Fort Jackson, S.C. – Major General Kenneth D. Jones assumed command of the 81st Readiness Division on December 16, 2017 and a ceremony was held this weekend marking his assumption of the position.
“To me it is a continuation of being part of a very historical unit that has done great things for our nation over the last 100 years,” said Maj. Gen. Jones.
According to his Department of Defense biography, Maj. Gen. Jones commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Ordnance Corps, following his graduation from Texas A&M University in 1980. He received his master’s degree from the United States Army War College in 2008. In addition to being a Joint Qualified Officer he is a graduate of numerous military courses including Ordnance Basic and Advanced, Transportation Advanced, Small Group Instructor, Command and General Staff College, Advanced General Joint Professional Military Education, CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course, and the Advanced Senior Executive Program-Army.
Maj. Gen. Jones started his career as a Soldier in the 82d Airborne Division during the Cold War and later commanded at the company, battalion, brigade, and major command levels. Since 2004, he has spent over 35 months deployed to Southwest Asia participating in Operations Iraqi Freedom (2004-05), Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn (2010-11), and Enduring Freedom/ Spartan Shield (2015-16). He most recently served as Deputy Director, Joint Staff J4, the logistics staff for the Department of Defense, in Washington, D.C.
Maj. Gen. Jones’ primary awards and decorations include Legion of Merit Medals, Bronze Star Medals, Meritorious Service Medals, Army and Air Force Commendation Medals, Army and Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Senior Parachutist Badge, Combat Action Badge Meritorious Unit Citations and Joint Chief of Staff Identification Badge.
As the 81st morphs from a Regional Support Command to a Readiness Division, there will be numerous tasks in order to insure efficient realignment. These are tasks the Command fully expects the Wildcats to manage.
“As we begin the next 100 years, (the) expectations are to be ready, to mobilize, to engage in theatre and fight and win our nations wars upon arrival,” Jones said.
Maj. Gen. Jones used his remarks during the ceremony as a, “call to action,” encouraging Soldiers to, “settle for nothing less than their personal best.”
“I expect them to own their share of the task and that means they have to embrace it, and they got to breathe it and live it and take ownership for their section of the readiness because we only build readiness one Soldier at a time,” he said.
The General was quick to point out that the Soldiers could expect the same commitment and dedication from him.
“This is a symbiotic relationship,” he said. “I am going to work just as hard for them as they are for me. As we go forward down this journey together it’s not a sprint, it’s a long marathon to get us where we need to be. I am going to hold myself just as accountable to that task as I expect them to be. We are going to work hard together and I am going to work for them.”
Rosalind D. Chamberlin serves as the chief protocol officer for the commander and echoed the General’s statements regarding working with Soldiers.
“He cares about people first to insure they are capable of accomplishing the mission,” said Chamberlin. “He knows if the person isn’t whole or taken care of, then the chances of them failing increase. He is a general officer who listens and takes suggestions to heart.”
According to Chamberlin, he trusts the expertise of those beneath him and will incorporate their ideas into his plans.
“He appreciates your feedback regarding orders and is open to changing,” she said.
According to their website, the 81st Readiness Division provides vital services and customer care to more than 50,000 Soldiers, Civilians and Family Members in a footprint that includes the Southeast region of the United States and Puerto Rico. Much of the staff is made up of dual-status technicians, ensuring continuity and military expertise.
The unit’s origins pre-date World War I when the 81st Division (National Army) was organized at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, August 1917. It became known as the “Wildcat Division” for their unauthorized sleeve emblems.
During World War I, the unit fought in the Lorraine and Meuse-Argonne campaigns before demobilization in 1919. Reactivated in 1942, the 81st ID fought in the Palau and Philippine campaigns before inactivating in Japan in 1946. From 1947 to inactivation in 1965, the 81st ID remained in the Organized Reserve. The 81st Army Reserve Command (ARCOM) organized at Atlanta, Georgia in 1967.
It deployed units to Vietnam, Southwest Asia, and the Balkans. In 1996, the 81st Regional Readiness Command (RRC) reorganized in Birmingham, Alabama, where it commanded all U.S. Army Reserve units in the southeast United States.
Since 9/11 it has successfully deployed more than 28,000 USAR Soldiers in the Global War on Terrorism. The 81st RD Soldiers still wear the original Wildcat patch, the first and oldest shoulder sleeve insignia of the Army.
| Date Taken: | 02.10.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2018 15:37 |
| Story ID: | 265624 |
| Location: | FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 169 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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