High Visibility of the Water

Photo By Maj. Shamika Hill | Maj. Gen. Luis Visot, United States Army Reserve Command, deputy commanding general, addresses the Army Reserve Watercraft Units on the way ahead for the Army Reserve Watercraft community at the Brashear Conference Center in Fort Story, Va., Sept. 24.  

FORT STORY, VA, UNITED STATES

09.24.2013

Story by Capt. Shamika Hill 

310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

FORT STORY, Va. - The 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command kicked off the 8th annual Watercraft Training Advisory Board, Sept. 24, with three major generals in attendance this year.

Maj. Gen. Luis Visot, United States Army Reserve Command, deputy commanding general, Maj. Gen. Peter Lennon, 377th Theater Sustainment Command, commander and Maj. Gen. Megan Tatu, 79th Sustainment Support Command, commander joined all 13 U.S. Army Reserve watercraft units to discuss issues and challenges affecting the units and their future.

“This is the first year the watercraft TAB has had this high of a visibility,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Carr, 310th ESC U.S. Army watercraft master. “It is an honor to have all three generals here.”

Visot, the keynote speaker for this event, highlighted some critical areas in which the watercraft community should focus in order to be successful. He conveyed his message using the acronym, WATER, which stood for World, Adaptive/Agile, Trust, Expeditionary and Readiness. Visot explained each item in detail as it related to the watercraft units.

“It is going to take all of us collectively thinking differently to try to resolve the challenges that we have in the Army watercraft in the Army Reserve,” said Visot.

Col. Luis Pomales, 310th ESC, assistant chief of staff, support operations felt that, overall, the three-day event was productive.

“All attending units came out with a clear objective on the training events and missions they are scheduled to perform in training year [2014].”

The Army watercraft provide an enduring and massive “Across the Beach” capability and, when combined with the U.S. Navy’s coastal forces, can produce an unequaled joint logistics capability, able to supply a steady stream of fuel, water, manpower, material and supplies to any beachhead in the world.

This logistics capability provides that final step from water to land, allowing increased movement to soldiers, Marines, sailors, Coastguardsman, and airmen with their equipment and supplies in support of military and humanitarian efforts.

“We have got to continue to show the capabilities of Army watercraft,” said Lennon.

• Date Taken: 09.24.2013
• Date Posted: 10.07.2013 15:36
• Story ID: 114864
• Location: FORT STORY, VA, US