Under Secretary of the Army critiques Falcon Troops at JRTC

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hull | Dr. Joseph W. Wesphal, (right), the Under Secretary of the Army, visits paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team while the Falcons conducted training in Fort Polk, Oct. 19. Wesphal toured the Joint Readiness Training Center for rotation 13-01, the final assessment of the brigade’s abilities before beginning their Global Response Force mission.  

FORT POLK, LA, UNITED STATES

10.19.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Jason Hull  

82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office

FORT POLK, La. – Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade received a visit and praise from Dr. Joseph W. Wesphal, the Under Secretary of the Army, while training in Fort Polk, Oct. 19.

Wesphal toured the Joint Readiness Training Center as Falcon soldiers conducted training for rotation 13-01, the final assessment of the brigade’s abilities before beginning their Global Response Force mission.

Walking amongst the concertina wire and damaged vehicles, Wesphal approached several soldiers and inquired about their jobs. He passed out coins, shook hands, smiled and clapped the shoulders of paratroopers.

During a news conference at the training site, he recognized the Falcon Brigade troops as an example of the capabilities of a smaller, more agile and more adaptable force.

He promised deployments that will be more frequent but shorter, unlike those of the last decade. He said it was the goal to “sustain peace, rather than war.”

Wesphal appeared to find the Falcons up to the task. He said the troops he’d met were intelligent and talented.

“What we need to do as a country is sustain that talent. Invest in that talent.”

By doing so, he said, the country’s army and defense will always be the best.

Wesphal cited the soldier’s ability to manage and operate complex equipment and software that requires manuals several inches thick.
You can’t refer to that in battle, he said.

Referencing the paratroopers training around him, he stated that it wasn’t the equipment that made America’s army the best.
“That’s our soldiers.”

• Date Taken: 10.19.2012
• Date Posted: 10.25.2012 17:39
• Story ID: 96774
• Location: FORT POLK, LA, US