Looking forward to the future, on Oct. 1st the entire 108th Training Command will be OPCON to TRADOC. Specifi cally, we report directly to the Deputy Commanding General for Initial Military Training, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who is fully aware of our capabilities and is intent on utilizing our forces to the maximum extent possible as an operational force, in accordance with ARFORGEN concepts.
At the same time we marked the fifth anniversary of Task Force Marshall, where we have a headquarters and four companies of Drill Sergeants at Fort Jackson and Fort Benning training recalled Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) and OIF/OEF Navy Individual Augmentees (Sand Sailors) immediately prior to deployment to theater. We finished strong with our stewardship of the three USAR Regional Training Centers at Forts Hunter-Liggett, McCoy and Dix, where nine mobilized companies and three mobilized battalion headquarters trained 12,049 deploying reserve Soldiers. The significance of the RTC mission has been hailed by First Army and FORSCOM commanders as it reduced post-mobilization training for deploying USAR units from 60-70 days on average to less than 30 days. We continue to provide two companies of Drill Sergeants to Iraq in support of Multi-National Security Transition Team-Iraq (MNSTC-I); three companies and a headquarters element and an embedded training team to support Afghan BCT and Drill Sergeant School operations at Kabul Military Training Center and remote training locations; as well as 15 officers in support of CENTCOM. In an annual training status we provided committee support to ROTC Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, Chaplains Officer Basic Course (OBC) at Fort Jackson as well as augmenting the reception, range and committee operations at all Army training centers. Finally, during regular battle assemblies and additional annual training opportunities, we provided OPTEMPO relief to the Army Training Centers and conducted warrior task and weapons training support to USAR, ARNG and ROTC units. To say it has been a busy year is an understatement – and the dedication and professionalism of our Soldiers, Drill Sergeants, instructors and cadre have been critical to the Army being able to meet its worldwide missions.
I particularly want to recognize the hard work at all levels, especially the company and battalion leadership, who have enrolled and graduated more than 500 qualified Drill Sergeants from the 108th Drill Sergeant School during TY-09. We now stand at 81% qualified Drill Sergeant strength, a huge improvement from less than 50% two and a half years ago, which is the reason we are able to execute the multiple missions assigned by TRADOC, USARC and the combatant commanders. Our 108th Drill Sergeant leaders and cadre at Forts Jackson and Knox have done yeoman’s work to train at full speed for the past two years and have had over forty soldiers mobilized annually in the process.
Looking forward to the future, on Oct. 1st the entire 108th Training Command will be OPCON to TRADOC. Specifically, we report directly to the Deputy Commanding General for Initial Military Training, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who is fully aware of our capabilities and is intent on utilizing our forces to the maximum extent possible as an operational force, in accordance with ARFORGEN concepts.
Additionally, on Oct. 1st we also assumed operational control of the 104th Training Division headquartered in Vancouver Barracks, Washington (soon to relocate to Ft. Lewis, Wash.) under the command of Brig. Gen. Dan York. The 104th Tng. Div. provides all USAR adjunct faculty support to Senior ROTC programs as well as committee support to the Leadership Development Assessment Course (Warrior Forge) at Fort Lewis, Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, and support to the US Military Academy at West Point. No later than October 1, 2010, the 104th Tng. Div. will come under the command and control of the 108th Tng. Cmd. (IET). We have been working closely with the 104th Tng. Div. command and staff, are very familiar with the ROTC mission and are excited to have these great Soldiers and civilians join the 108th team.
Concurrent with accepting the 104th Tng. Div from the 84th Tng. Cmd., we have also relinquished OPCON of the three RTC’s and Task Force 802 to the 84th Tng. Cmd. (Unit Readiness). We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and the 108th Tng. Cmd. will continue to be a force provider to staff the RTC’s with mobilized instructors for the foreseeable future.
The 108th Tng. Cmd.’s Soldiers and civilians continue to be recognized for commitment to Soldiers and Families. The 108th Tng. Cmd.’s Fort Family program was selected as a winner in the second annual Secretary of the Army Quality of Life Awards for best practices (one of five special awards) and as the top Quality of Life program for a medium installation or unit. These were Army wide competitions and I want to thank all of our staff and community volunteers for making Family support a reality. Our Family Programs Director, Mr. Danny Hill, and his incredible staff have set the standard of care for others to emulate.
Finally, the 108th Tng. Cmd. staff in Charlotte, both FTS and TPU, work diligently to not only accomplish the mission, but to do so effectively and efficiently. Through their hard work the staff produced our second Army Community of Excellence submission and, for the second year in a row, the 108th Tng. Cmd. was named as the ACOE Champion for the USAR Special Category. In addition to a handsome monetary award, the award recognizes the 108th Tng. Cmd. as a leader in the USAR for transformation and improvement of business practices and processes.
On a personal note, I would like to thank several key members of the staff who are retiring. Col. Jim Moore, chief of staff, for his 32 years of service, his friendship and critical leadership at every level of IET command, culminating as the G3 and Chief of Staff of the 108th during its transformation from a Regional Division (IT) to a Training Command with a nationwide footprint.
Additionally, I would like to salute Command Chief Warrant Officer, Gary Williams, the 108th’s first command chief warrant officer, who is also retiring and I would like to announce the selection of CW 4 (P) Shirley Moser who has been picked to fill Williams’ position.
Finally, I would like to thank Col. Ogden Hansford, Public Affairs Officer and Col. Stephen Lukoskie, Comptroller, as they are retiring as well, after many years of service to the United States Army Reserve. HOOAH!