SMA visits the Last Frontier

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Joel Gibson | Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey talks with Command Sgt. Maj. Terry D. Gardner, the senior enlisted adviser for United States Army Alaska, and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Ferdinand, commandant of the Sergeant First Class Christopher R. Brevard Noncommissioned Officer Academy here discuss training at the NCOA. One of the major recurring themes in the NCOA visit was National Guard units using Regular Army training facilities and vice versa in an effort to save money on travel costs for Soldiers.  

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES

08.03.2015

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Joel Gibson 

United States Army Alaska

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey visited the Last Frontier July 30-31 to give the Soldiers, Army civilians and families of U.S. Army Alaska an opportunity to address their concerns at the highest level, and to see how USARAK conducts some of its training.

First, Dailey visited Fort Wainwright and toured the Northern Warfare Training Center where Arctic Warriors showed the Army senior enlisted adviser how they train to fight and win in high-altitude and extreme cold weather conditions and types of equipment used.

At both Fort Wainwright and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Dailey held town hall meetings in which he told Soldiers, Army civilians and family members of the SMA initiatives and explained their significance.

Dailey then opened the floor to questions, stating the concerns raised were being recorded and he will present them to the Chief of Staff of the Army.

At JBER, one of the immediate concerns was confusion over the Army online conduct policy. Dailey said, “You can still have fun without hazing, without bullying and without sexually harassing.”

Soldiers also raised concerns about Army Physical Fitness Test standards and methods changing and uniform regulations.

Dailey responded by saying there are predictive and combat focused tests being considered that would be based on a Soldiers military occupational specialty, and uniform updates like black socks with the improved physical fitness uniform, the Eisenhower style jacket with the Army service uniform, and unisex dress and drill sergeant headgear are receiving support in online polls.

In response to a question about why medical appointments require a long wait, Dailey said much of the wait comes from people missing appointments and rescheduling them.

Dailey asked, “Should we charge Soldiers for missed appointments?” and was met with a resounding hooah.

After the town hall meeting, Dailey met with several USARAK agencies, stopping by the Sergeant First Class Christopher R. Brevard Noncommissioned Officer Academy here, and meeting with Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Ferdinand.

One of the major recurring themes in the NCOA visit was National Guard units using Regular Army training facilities and vice versa in an effort to save money on travel costs for Soldiers.

Staff Sgt. Jason Hernandez, the quality assurance officer of the NCOA said, “He came down with extreme interest in the importance of what we're doing with training here and not just smoothing over and giving you roundabout words, but a direct plan and a time line of when to expect results or changes.”

Staff Sgt. Sean Callahan of USARAK Public Affairs contributed to this story.

• Date Taken: 08.03.2015
• Date Posted: 08.03.2015 18:46
• Story ID: 172009
• Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US