1st Army CG Makes a Stop to Kuwait, Touches Base with Guard, Reserve Troops

Photo By Natalie Cole | Lt. Gen. Thomas G. Miller heads off to lunch with troops after visiting with leaders of a Florida National Guard unit on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait Sept. 17. Miller, who is the commanding general of First Army, met with the Seminole Soldiers to get an overview of their deployment operations.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

09.17.2010

Story by Natalie Cole 

1st Theater Sustainment Command

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - The Commanding General of First Army visited troops and senior leaders on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait Sept. 17. The focus of Lt. Gen. Thomas G. Miller’s visit was to engage with National Guard and Reserve Soldiers and to gather feedback about how their pre-deployment training has helped them on their missions here.

The General got an overview of the operations of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command and two of its primary supporting units: the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a National Guard unit out of Florida and the 653rd Regional Support Group, a Reserve unit out of Arizona. Both the 53rd IBCT and the 653rd RSG have been serving in Kuwait for nearly a year.

The General met with senior leaders inside large steel-framed tents with ply wood floors, typical offices for troops in Kuwait. His message to Guard and Reserve leaders was to remain adaptable for missions in support of Operation New Dawn, and to focus on building strong core skills in troops. “Pre-deployment training gives you a ticket to get into the race” while the rest of completing a deployment requires resiliency and adaptation, Miller said.

The past nine years of war have changed the nature of what Guard and Reserve troops do, said Col. Robert Olson, commander of the 653rd who met with Miller. “We’ve become a true operational reserve – we’re drawn on routinely,” Olson said. When called to serve, citizen Soldiers often take on missions that require them to learn and use skills beyond their initial career training. Miller emphasized that the Army’s strength comes from having a force that is flexible and responsive in the face of changes.

“We adapt [and] that’s the resiliency of the Army,” said Miller in his discussion with Reserve leaders.

Also, as part of his visit, Miller took time to greet Soldiers in the different sections the 1st TSC, the 53rd IBCT and the 653rd RSG. He chatted with troops about their civilian careers, their Army responsibilities and their pre-deployment training experiences. He also extended gratitude to the citizen Soldiers he met. “Thanks for all you are doing,” he said.

• Date Taken: 09.17.2010
• Date Posted: 09.20.2010 04:18
• Story ID: 56608
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW