Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Josh Edson | Retired Gen. Gordon Sullivan, president of the Association of the United States Army...... read more read more
CAMP CARROLL, South Korea - Senior leaders and Soldiers and Camp Carroll received a pleasant surprise today from two distinguished visitors of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA). Retired Army Gen. Gordon Sullivan and retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston paid a visit to Camp Carroll Soldiers to discuss some of the hot topics concerning the Army today.
For those don’t know, the AUSA is a private, nonprofit organization that acts as advocacy group for the U.S Army. Its missions include providing support for deployed Soldiers, educating the public on the importance of a strong Army and serving as a liaison between the Army and local communities. With the Army facing new challenges after nearly 13 years of conflict, we need all the advocates we can get.
Sullivan and Preston have some solid credentials. Sullivan has some 36 years of active service under his belt. As the 32nd chief of staff of Army in the 1990s, he oversaw the transition of the U.S Army from its Cold War footing, to the highly professional organization it is today. For his part, Preston also has 36 years of active service in the Army. Seven of those years were spent serving in the Army’s highest enlisted position, making him the longest serving sergeant major of the Army to date.
“I have served in some of the worst places in the world,” said Sullivan, current president AUSA, to a packed theater of Soldiers and senior leaders. “And I am here to make sure you get what you need.”
Many of the questions focused on looming sequestration and reduction of force issues. Less war fighters mean less sustainers and given that Camp Carroll is a sustainment hub, it’s easy to see how these questions concern Soldiers and leaders as they enter a certain future for today’s Army.
“As we draw down the force what does that mean for Soldiers entering the Army and Soldiers leaving the Army, asked one Soldier in the audience. “What incentives will be there to bring the best of the best in and what will the benefits packages look like?”
“All of you represent the top 23 percent of our nation,” said Preston, AUSA director of Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier programs. “That’s what our recruiters are looking for these days. Obviously we are looking at ways to attract best of the best.”
After meeting with Soldiers and senior leaders, Sullivan and Preston met with a few junior enlisted Soldiers for lunch, where they listened to Soldier’s concerns about the future of the force and gave a few reassuring words to the new generation of Army future leaders.
“I wore the uniform for a long time,” said Sullivan. “I love the Army, and I’m proud to say that.”
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2014 07:55 |
| Story ID: | 132526 |
| Location: | CAMP CARROLL, DAEGU GWANG'YEOGSI [TAEGU-KWANGYOKSHI], KR |
| Web Views: | 92 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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