Photo By Sgt. Marla Ogden | Lt. General Leslie Smith, the Inspector General of the Army, speaks with New York Army...... read more read more
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CAMP SMITH – The Army’s top inspector general and his sergeant major spent an hour with New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Camp Smith Training Site on Wednesday Sept. 2.
Lt. General Leslie Smith and Inspector General Sergeant Major Larry Orvis visited Camp Smith as part of planned visit to the U.S, Military Academy at West Point just down the Hudson River, according to Col. Isabel Smith, the chief of staff of the 53rd Troop Command.
Smith was at West Point to with cadets interested in joining the Army’s Chemical Corps as part of the academy’s Branch Week. Branch Week is when West Point Cadets find out which of the Army’s 17 branches they will serve in.
Since he was going to be in the area, he decided to take advantage of the chance to visit Camp Smith to speak with Guardsmen, according to Smith.
As inspector general, Smith is responsible for overseeing Army training, and other activities and conducting investigations when needed to act as the eyes and ears of the Army Chief of Staff.
Smith met with 40 Soldiers assigned to the 53rd Troop Command Headquarters with 30 Soldiers in the lecture hall in building 500, while 10 Soldiers took part virtually.
Smith discussed important topics that addressed current equal opportunity issues, inequality in the service, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention cases statistics, serving in times of social disparity and civil unrest. Smith also spoke on the current status of Task Force COVID-19 and its development since March.
Participants included civilians and Soldiers from all ranks with the session lasting an hour.
“This session was a very illuminating experience. These sessions help me understand the importance of making the Army a working environment where every soldier is treated fairly despite their gender, race, or religious affiliation,” Sgt. Jose Meza Barahona said.
Smith praised the New York National Guard Soldiers for their efforts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. New York National Guard troops delivered more than 54 million meals to New Yorkers, delivered 113,000 gallons of hand sanitizer, and building more than 3 million COVID-19 test kits as part of the response, Smith pointed out.
He also awarded Inspector General challenge coins to five Soldiers to recognize them for their service.
Specialist Marla Ogden, who was recognized for her work as a public affairs Soldier, said she was really honored to be recognized.
“That was my first coin ever, so it’s an incredible honor to receive this award from Lt. Gen. Smith,” said Ogden. “Sensing sessions that highlight the progressive steps the Army is taking are the moments that motivate me to keep progressing as a soldier.”
Smith also spoke with online with Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, about support from the inspector general to the New York National Guard.
At West Point, Smith also received a brief from the military academy Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis, where they discussed their data collection methods and philosophies for improving Army readiness, his staff said.
The combined visit to West Point and Camp Smith was worth his time, Smith said. He said he was glad to get “the pulse” of cadets, Soldiers and civilian employees in his role as the eyes, ears, and conscious” of the Army, the general said.
(Story by Specialist Jorge Garcia, 138th Public Affairs Detachment)
| Date Taken: | 09.18.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2020 12:09 |
| Story ID: | 378263 |
| Location: | CAMP SMITH , NY, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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