Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely | Major Jeremiah VanDorsten, a 100th Missile Defense Brigade (GMD) deputy director,...... read more read more
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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s senior leader said commanding the organization during his first year, amidst the many challenges created by 2020’s coronavirus pandemic, was both an honor and a learning experience.
Lt. Gen. Daniel L. Karbler, USASMDC commanding general, said through it all USASMDC remained focused on providing space, missile defense and high altitude capabilities that enable multi-domain operations so combatant commanders can effectively maneuver and win.
“It has been a tremendous honor and a privilege to be able to serve as the commander especially at a time where missile defense and Army space are as relevant as I’ve ever seen them,” Karbler said. “Combine that with the COVID environment that we have been operating under for the last nine months, it has given me an opportunity to see how well we do as an organization and how well we pull together as a team when the circumstances are tough and the environment is changing. It really emphasizes to me that we are a well-trained organization, and we really embrace the ability to be flexible, adaptable and agile to our circumstances.”
Karbler, said the command took extra precautions to be able to maintain readiness while protecting the health and safety of its military personnel and their families and the civilian workforce.
“I am glad to say that COVID really didn’t affect our readiness,” Karbler said. We do the most critical strategic missions within the Department of Defense, whether that’s missile warning or to be able to respond to an intercontinental ballistic missile attack from our adversaries. We can’t afford to take a day off, or take a week off, or take a month off, or allow COVID to impact our readiness.
“That’s just the operational, day-to-day readiness,” he added. “We also, as a command, have to be prepared and ready to provide the institutional Army, and the joint force with trained warfighters - trained space warfighters as well as trained missile defenders.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world in the early months of 2020, Karbler took extra precautions to be able to maintain readiness while protecting the health and safety of personnel and their families.
“Back in March and April we were kind of feeling our way through this and I had great support and advice and we did it collaboratively,” Karbler said. “Because of the good analysis, the good information, and the good recommendations that were made to me, I think that we made good decisions. The thing we always kept at the forefront was the health and welfare of our individual Soldiers and civilians so we could stay ready to do our job.”
He recognized that it was hard and that at times the command’s operational forces were in those readiness bubbles and were sequestered. They could not get out to go see their families because they had to remain mission ready.
“One thing I want to emphasize to the crews who are out there is we really, really rely on crew integrity, crew readiness and crew training because we function as crews,” Karbler said. “But I do not want to have lost in the shuffle the individuals who make up those crews and how important each of the Soldiers are as individuals to our command and to their organizations.
“You are taking on the responsibility to stay safe and healthy, and you are taking on the responsibility to keep your certification so you can then contribute to your crew,” he added. “I thank all the individual Soldiers who have ensured we maintain our readiness.”
Karbler said that his perspective of USASMDC and his other command, the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, has changed since taking over in December 2019 but that after a year, he still believes the commands have never been more relevant.
“Having done air defense for 33–plus years, and kind of being associated with Space and Missile Defense Command throughout the entire time I have been an air defender, you think you kind of know the command. But I will tell you what, my perspective has changed in a couple of different ways,” Karbler said. “I feel the appreciation for those agencies external to SMDC and JFCC IMD and their understanding of Army space contributions and their understanding of missile defense over this past year has really grown for what the commands do, both SMDC and JFCC IMD.”
Karbler said every day he comes to work he learns something new about what USASMDC and JFCC IMD do.
“When I took command I never assumed I knew everything,” Karbler said. “A year later I really now realize how much I did not know about what SMDC and JFCC IMD do - what they do day-to-day; what comprises the organization; the different missions we’re doing; how we are integrated within the Army, within the joint force and within our combatant commands.”
| Date Taken: | 12.15.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2020 17:16 |
| Story ID: | 385007 |
| Location: | REDSTONE ARSENAL, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 52 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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