clarksvillenow.com Reporting
Friends of the Army –
Tomorrow marks Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for our fellow Americans
who have fallen fighting our Nation’s wars. This day holds particular
importance to me as I remember the two hundred plus Soldiers assigned to
Combined Joint Task Force 101/101st Airborne Division that gave their lives
in 2010-2011. These fine Americans join the 2200-plus who have given their
lives in Afghanistan and the 4400-plus from Iraq in paying the ultimate
price for all of security and freedom that we enjoy every day. I pray this
day that those lives are remembered and valued for the contribution each
made to the security of the United States and to the future of Afghanistan.
Let us not forget that this is just the sacrifice of our generation. Our
brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents, also served our country in
previous conflicts. Many of you have these relatives that gave their lives
for our freedom in Germany, Japan, Korea or Vietnam. Thank you for that
sacrifice. They have not been forgotten.
The days in the Pentagon seem like “dog years”…all the ARSTAFF working
very hard to ensure that we provide the Chief and the SecArmy with the best
possible info to make the tough decisions that lay ahead for our
Army—budget, sequestration and keeping a pulse on the current fight…we
are an Army in transition as we look toward the future…the Army must
downsize 80K to 490K by FY17 and we must balance readiness, modernization
and end strength to ensure that we don’t hollow the force. The AC/RC mix,
future crucial programs like Ground Combat Vehicle and the network; upgrades
to helos; the Army profession and more keep us moving forward.
Recently much has been in the news about sexual assault/harassment…there
is absolutely no place in the Army for this…the Army is committed to the
safety and security of every Soldier, civilian, and family member…sexual
assault/harrassment is contrary to our Army Values and must not be
tolerated. The Chief sent a note to the force which included some of the
following…”Today, however, the Army is failing in its efforts to combat
sexual assault and sexual harassment. It is time we take on the fight
against sexual assault and sexual harassment as our primary mission. It is
up to every one of us, civilian and Soldier, general officer to private, to
solve this problem within our ranks…Our profession is built on the bedrock
of trust; sexual assault and sexual harassment betray that trust. They have
a corrosive effect on our unit readiness, team cohesion, good order and
discipline. We are entrusted with ensuring the health and welfare of
America’s sons and daughters. There are no bystanders in this effort. Our
Soldiers, their families, and the American people are counting on us to lead
the way in solving this problem within our ranks”.
Over the last couple weeks I have had the distinct honor to attend some
ceremonies that recognized great Americans that truly understand sacrifice
and make great contributions to us all on their behalf. On May 22nd, GEN
Odierno formally recognized five civilians at the Twilight Tattoo…honored
at the event included musician, actor and film director Gary Sinise;
businesswoman and real estate producer Kathleen Gagg; Fisher House
Foundation chairman, Ken Fisher; Army prosthetist at the Center for the
Intrepid, Ryan Blanck; and Deborah Tymon, senior vice president of marketing
for the New York Yankees.
It was especially gratifying to have the opportunity to be there with
Gary…since I first met Gary at Ft Campbell four years ago he has impressed
me with his genuine care for our military and for our Families. At Ft
Campbell he spent time with Gold Star families and was very gracious with
his time—the Chief recognized Gary and his foundation…the “Gary Sinise
Foundation,” which provides service members, veterans, family members, and
first responders with unique programs designed to entertain, educate,
inspire strengthen and build communities. Gary’s foundation also partnered
with the “Tunnel to Towers Foundation” to create a new organization, called
“Building for America’s Bravest.” That program has built 25 homes for
wounded veterans. I was honored to have been a part of that fine ceremony;
the pic was in my office at the Pentagon before the ceremony.
The other great American is COL Greg Gadson. Greg is a double leg amputee
that remains on Active Duty and currently serves at the Fort Belvoir
Garrison Commander. On May 23rd I presented Greg with the Military Heroes
Award at the Night of Heroes Gala here in Washington DC. Greg lives the
West Point Football motto that he learned as a lineman nearly 25 years ago –
pride-poise-team. The pride was all mine to recognize a man with such
extraordinary poise. He truly makes our Army team better.
