Photo By Maj. Gretel Weiskopf | Navy Rear Adm. David M. Thomas, Jr., commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, greets...... read more read more
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By Gretel Sharpee
Joint Task Force Guantanamo
Army personnel from Joint Task Force Guantanamo gathered at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay's Windjammer Ballroom Tuesday afternoon for an all-hands call with Army Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Peterson, deputy commanding general/chief of staff, U.S. Army Forces Command.
Peterson, along with Maj. Gen. Ronald S. Chastain, deputy commanding general Army National Guard, U.S. FORSCOM, visited Guantanamo in an effort to meet Soldiers in all areas of their command.
FORSCOM is the largest command in the Army and the Army's Force Provider to joint combatant commanders worldwide, according to the FORSCOM mission statement.
"You are the hammer," said Peterson. "When our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines land on a continent and show that flag that you now wear on your right shoulder – that means something."
In a 50-minute brief, Peterson explained the Army's current strategic environment and what it takes to staff, supply and train for the Global War on Terrorism.
Through discussing the basic elements of what it takes to train, supply and deploy a unit, Peterson emphasized the challenges the U.S. military faces and has faced during this war.
Right now, active-duty Soldiers can expect to have 12 months between deployments, and National Guard and Reserve can expect to have up to two years. During that time it is expected that Soldiers will attend training and advancement courses and use the last half of the time training on mission essential tasks in preparation for deployment.
During that time units also need to add personnel and receive the equipment they will need to accomplish their mission.
"It takes every single Soldier in uniform to do the mission we have today," Peterson stressed.
Peterson noted that the U.S. Army predates the United States by more than a year.
"It took a great Army to establish a great nation, and nothing has changed," he said. "It still takes great Soldiers and leaders like you to do it."
| Date Taken: | 01.30.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.03.2009 10:06 |
| Story ID: | 29597 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 188 |
| Downloads: | 172 |
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