JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Professionalism, stewardship and Army doctrine were the themes of discussion for a special visitor to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., as he briefed senior noncommissioned officers and commanders Feb. 19-22.
The U.S. Army Combined Arms Center command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Greca, visited JBLM to discuss changes in doctrine and emphasized the importance of strong leadership as the Army evolves.
“The idea is for me to inform on the initiatives that exist in the Army. The chief of staff of the Army said that we cannot wait for a school to inform (leaders),” said Greca. “So I go out to the operational Army and I talk about the initiatives in a way that hopefully energizes our corps and Army as it continues to change like our nation changes.”
The CAC provides Army-wide leadership and supervision for leader development and professional military and civilian education, according to the CAC website. The center is also eagerly addressing its newest campaign, Doctrine 2015, which takes lessons learned from more than a decade of combat and uses current technology to make them a more accessible resource for soldiers and leaders.
One particular portion of the Army Doctrine Publication 1 that Greca touched heavily on was the importance of the various levels of trust that must be maintained. ADP 1 cover’s the role of a soldier as a professional, maintaining standards and the importance of earning and keeping the average Americans trust and confidence.
Trust is “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.” It is the essence of being an effective soldier. Trust is the core tangible needed by the Army inside and outside the profession, according to ADP 1, chapter 2.
Greca, whose job at the CAC at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., is to take initiatives developed at the center and inform the operational Army of the changes, was invited to JBLM by Command Sgt. Maj. John Troxell, I Corps command sergeant major, as part of his education and information program.
“I was asked to come out here as part of Command Sgt. Maj. Troxell’s leader development program for the subordinate leaders he has with I Corps and 7th Infantry Division and other units here at JBLM,” said Greca. “Leader development is a little bit of training, but a lot of education on the initiatives that exist in the Army today. This is an opportunity to educate leaders so they can take this back to their units and inform as well.”
Greca put extra emphasis to his senior NCOs on the importance of reading and understanding ADP 1 and how it addresses the Army as a profession and how the Army will change as it winds down in the theaters of combat.
During his visit, Greca delivered briefings to the senior enlisted soldiers from across JBLM. But he didn’t limit his information to just the NCOs. He also had a message to deliver to officers and commanders.
“Having this opportunity to talk to not only command sergeants major but (company level), battalion and brigade commanders and their NCO counterparts is absolutely standard across the Army. Command Sgt. Maj. Troxell clearly has a strategy to develop leaders and in my opinion it starts with programs like this,” he said.
Greca shared some personal words for the junior enlisted soldiers and their leadership as well.
“I’d like to tell every soldier thank you for your service. Every man and woman who has chosen to serve needs to be commended for that,” said Greca. “The success of the Army as we move into the future won’t be based on Command Sgt. Maj. Greca, it will be based on the Pvt. Smiths in the formations now and how we develop them into the Gen. Smiths and command sergeants major.”
As part of his visit, Greca visited the Henry H. Lind NCO Academy and shared some of his thoughts with soldiers attending the Warrior Leaders Course.
“I know everyone in here came to be the best. Nobody came here to just graduate. Everyone wants to be in the top 20 percent,” said Greca as he looked over the room. “I’m not going to understate the importance of this course. It is absolutely critical to your development. But if you are not here to be among the best, I will tell you to start looking at jobs on the outside. Potentially when this Army lines you up, you won’t stack up against the rest.”
For Sgt. 1st Class Steven Wertman, the briefing was very enlightening to the soldiers, the instructors and staff.
“It gave the younger soldiers more of a definitive answer on issues they were unsure of as far as what exactly the changes for the Army are,” said Wertman, Henry H. Lind NCO Academy branch chief. “They are looking for those to keep who have conducted themselves in an appropriate manner and who have handled themselves professionally throughout their career.”
Greca also commented on how people view the challenges in store for the military and what it means to him on a personal level.
“I see positive things. As we move into the future I don’t see challenges, I see opportunities,” said Greca. “Opportunities that will allow us to shape the force. Now is a prime opportunity to reset our Army and our men and women of character, commitment and confidence and to concentrate on being stewards. It is important to not lose the trust of the American taxpayer and use the resources smartly.”