Thankfully I have been able to get out of the Pentagon a little…it is
imperative, both to my understanding of the Army and to my own sanity, that
I get out of the Pentagon and interact with our Army around the world. While
easy to say, it has been extremely difficult to practice. This month finally
saw me get to visit MG Geno Dellarocco at the Army Test and Evaluation
Command (ATEC), Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. This is one of those
important things the Army does, that we never really think about. It was
really pretty eye opening to see the effort we go through to develop and
test the equipment our Soldiers will use in combat. From body armor, to
MRAPs, to a new energy efficient vehicle…I was very impressed with all
that I saw.
I also got back to Kentucky. Maj. Gen. Ed Tonini (USAF), The Adjutant
General, Kentucky National Guard, invited me to speak at the 94th Annual
Armed Forces Day Dinner in Louisville. The Armed Forces Day Dinners were
founded by General “Blackjack” Pershing following World War One –
ninety-four years later, Louisville has the distinction of the longest
continuous city that continues to celebrate with this dinner. This fine
tradition brought together representative of all of our Services to include
college and high school ROTC/JROTC programs. Kentucky continues to show its
great pride in military service and if the Cadets I met are any indicator
that tradition continues strong with the next generation as well.
From Louisville I made a quick stop at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and visited
with MG Martin Umbarger, The Adjutant General, Indiana National Guard and MG
Clif Tooley, Commanding General, Camp Atterbury. Over the last decade, Camp
Atterbury has played a critical role in supporting the post-mobilization
training of our Reserve and National Guard Soldiers as they prepared to
deploy to Kosovo, Sinai, Horn of Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. As those
missions wind down, Camp Atterbury has transformed itself as a world class
training area for Homeland Security and missions that require high levels of
integration between military and civilian teammates – Provincial
Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), Medical Advisory Teams, and so many others.
This was my first trip to a primarily Reserve Component training facility
and I left very impressed by the quality of the facilities and trainers.
This is a critical aspect of operationalizing the Secretary of the Army’s
Total Force Policy.
That same week I spoke to the West Point Society of DC Luncheon at the Ft.
Myers Officer Club at the request of LTG(R) Guy Swan. This luncheon brings
together graduates from across the decades and generations – from 2012 to
1948 (or even earlier). What started out as an invitation to speak ended
being a great conversation. My fellow grads asked some good questions!
This brings us back to Memorial Day. Tomorrow morning I have the distinct
honor to represent our Army at the Gold Star Family Memorial Day Breakfast
at the White House. Both the President and First Lady are expected to attend
this very important recognition to the families of our fallen heroes. From
the breakfast, Ann and I will dart across the bridge to represent the Army
again – this time at the President’s Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington
National Cemetery. I will close the day by dropping Ann off at Quarters 8 on
my way to joining the Honorable Joseph Westphal, Under Secretary of the
Army, for a trip to Italy (one day with the 173rd BCT and with US Army
Africa); Germany (a day with US Army Europe) and Afghanistan–with LTG Mark
Milley and CSM Scott Schroeder at IJC, the 101st in RC-East and 3rd ID in
RC-South; one of the areas we will focus on will be retrograde—I promise
you another update shortly after our return.
As I head to Afghanistan tomorrow to check on our troops and operations
there, I ask that you too take a moment to remember their service and
sacrifice. As the number of troops in Afghanistan continues to decrease I
remain concerned that those heroic warriors become forgotten in the noise of
other issues. Their work, commitment and sacrifice is too great to be
ignored. Thank you all for all that you do for these great Americans. Thank
you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.
I ask that you never forget the sacrifice of our Families as well; they are
the unsung heroes.
Happy Memorial Day!
Vr
John
Army Strong!
John F. Campbell
General, U.S. Army
34th Vice Chief of Staff
BB: 703-347-5802
NIPR: john.f.campbell.mil@mail.mil