Photo By Maj. Ebony Gay | Sgt. 1st Class Cassondra Shelton, 94th Training Division-Force Sustainment...... read more read more
FORT LEE, VA. – Command time for a company grade officer is viewed as a significant stepping stone that further enhances one's military career. For one captain from the 94th Training Division-Force Sustainment, his command tenure would come to an end while the other would embark on his first company command at the largest training division in the United States Army.
The 94th TD-FS, a down-trace unit of the 80th Training Command (The Army School System), gathered at Fort Lee’s General Leonard T. Gerow U.S. Army Reserve Center to bid farewell to Capt. Christopher Fountain, outgoing 94th TD-FS Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander and welcomed Capt. Alex Singh as the HHC commander on Apr. 6, 2019, during the unit’s Change of Command ceremony.
Fountain, a Troop Program Units soldier, serves as a Basic Officer Leadership Course instructor at Fort Lee’s Army Logistics University. He went on to share his initial thoughts about entering his first command tenure Jan. 8, 2018. “It was my first command,” said Fountain. “I was a little nervous because this is not your typical command. We’re at the division level where we have a vast number of company and field grade officers. I had to adapt to communicating with a higher echelon of Soldiers.”
For Fountain, his HHC command came with obstacles. He also expressed his view of the complexity of serving in the Army Reserve. “The most challenging part of my command was getting everyone on the same sheet of music in regards to medical readiness and training,” said Fountain. “Being in the Army Reserve is a little difficult because you only see each other once a month. Quality communication is a big factor.”
As a former active duty Soldier, Fountain used things that he’s learned throughout his military career to aid him with completing his command. “Being proactive is one of the main tools that is needed, especially while in the Army Reserve,” said Fountain. “Along with being proactive, you have to be more engaged outside of duty hours because Soldier interaction has a slightly different structure than the active component.”
For Fountain, other contributing factors to a successful command consist of establishing and retaining rapport with the unit’s staff and Soldiers, along with family care. “Having a good relationship with my unit administrators, first sergeant, and Soldiers is critical,” said Fountain. “For me, family care is of extreme importance, and having that family atmosphere. Doing things to show my appreciation for the Soldiers builds comradery. The Soldiers and my family are the ones who’ve supported me during my command time.”
To endure and overcome the demands of command, Fountain believes one must possess patience. “A critical takeaway from my time in command is patience,” said Fountain. “You have to be patient while in command of an HHC. All command positions are challenging, but in this particular position, I think increased patience is needed to develop solidarity amongst Soldiers and cohesive communication with the unit’s senior leaders and officers.”
Fountain concluded by sharing his thoughts about his command experience and appreciation for the 94th Soldiers. “My overall command experience was great, and I thank the 94th for giving me this position…I’ve learned a lot,” said Fountain. “I greatly appreciate the Soldiers of the 94th…they’re great Soldiers. During some of my most trying times, the Soldiers checked on me, displaying their care and concern for me, and I care about them, their wellbeing, and families as well.”
For Singh, a Nuclear Scientist Officer, his time with the 94th would be his first company command position. He expressed not feeling nervous about entering command due to his experience with a previous challenging position that he held. “When I was a 1st Lt., I was the Chief of Radiological and Nuclear Division at the U.S. Army Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from 2015-2017,” said Singh. I have had experience working with Soldiers, noncommissioned officers, and civilians under my supervision.
“I looking forward to being here and making strides to make the headquarters a better place…contributing as much as possible,” said Singh. “I’ve picked up what the command general’s priorities are…medical readiness, timely completion, and submission of evaluations, and timely completion of travel voucher. My role as a commander will also consist of me enforcing Soldier care for themselves. Those are going to be my priorities.”
Despite Singh’s well-rounded experience working with both civilians and Soldiers, he goes on to share other objectives that he believes will aid him with being successful during his command. “My main expectation is that Soldier aid themselves in regards to self-care,” said Singh. “I understand that many positions at the unit are TPU slots where our Soldiers attend drill one weekend a month.
For Singh, mission-readiness, self-care, and fostering a healthy work environment are goals that he wants at the forefront of his agenda. “Soldiers playing a key role in taking care of themselves while ensuring their mission-readiness is what I aim for with my expectations,” said Singh. “I also want to ensure that the division is a place that our Soldiers look forward to coming to where they are also taken care of. My previous unit had a really good command climate, and I want to set the tone where we get the job done.”
Singh closed by emphasizing his intent as the incoming HHC commander, “I want to ensure that the CG’s priorities are met, Soldiers are taken care of, and that I’m as personable as possible,” said Singh. “It is important to me to address issues at hand, at me and the first sergeant’s level than for them to arise at the CG’s echelon. I’m also looking forward to being involved in the Family Readiness Group, not just to take care of the Soldiers but to support their families as well.”
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2019 00:20 |
| Story ID: | 324989 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT GREGG-ADAMS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 371 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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