The Timberwolves were busy this past summer with wrapping up our missions, and preparing for the upcoming training year. The new training year promises to be jam packed once again with missions and training events.
First and foremost, I would like to take a minute and thank Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Payne for his outstanding service to the 108th Training Command (IET) and the 104th Training Division (Leader Training). Payne welcomed the 104th into the 108th with open arms and great support. He was essential in our division’s quick integration into the command by attending both of our Brigade Yearly Training Brief (YTB) Conferences at Little Big Horn in Montana, September 2010 and Harper’s Ferry, West Va. in April 2011. His guidance, insight, and mentorship are among the best, and will surely be missed. We wish Payne and his family the best of luck in the future. |
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Since taking command in June, I have had the pleasure of visiting and assessing our Division’s mission over the summer. The 104th provided 801 Soldiers to the US Army’s largest training exercise and US Army Cadet Command’s (USACC) capstone training event of Operation Warrior Forge/ Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; 215 Soldiers to Bold Leader/ Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky.; and 115 Soldiers to Cadet Summer Training at the United States Military Academy (USMA), N.Y. In addition, the 104th provided the structure of the battalion headquarters which managed the Command and Control, logistics, and sustainment requirements to over 1700 USAR Soldiers tasked to Warrior Forge 2011, and over 700 USAR Soldiers tasked to support Bold Leader 2011. Overall, we had great success in executing our missions, and will refine our processes this year to ensure an even better execution next year. As part of the refining process, the division conducted a Strategic Planning Conference with brigade command teams and key division leaders in September that I believe will not only steer us in future summer training missions, but will also help guide us as the Army reduces its footprint overseas and we transition to a CONUS based Army.
Over the next few months, our division will continue to focus on the road ahead. In December, all of the brigade and battalion command teams in the division will meet to conduct a mission back brief and a review of the 2012 YTBs. The USACC and 108th staffs are invited to attend. In January, we are also conducting brigade planning for 2013 and preparing the 2013 YTBs.
I am also excited about the great opportunities that lie ahead for the 104th and its Soldiers. We continue to solidify our relationship with USACC by expanding our mission and range of influence in the active component side of Army. Currently, the 104th and USACC staffs are working together to create a dual hat position for the 104th commanding general as the USACC Deputy Commanding General for Training. A future goal for USACC is to have at least half of all cadets complete a Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency Program (CULP) Immersion Internship. To date, the 104th is tasked with providing the reception committee for these 500 plus Cadets who will be sent to over 30 different countries. We also have 37 Soldiers in the 104th command that have expressed interest in serving as team leaders in support of various CULP missions in FY12. In addition, the 104th’s Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (SROTC) battalions presently have 284 Assistant Professors of Military Science (APMS) and Cadre at 127 campuses, with additional instructor presence at 29 satellite campuses. Alongside our great SROTC support missions, the four Army Training Centers (Forts Benning, Sill, Jackson, Leonard Wood), as well as the Chaplain OBC School (Fort Jackson), are also seeking the support of our Training Support Battalions for reception missions. These opportunities prove that we are all part of one Army, working together with the active Component, reserve components, and National Guard to accomplish a common mission and succeed as the greatest Army in the world.
As always, it is a privilege and a joy to command the best division in the Army!
Timberwolves!
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