Army IGs Assist and Support Soldiers throughout ARCENT

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Larry Orvis, tall person at center, the Inspector General Sergeant Major, visits with members of the U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) Inspector General office at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, November 9, 2021. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lamarr Ross)  

KUWAIT

12.01.2021

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Inspector General Agency

By Dorie Chassin, U.S. Army Inspector General Agency

U.S. Army Inspector General Sgt. Maj. Larry Orvis visited Army inspectors general (IGs) forward-deployed to U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) in Kuwait from Nov. 7-12. Here he witnessed firsthand the IGs’ unique opportunities to assist Soldiers of all components, as well as the cohesive measures necessary to support those in theater.

While most field IGs are responsive to a single directing authority, those IGs serving in ARCENT provide oversight for Task Force Spartan, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, and 3d Expeditionary Sustainment Command, which each have their own directing authorities. While directing authorities differ for each command, the IG mission to teach and train, assist, and support Soldiers, Civilians, and Families, remains constant, and collaboration between echelons is vital to this support.

Sgt. 1st Class, Robert Weaver, ARCENT’s IG Noncommissioned Officer, highlighted these collaborative efforts, stating, “Each echelon works together to advise their respective directing authorities on mission capability, resources, and states of discipline and morale within the command.”

Due to the vast area of responsibility, ARCENT IGs often require ad-hoc intra-theater flights to provide boots-on-ground support to geographically dispersed locations. At several locations, Army IGs are not co-located with those Soldiers they serve, and connections with sister service IGs (U.S. Air Force Central, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Joint, and DOD) are key to providing assistance and information on potential issues such as misconduct, personnel management, improper personnel actions, and finance.

“For example, if a Soldier walks into another service’s IG office where there are no Army IGs co-located, that office has our contact information to provide if the Soldier desires to reach out to our office to discuss their concerns,” added Weaver.

In addition to providing support from afar, the IG team conducts quarterly battlefield circulations, in coordination with partner offices, which allows them to provide in-person assistance and engage with senior leaders as units transition into theater.

Sgt. Maj. Orvis recognized both the uniqueness of the ARCENT IGs’ mission and their dedication to carrying it out. “As The Army Inspector General Sgt. Maj, I’ve visited dozens of installations, and met with hundreds of Army IGs, but what struck me the most while visiting ARCENT IGs was their unwavering commitment to assist Soldiers, and not just those in the Army, but those serving in our sister services as well. They didn’t allow their physical distance inhibit their success, and served as a constant for those already in theatre and those just arriving. Your local IG is there to help. Never hesitate to reach out.”

To find your local IG, please visit https://www.daig.pentagon.mil. You can also call the Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-424-9098, or by DSN at 664-8799.

• Date Taken: 12.01.2021
• Date Posted: 12.01.2021 14:53
• Story ID: 410260
• Location: KW