Army's top NCO visits Kuwait gives timeline for transformation

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Michael Noggle | Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston talks to a group of sergeants major at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait about the Army's transformation progress. Photo by Spc. Michael R. Noggle  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

09.06.2005

Courtesy Story

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Spc. Michael R. Noggle
CFLCC PAO/11th PAD

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT- The Army's top enlisted Soldier, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, visited Soldiers here, Aug. 29, to talk about the progress of the Army's transformation.

He traveled to the Zone 1 gym to see Soldiers in action during Operation Hardwood and met with the sergeants major of Arifjan at the Zone 1 dining facility.

"Transformation right now is designed for those units doing back-to-back deployments," Preston said. "We could not do what we are doing around the world right now if it weren't for National Guard and Reserve Soldiers. They are helping us right now buying time for the active-duty Army to get through transformation."

Imagine a Soldier on active duty, National Guard or reserves who knows when they will deploy or train, Preston said. All the components will be on a life-cycle with units knowing their status for deployment.

"There are three big strategic initiatives designed to take the pressure off the back-to-back deployments," Preston said.

There needs to be some predictability and stability in the Soldiers" and their families" lives, he said. By growing the size of deployable forces, growing the low-density, high-demand jobs, and adding 30,000 Soldiers to the active duty Army, Soldiers will have a better idea of their deployment status.

"We started transformation with 33 brigades and our intent is to grow the size and the numbers of those brigades," Preston said.

In 2004, the Army added a unit of action (replacing brigade combat teams) to the 3rd Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division and 10th Mountain Division. Three more brigades will be added to the Army this year, and four more will be added in 2006.

"The timeline for the transformation of the active duty force is expected to be finished by the end of 2007," Preston said. "It will take us a little bit longer to finish the Guard and Reserve, but by 2010 the Guard and Reserve will be totally finished and transformed."

Preston added that the second initiative of rebalancing the forces will add more Soldiers to the low-density, high-demand jobs such as military police, supply and truck drivers. Currently, there are more than 100,000 Soldiers in high-density, low-demand artillery and aviation units, among others.

"We've got a lot of combat support and service support Soldiers out there that are also doing back-to-back deployments," Preston said. "As we reassess what the threats are in the world, we have to rebalance."

The third objective Preston addressed was increasing the size of the active duty force.

"We are going to add 30,000 to the active duty force," he said. "The two biggest things we are going to do is increase recruiting and retention."

The Army has challenged its leaders a little bit this year by bumping the retention goal from 56,000 to 64,000 Soldiers, Preston said.

"I'm optimistic and very confident we'll end the year at 64,000 plus for this fiscal year," Preston said. Preston said he challenged recruiters as well this year. The Army's mission every year is to reach 72,000 Soldiers, but the goal in 2006 is to hit 80,000.

The recruiting numbers looked promising through January; but from February through May, the Army fell short in its mission, he said. At the start of June and through the rest of the fiscal year, the Army is expecting to over-produce.

"When we fell short during that four-month period, we opened up a deficit," he said. "I'm still very optimistic we will hit 80,000 at the end of the year."

• Date Taken: 09.06.2005
• Date Posted: 09.06.2005 12:23
• Story ID: 2897
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW