved the detachment’s personnel 50 hours each month by
eliminating their need to sift thru rosters to determine what training they
needed to do and then plan their daily schedules. He regularly solicited
feedback from the detachment on the drill weekends, adjusting as needed and
Subj: LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR STAFF SERGEANT NICHOLAS C. REITHMAIER
/0231
EDIPI
passing recommendations to higher. The detachment’s members have
consistently stated how they know exactly where to be, when, and what to do.

c. Staff Sergeant Reithmaier developed customized intelligence training

for the detachment during the virtual telework drills. In June 2020’s
virtual drill weekend, he developed a reading selection from a list that
Marine Corps University recommends Marines use to learn about intelligence.
These readings explained the structure of the Intelligence Community (IC),
the roles/missions/capabilities of each IC member, and described the
intricacies of each intelligence discipline. In September 2020’s hybrid
virtual/in-person he developed a training curriculum that focused on real-
world applications of intelligence. Each detachment member selected a Joint
Publication for a mission type that Department of Defense (DoD) conducts,
researched how intelligence supports that mission, and then presented their
research to the detachment. This both showed the junior Marines how to
navigate official doctrine and allowed them to practice with a problem set
they could be called to support as intel analysts.

3. Staff Sergeant Reithmaier consistently displays the highest levels of

professionalism in interacting with both the junior and senior leadership.
That professionalism directly boosts morale and contributes to DST-5 becoming
the model detachment for the entire company. He demonstrates a well-spoken
and articulate communication approach for junior Marines to emulate—an
attribute particularly important in the intelligence field where credibility
is influenced by ability to communicate. His uniform respect for all ranks
causes the Junior Marines to feel as if they are teammates with an equal
stake in the mission’s outcome, directly contributing to the detachment’s
morale and mission readiness.

4. Staff Sergeant Reithmaier’s artful problem solving, technical competency,

and dedication to professionalism are a model for military professionals of
all grades to emulate. No matter the setting, deployed or in garrison, he is
a proven leader demonstrating a holistic understanding of DoD’s structure and
missions, advanced force readiness, and creatively employing technology to
achieve commander’s intent never losing sight of troop welfare. These
qualities are vital for an officer to effectively lead to help achieve our
nation’s objectives. It is for these reasons I wholeheartedly recommend him
for a commission as a USAF MSC officer.
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5. I can be reached at or regarding
this recommendation.
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