Photo By Staff Sgt. Cory Grogan | Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Foesch of Portland, Ore., from the 41st Infantry Brigade...... read more read more
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VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq - Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Foesch of Portland, Ore., from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who is the Base Defense Operation Center Sgt. Maj. for the Victory Base Complex on this year's deployment, lights up with pride when he talks about the enlisted Soldiers he is in charge of.
He is the Voice of the enlisted members, for the commander, and being in charge of taking care of Soldiers is the best part of his job, said Command Sgt. Maj. Foesch.
"The Soldiers who are most likely to be in a situation where they need help are the lower enlisted guys and that's the bread and butter of the Army. If we don't take care of those guys we won't be able to do our mission."
He believes that deployments can and should be a positive experience for Soldiers.
Foesch explained that deployments are what the individual makes of them, and if a good command climate is created most people will improve. He said that Soldiers know they've got a lot of hard work to do, but that they also need to know there are opportunities to keep them occupied. Things like increasing education and developing the body and mind by working out are just a few.
"I look at it as an adventure—there's stuff that you never would have done if you weren't in the Army—and, yeah, some it's not so great, but the vast majority of it is really good stuff. We're doing stuff to help accomplish America's goals and to help make America and the world a better place."
Foesch cited good leadership as the key element for developing a lot of young men and women into mature adults on deployments.
"Right now we're their mom and dad, and their brothers and sisters. That's huge," said Foesch."
Foesch also thinks that the men and women from the 41st Brigade are going to be assets for the state when they come back home because of how they've developed their leadership and decision making skills.
"At home you can sit around and play X Box and nobody's gonna say a word about it; here it doesn't work that way."
He feels any employer who doesn't take a serious look at a guard member who has been deployed is missing out.
He has been in the Guard almost 23 years and says it has become a much more professional organization where young enlisted Soldiers, young NCOs, and senior NCOs are capable of making huge decisions that used to be only in the officer's sphere of influence.
"Were just cranking out a great product—the vast majority of our men and women are becoming wonderful citizens who are great Soldiers and leaders."
Foesch said his Soldiers are very busy learning their new jobs and they are finding out that they have lot of things they didn't know they would be responsible for. He turns that into a positive
scenario by letting Soldiers know it will make them more able to handle difficult situations when they get back home.
"I have nothing but the utmost respect for these guys and gals that are out there everyday with body armor on carrying their weapons in very austere environments having a positive attitude."
Foesch hopes people look at the sacrifices young guard members are making to ensure everyone back home is safe.
"Truly, I feel like that is a part of this whole thing. Everyone should be proud of them, I know I am," said Foesch.
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2009 05:18 |
| Story ID: | 37775 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 370 |
| Downloads: | 254 |
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