Photo By Spc. Christopher Grammer | Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston talks to a Soldier after a town hall meeting...... read more read more
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By Christopher Grammer
50th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait --- Soldiers filed into the chapel and waited anxiously for the arrival of Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston. Soldiers were given a chance to ask questions about their concerns and the future of the army in a town hall discussion.
"I think it's a good thing when he can come here with the Soldiers and we can hear what's going on in today's Army from the top leaders," said Sgt. 1st Class Jermaine Britton, the non-commissioned officer in charge of information management for 1st Theater Support Command.
During Preston's opening statement he stated the importance of the National Guard and Reserve in today's Army. Approximately 72,000 National Guard and Reserve soldiers are currently mobilized, said Preston
"We could not do what we do as a nation without our citizen Soldiers," Preston said.
Preston stated that the Army's number one mission is to support the War on Terror and its secondary mission is Army transformation. He continued to speak on the importance of Army transformation throughout the discussion, explaining that the Army was making units more modular and becoming a more continental U.S.-based Army by getting Soldiers back from overseas and keeping them, and their families in one place for longer periods of time.
The Army's transformation is all about making it more expeditionary by reorganization and increasing stability, and predictability of deployments, Preston said.
Reorganization has increased the number of brigades in the Army and is slated to grow. Of the 48 brigades combat teams to be reshaped 40 have already been fielded. Another two are slated to be ready by the end of next year.
More and more Soldiers are re-enlisting and choosing to stay with the Army, Preston said. The National Guard has been so successful with retaining Soldiers that they are currently over the amount of Soldiers authorized. Retention is a large part of the Army's plan to stabilize deployments.
Preston touched on the transformation of the conscripted Army of the past into the all volunteer Army of today and praised Soldiers for choosing to serve their country during the War on Terror.
"Only three out of ten people are physically and morally qualified to wear the uniform," said Preston. "Only half of those qualified are even willing to join."
As questions were raised by Soldiers, many different topics were discussed, but the main concern were the lengthened deployments. Preston reassured the Soldiers that the announcement by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in April, to extend deployments to no longer than 15 months, was intended to increase dwell time at home stations to at least 12 months.
The extension of tours affects all active duty units in the Central Command area of operations.
Preston asked one thing of the Soldiers present.
"When you get home you need to help tell the Soldier's story," Preston said. "Americans only know about Soldiers from what they see on television."
With schools being built in Iraq as well as water and electricity being provided to its citizens, Americans rarely see these victories. Attacks with improvised explosive devices and beheadings dominate the media's attention, distracting Americans from the strengthened Iraqi economy, and the Soldiers who make it home safe, Preston said.
Of Preston's visit, the Soldiers at Camp Arifjan had only good things to say.
"I think it is great that he is here," said Sgt. 1st Class Esther Burchell, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the Headquarters Headquarters Company Area Support Group logistical medical warehouse. "It shows that he cares about our opinion."
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2007 09:08 |
| Story ID: | 11377 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 170 |
| Downloads: | 112 |
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