Sergeant Major of the Army visits Soldiers in Kabul Base Cluster

Photo By 2nd Lt. Rebecca Linder | Service members stationed at Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan, receive a coin from Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, July 8. Ten Soldier's received a coin for stating the Soldier's Creed in front of other service members at the ceremony.  

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

07.07.2010

Story by Sgt. Rebecca Linder 

196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

CAMP PHOENIX, Afghanistan — Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston visited soldiers July 7 stationed at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan. While in the country, Preston traveled around Kabul visiting soldiers throughout the Kabul Base Cluster, a number of military bases in the capital.

“When senior leaders show up in theater, it shows the soldiers that high-ranking servicemembers care about them and the mission the soldiers are doing is important,” said Master Sgt. Todd Mettler, a member of the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Dakota Army National Guard.

Preston updated soldiers on the number of active duty, National Guard and Reserve soldiers serving in the war and where. He also talked to soldiers about deployment cycles, dwell time and the five dimensions of Comprehensive Soldier Fitness: being physically, spiritually, socially, emotionally and mentally fit.

“Dwell time can mean the difference between a family life that is tolerable and one that is not in good shape,” said Mettler, Department of Emergency Services non-commissioned officer in charge. “The Army is starting to realize how important family life is and that the dynamic has changed since World War II and Vietnam,” added the husband and father of three.

After speaking with the soldiers, Preston opened up the room for any questions or concerns the soldiers had. Soldiers expressed their questions and concerns about living conditions, promotions, bonuses, deployments and upcoming changes of the war in Afghanistan.

When the questions were through, Preston asked for 10 volunteers to come up to the front of the room and recite the Soldier’s Creed from memory. After the 10 were finished saying it, they received a coin from Preston.

“Senior leaders at every level, like Preston, make decisions that affect the soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq, and visiting with the soldiers is one of the only ways they can get the pulse of the troops on the ground,” said Mettler.

• Date Taken: 07.07.2010
• Date Posted: 07.11.2010 03:31
• Story ID: 52660
• Location: KABUL, AF