I know I’m severely late with this since I’ve been here now almost three weeks. But, I’ve been busy and then I lost my notes sheet with all the great information from the welcome brief with LTG Robert Cone. As you know, I served under LTG Cone when he was a “mere” Brigadier (one-star for the ill-informed) General at the National Training Center. I was excited to read last year that he was taking over III Corps and Fort Hood, one of the many reasons I chose to come here.
Every week, III Corps Commanding General and Command Sergeant Major (or their representative), LTG Cone and CSM Coleman, host a welcome briefing for all incoming troops. It’s a mandatory briefing to “graduate” from post in-processing to unit in-processing. After the briefing, representatives from the units that the troops will be assigned to meet and greet them over a free luncheon. There are also various representatives from post and community programs, including the Association of the United States Army. Good thing they were there because my membership was set to expire at the end of this month. I just went ahead and paid for the lifetime membership so I don’t have to worry about that problem again.
LTG Cone is about to lead III Corps in assuming the Iraq mission. Prior to leaving, he left the incoming Soldiers with some great words of advice as well as his leadership philosophy. As long as I’ve known LTG Cone, he’s been a Soldier’s General. It is his earnest belief that “Soldiers are the most important asset at Fort Hood.” And it shows based off his policies. According to the Phantom Warrior Standard book that is required to be carried by every Fort Hood troop, leaders must work very hard to release their troops within a certain time each day. The schedule is imposed to “allow service members to be home with their families by 1800 for a family dinner.” On Thursdays, the day ends no later than 1500 and exceptions to the policy must be directly coordinated with the Senior Commander of III Corps and Ft. Hood. Just one of many policies meant to alleviate the stresses on families during the high OPTEMPO this post is accustomed to.
LTG Cone told the audience that the greatest strength of the Army is Soldiers, not Generals and Colonels. “It’s Privates, Sergeants, Lieutenants and Captains” that make the Army great, he said. He urged the leaders (and emphasized that EVERYONE in the room can be a leader) to create a command climate where leaders can lead. All too often in our Army, lower level NCOs and Officers are so micromanaged that they are unsure of their own individual leadership abilities as they get promoted. This leads to more micromanagement and the stifling of ingenuity and innovation in leadership styles.
Directing his comments towards NCOs, the CG noted that training is job #1 in our Army. “We need to sweat in peacetime so we don’t bleed at war,” he asserted. He cautioned against wasting Soldiers’ time with useless training or no training at all. “When we waste Soldiers time, it says they aren’t important,” Cone said.
This is so true. Leaders at all levels to ensure that if a Soldier is going to get out of bed at 0500 or 0600 to do the work of this great nation, they should look forward to a busy day learning to stay alive, perfect their job skill, engage in meaningful counsel, and be afforded opportunities to excel and progress. Busy work doesn’t provide Soldiers with “purpose, direction, and motivation” – the definition of leadership. There is always room for training troops on Warrior Tasks and require minimum preparation and resources. Time management was another area stressed during the briefing by LTG Cone.
I’ve always said that if someone leaves a post thinking it sucked, it’s pretty much their own fault. I personally think that Fort Irwin is one of the best installations in the Army – a hidden jewel in the desert! But, a lot of people don’t feel that way and it’s because they didn’t make the most of their time there. I can’t count how many times I went to Vegas, only about 90 minutes away. I visited Hoover Dam, Victorville, Big Bear Lake, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Death Valley and other places within a short drive from post. Even closer, there are numerous off road areas for those that like to ride dirt bikes and four wheelers. I don’t gamble, but always found something fun (and cheap) to do in Vegas. Most people who didn’t like Irwin were hermits and rarely left post.
At Fort Hood and in the surrounding community, there are over 160 programs that focus on easing stress for the troops. There are numerous educational opportunities (there’s even a Texas A&M campus nearby) on post and within a short distance from the gates of Fort Hood. There are survivor outreach programs that focus on the families members of our fallen heroes to ensure they are not forgotten. I can’t tell you how many clubs, pools, gyms, theaters and other diversion I found within the limits of post. For Wounded Warriors, there is a Warrior Transition Unit to help them in their recovery that also provides opportunities for them to get out and reintegrate into society. And the community is awesome. The surrounding towns are very supportive of the troops, offering discounts and other benefits to those who serve. There is also a “resiliency campus,” but I’m not going to dwell on that right now because I want to write a post specifically about what they have to offer. But, it’s there to help Soldiers deal with the effects of combat, to include PTS, PTSD, and other mental health issues. LTG Cone said that the Army sends us out to combat and everyone is affected at some level. “It’s our job to fix you,” he said staring as many Soldiers in the eye as possible.
Taking a somber tone, the CG spoke about depression, suicide, and anger issues. He urged everyone in the room to take care of the people to their left and right. But he also told us that we have to look inside. “No one can help you if you aren’t willing to help yourself,” he counseled. The stigma is gone and there’s nothing weak about seeking help for combat related mental health issues. If you recognize that your buddy needs help, LTG Cone said to “step up and tell them to get help.” Then, go with them to ensure they know they are not alone. If you think that your buddy is contemplating suicide, don’t let him/her make that decision. Be the nosy buddy and take action. Show them you care and their life in important.
I don’t want to go on and on, but I wanted to mention something Command Sergeant Major Coleman, III Corps and Fort Hood Command Sergeant Major, said. It’s a very profound statement and when followed affects every aspect of a Soldiers life. “Do what is right and is what is right all the time,” he said. As Soldiers, we take care of each other. We lift each other up and watch each other’s backs. There’s a definition I like to attribute to discipline: “Discipline is doing what’s right when no one else is watching.” CSM Coleman pretty said that, so I know I’m not too far off base.
We are at war and when troops aren’t doing what’s right, it affects mission readiness and deployability. It takes other Soldiers away from their missions to pick up the slack, which makes us all more vulnerable. But, when a Soldier does as CSM Coleman stated and “does what is right and what is right ALL the time” we don’t have to worry about that. Accidents will happen and calamity will strike, but not as often when we’re prepared and not participating in risky behavior.
