Photo By Maj. Jean Kratzer | U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gerald Ford, the retiring chief of the Sustainment...... read more read more
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CAMP SMITH, N.Y. – After 20 years of service with the New York Army National Guard, and with 21 years of prior Marines service before that, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gerard M. Ford, retired Sept. 9, 2018.
For 19 years Ford has been the 369th Sustainment Brigade’s branch chief for Special operations (SPO) in the Sustainment Automation Support Management (SASMO).
Sustainment automation is responsible for making sure that life-sustaining resources, like 'beans and bullets,' make it to the Soldier in a timely manner to keep them ready to support and fight in U.S. military missions and campaigns.
Ford has been at the head of those operations for the 369th for over ten years.
“Chief Fords experience, dedication, and selfless service is an example of the quality of soldiers within the ranks of the Hellfighters,” said Col. Stephen M. Bousquet brigade commander.
Bousquet explained that Ford’s legacy will live on through all of the individuals he has mentored through his 41 years of service.
Ford, a North Massapequa, NY. resident enlisted in the Marines on March 23, 1977 as a radio operator.
He became a Warrant Office in the Marines as an information systems technician before deciding that he wanted to serve his state as well as the country. He signed on to the New York Army National Guard in the same role also as Warrant Officer in September 2000.
“I am blessed to have served with two branches, there are more similarities than you would believe,” said Ford.
The 369th SASMO has undertaken some difficult assignments in the military, including their deployment to Kuwait, which they returned from in the summer of 2017.
Sustainment automation operations were the heart and soul of that deployment and Ford was a mentor to any Soldiers who crossed paths with him, Bousquet said.
Maj. Gen. Paul C. Hurley, commanding general of Combined Arms Support Command, noted that the brigade's work in Kuwait was the most difficult sustainment mission in the Army.
“He is someone I am modeling my career after,” Sgt. Thomas Lee said of Ford.
During the deployment Ford pushed him to do better, Lee said.
Lee’s goal is to try and become a warrant officer, he said, adding that he will miss Ford’s near flawlessness when it came to attention to details.
“He was a great leader, and mentor, he was like a father to us, said Spc. Roseyine Velez a unit supply specialist. “I did not know anything about SASMO, he taught me everything I know in the field.”
Learning to be a good leader has been “the most challenging thing for me in my military career, Ford said.
Leadership, is composed of four parts, Ford explained.
First is working at leadership all the time, everyday, you can never say that I have been here X amount of years and I know what I am doing.
The second key is you don’t necessary want to have people doing things because they are under orders, being told to do it. You want them to do it because they understand that they are part of a team, and part of something that becomes their own mission.
The third factor is listening constantly to Soldiers, and letting them speak their minds. Leaders have to show that they are interested.
Building that rapport is difficult, but if you build it they will tell you everything, your strength and your opportunities. You want to make sure not only do your superiors trust you but also your subordinates.
The last thing is being consistent. You can be a good leader but have a terrible temper or if you are consistent people know how to deal with you, interact with you, and work with you, Ford said.
“Being the leader you want is a process not a destination, a fact we constantly need to remind ourselves,” said Ford.
“He has been an outstanding leader, communicator and a support not only to the SPO but to the rest of the Brigade, especially during the deployment,” said Lt. Col Shawn Shutts. “I will miss his wisdom and understanding.”
“What I will miss the most is the loss of community, the 369th is a family to me, that’s going to be making leaving difficult, but it’s time for me to retire,” Ford said. “The leadership of the 369th gives me personally a lot of confidence as I leave.”
| Date Taken: | 10.16.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.16.2018 14:11 |
| Story ID: | 296627 |
| Location: | CAMP SMITH, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 153 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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