Photo By Capt. Monika Comeaux | Command Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham, the command sergeant major for Deputy Command of...... read more read more
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BAGRAM, Afghanistan - The command team for the Deputy Command of Support Operations for NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command had breakfast with members of the 49th Movement Control Battalion July 17.
Brig. Gen. Clark LeMasters Jr. and Command Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham want to make sure, that they reach out to soldiers who fall under their command back at Fort Hood.
The leaders welcomed the Wranglers in theater and shared a few words of wisdom with them and explained how missions differ in Afghanistan.
LeMasters told soldiers to make the most of being at one of the best-equipped basecamps in Afghanistan, urging them to better themselves both physically and mentally so they can remain competitive in the Army.
“One of my old sergeants major used to say, that you can do one of two things in the Army; you can get right sized or you can get downsized,” said LeMasters. “If you don’t think about education and professional development, you can get downsized.”
“You have a great opportunity here,” the general continued, “you have an eight-mile track, so every single one of you should be running in the Army ten-miler shadow run,” which will be the Bagram version of the race in October, he said.
Parham encouraged the soldiers to save money and go home smarter. “Stay busy being constructive, and I assure you, time will go by fast,” he said. He also alluded that he expects every one of the soldiers to continue with working out; with all the available gyms and ample space to run, there should be no reason for them to ask for waivers on the physical fitness test when it comes time for their annual evaluations, he said.
He also warned his troops to stay out of trouble. “Stay away from nonsense,” is how he put it, and warned them to remain careful and vigilant on and off post at all times.
The soldiers welcomed the leaders attention. “It is very motivating to know that our leadership is willing to come out and see us and take time out to know what we are doing,” said Pfc. Denisea A. Moore, a transportation movement coordinator from Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 49th MCB. Moore is 19, and joined the Army after graduating high school in Waco, Texas. She has been in the Army for one year and this is her first deployment.
Moore set some high goals for herself not only during the deployment but also in her military career; she wants to take college courses while deployed, and eventually become an officer. She paid real close attention to what she heard during the breakfast, and summed it up as follows: “You need to do school, school and school, do PT and be right sized but not downsized,” she said with a bright smile.
The 49th MCB will have a challenging mission overseeing movement control activities, transportation contracts, retrograde equipment moves and expanding their personnel from a little over 50 to over 480, by being in charge of 20 movement control teams across Afghanistan, said Maj. William S. Walker, the 49th MCB support operations officer for the south of Afghanistan.
Although LeMasters and Parham are not in the MCB’s chain of command in Afghanistan, they promised to keep an eye on the Wranglers of the 49th, and try to visit them again when they travel through Bagram, as well as put them in touch with other elements of the 13th ESC currently deployed to the same theater.
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2012 09:15 |
| Story ID: | 91972 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 331 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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