Photo By Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon | U.S. Army Maj. David Horn, executive officer for the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more
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Success is rarely an accident. Great organizations focus on utilizing its current time effectively while actively shaping a path toward the future.
In 2019, the Washington Army National Guard took its first steps in defining that path by publishing its inaugural Strategic Plan for 2020–2025. This foundational document established the six tenets and forward-looking path for the Army National Guard, endorsed by then-commanding general Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dan Dent and current commanding general Brig. Gen. Paul Sellars.
Maj. Tom Haydock, strategic plans officer and graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies, recently hosted a Strategic Planning Conference on October 23–24, 2024, at Camp Murray, Washington, to update the 2019 plan.
“The Washington Army National Guard is focused on readiness for our federal and state missions, adaptability to changes in the operational environment, and a reputation that makes us the partner of choice for state leaders, combatant commanders, and our Soldiers,” said Haydock. “This conference aimed to envision what the Washington Army National Guard should look like in 2035 and determine how we can achieve that vision.”
As the Army has modernized and looked forward into the new mission sets, strategic planning has become more important to the organization. Strategic plans help the Army prepare for operations that are different from those it's currently structured for, adapting to shifts in international relations and the need to balance warfighting readiness with other needs.
The Washington Army National Guard’s last Strategic Planning Conference provided a framework that guided more than 40 officers, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers, and civilians during this year’s conference.
“This builds on that framework, examining changes within and outside our organization, including geopolitical shifts, demographic trends, and updates in the National Defense Strategy,” Haydock explains. “It also assesses successes and shortfalls in our previous strategy. Unlike many organizations that adjust their strategy frequently, we’re looking a decade ahead to establish a long-term vision.”
Over the two-day conference, the group identified four key lines of effort to channel resources and attention for future progress: People and Talent Management, Winning Teams, Reputation, and Innovation and Transformation.
“We need to keep the momentum going,” said Haydock. “The G5 needs to transform the conference outputs into clear visuals that articulate our goals and the roadmap to achieve them. The G5 must also initiate separate working groups to execute each line of effort and create a scoreboard to track our progress. Rapid action is essential to sustain momentum, along with continuous communication of our strategic objectives.”
In the coming months, Haydock plans to collaborate with various directorates and offices to develop materials to highlight the strategic plan and its goals moving forward.
“This strategy will be shared with the leadership of each battalion, ideally between January and March, to ensure unified understanding and commitment,” said Haydock. “Additionally, anyone interested in learning more or contributing is encouraged to contact me directly. The G5 shop is actively recruiting M-Day Soldiers who want to help shape the organization’s future by tackling complex issues beyond routine tasks. We’re looking for individuals who aim for excellence and refuse to settle for mediocrity.”
| Date Taken: | 11.12.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2024 13:25 |
| Story ID: | 485123 |
| Location: | CAMP MURRAY, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ways and Means: Washington National Guard Soldiers talk strategy during two-day conference, by Joseph Siemandel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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