UPHOLD THE STANDARDS: U.S. Army Japan welcomes first assistant inspector general from Chemical Corps

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class John Carkeet IV | Army Master Sgt. Elizandro Jimenez (second from left), an El Paso, Texas, native serving as the assistant inspector general, U.S. Army Japan (USARJ), stands with his fellow USARJ Inspector General (IG) Office team members minutes after he was sworn in as USARJ’s newest assistant inspector general July 7, 2016, at USARJ headquarters in Camp Zama, Japan. Jimenez is the first Soldier in U.S. Army history to enter the IG ranks from the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. His three-year tour will encompass the Army’s vast and versatile presence in Okinawa, where he will be responsible for approximately 1,600 Soldiers with upholding the Army’s standards, rules and regulations... (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV, U.S. Army Japan)  

CAMP ZAMA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

07.07.2016

Story by Sgt. John Carkeet IV 

U.S. Army Japan

CAMP ZAMA, Japan — For the first time in United States Army history, a member of the Chemical Corps will serve in the Inspector General (IG) ranks.

Army Master Sgt. Elizandro Jimenez, a seasoned chemical operations specialist and U.S. Army Japan’s (USARJ) newest assistant inspector general, took the Inspector General oath at USARJ headquarters in Camp Zama, Japan, July 7, 2016.

“I’ve witnessed many changes during my 15 years of military service,” said Jimenez, a native of El Paso, Texas. “However, one important fact hasn’t changed, and that’s our leaders’ responsibility to take care of their Soldiers. Serving in the Office of the Inspector General puts me in a perfect position to teach, guide and advise my fellow leaders and the Soldiers they command.”

Army Maj. Gen. James F. Pasquarette, commanding general, USARJ, formally inducted Jimenez into the IG community during a brief conducted in his office.

“[Jimenez] is a welcome addition to the USARJ team,” said Pasquarette. “His training and experience will help us resolve problems and improve programs that will enhance relations between the USARJ Community and our Japanese partners.”

According to Army Regulation 20-1, “Inspector General Activities and Procedures,” the IG extends the eyes, ears, voice and conscience of the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army by reporting on the discipline, efficiency, economy, morale, training and readiness of the Army.

“We do this through promoting opportunities, assessing complaints, performing inspections and conducting investigations,” said Jimenez. “These activities help ensure commanders have timely and accurate information necessary to make sound decisions.”

Jimenez’s three-year tour in Japan will encompasses the Army’s vast and versatile presence in Okinawa.

“My office is responsible for approximately 1,600 Soldiers,” said Jimenez. “Right now, that office consists of one person: me. I look forward to the challenge knowing that I have an outstanding team at USARJ’s IG office in Camp Zama to support me.”

“For several years, the Army’s IG presence in Okinawa was limited to email, phone calls, teleconferences and monthly TDYs (Temporary Duty) conducted by the USARJ IG office in Camp Zama,” said Army Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Stockdell, USARJ’s senior enlisted advisor for the Office of the Inspector General. “Jimenez will help our command uphold the Army standards in Okinawa by providing a permanent presence, and the IG Community has set him up for success by giving him the tools, training and resources to accomplish the mission.”

In addition to his formal training at the Department of the Army Inspector General School in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, Jimenez plans to regularly reach out to IG’s subject matter experts and apply his career experience to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities that await him in Okinawa.

“When I was a first sergeant, I never hesitated to turn to my local IG office for assistance,” said Jimenez. “The team there almost always had a solution or could point me to the people who could provide a potential solution. I can now return the favor by empowering Soldiers to identify problems and work together to develop a fair and effective course of action."

Jimenez and his counterparts in Camp Zama look forward to expanding their presence and leave a permanent, positive impact for every Soldier and family member assigned to Japan.

“If at the end of each day I helped at least one Soldier understand and demonstrate what right looks like, then I will consider my mission in Japan a success,” said Jimenez.

• Date Taken: 07.07.2016
• Date Posted: 07.11.2016 09:07
• Story ID: 203589
• Location: CAMP ZAMA, KANAGAWA, JP