Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Maj. Green.JPG – Sgt. Maj. Kimberly Green, of Third Army's 1st Sustainment...... read more read more
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1st Sustainment Command (Theater)
Public Affairs Office
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Many Soldiers think of the Army as their family, but one Soldier at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait believes this with all her heart.
Sgt. Maj. Kimberly Green, sergeant major of support operations for the Distribution Management Center (DMC) of the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), thinks her job is one of the best in the Army because she can affect so many Soldiers.
The DMC tracks the movement of all classes of supplies going to Iraq, Afghanistan and 25 other nations in the Middle East, in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Green is the DMC's senior enlisted Soldier.
"I manage 152 Soldiers," she said. "I manage admin; making sure the Soldiers are taken care of administratively."
She said that, "as the senior logistician, because I've had 22 years experience working in the supply-logistical arena, I'm the 'go-to (Soldier)' for support they may need or just to direct them to be able to solve their needs or questions."
The Kasota, Minn., native spent her career managing logistics and supplies. Green began her calling in May 1984 when she enlisted in the Army Reserve and decided to go on active duty in August, 1985.
"When I first came in the military, I was a 76 X-Ray," Green said, referring to the military occupational specialty code for a subsistence supply specialist. "I ran a ration break point." A ration break point replenishes food, water and small comfort items for units on the move.
She moved up the ranks and expanded her skills several years later when the Army merged other specialties for select classes of supplies – clothing, construction and barrier materials, repair parts and components – and created a new automation logistics specialty.
"I ran a class one warehouse (food and subsistence), a class nine warehouse (repair parts, assemblies and kits)," Green said. "Then I was a first sergeant for a supply company with the 2nd ACR (Armored Cavalry Regiment)."
She "earned her spurs" in 2001 while assigned with them. To do that, she had to pass several rigorous tests of physical fitness and knowledge of combat skills in order to be worthy of the privilege of wearing spurs.
"First, you take an (Army physical fitness test) and you have to score 270 or better," she said.
"Then you change and go on a 12 mile road march."
At the end of the march, the candidate must complete both a dismounted (on foot) and mounted land navigation course. Green said that at each point in both courses, the candidate must take a combat skills test or complete a scenario that tests his or her knowledge of combat-related, tactical skills.
The final piece is a board appearance where "they'll challenge you with different questions to see what kind of technical knowledge you have about the logistical end of it," she said.
Green later became first sergeant for the 701st Main Support Battalion for the 1st Infantry Division in Germany after she spent 18 months as an instructor for Primary Leadership Development Courses.
However, her career included other sidelines. In 1998, she completed winter warfare training at the Northern Warfare Training Center at Fort Greely, Alaska.
"It's a cold weather training course that senior leaders must take so that you can survive in colder climates," she said. Students have to demonstrate how to set up a Yukon stove, how to pack an akio (a man-powered sled) and build a snow cave to survive in weather that must be at least 25 degrees below zero.
She said that when she did it, the temperature was 50 below zero and she received a certificate attesting to that fact.
Last year, she completed a tandem jump with the Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team. "I've never had an opportunity to go Airborne," she said. "My assistant in the rear ... used to be an instructor with the Golden Knights."
She asked Green if she would like to do a tandem jump. "She set it up and surprised me with it as a birthday gift," she said. "It was awesome."
Through all her assignments and training, she found her first love was helping Soldiers. "I would say that being a first sergeant is the most rewarding job in the Army," said the 44 year old. She explained that even though she had to use her knowledge of the field of logistical support, she had to mentor, guide and assist her Soldiers and their families in all sorts of situations. "You make a world of difference for a young Soldier coming in," she said.
Although Green counts her Soldiers as family, she has two daughters in Minnesota, Ashleigh and Hilary. Ashleigh, 19, a second-year student at Rasmussen College, is engaged to be married this month. Hilary, 11, is a middle school student and gymnast.
"She was second in North Carolina in state (gymnastics competition) last year," she said. Hilary moved back to Minnesota to stay with her sister when Green mobilized to Kuwait in June of this year.
Green said that her family in Minnesota has been very supportive throughout her career. "That's what is so special about Minnesota," she said. "All the years I've been in the military and I've had to go somewhere, my family has always been kind of a backbone for me. They've always taken good care of my girls."
Green's main pastime is running. She has run in 12 marathons since 1992 and has run the Army 10 Miler six times. She ran on an all-female team from Fort Lewis, Wash., in the 1991 Army 10 Miler and they placed second in that year's race.
Green plans to stay in the Army a few more years, but she has an eye to the future when she retires. She has a degree in business administration from Troy University and is working on getting her teaching certificate.
"Two things," she said. "Either I get a job working still in logistics for the military ... or my other alternative is I would like to be a teacher for elementary students."
Of all the jobs she held in the Army, she feels that helping Soldiers is her best contribution.
"I guess most rewarding for me is working with Soldiers," she said. "That's where the heart is for me."
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2007 11:17 |
| Story ID: | 12705 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 549 |
| Downloads: | 484 |
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