Photo By Jean Graves | Elizabeth Simpson (center), chief, HQDA Protocol Training Program discusses the order...... read more read more
Fort Polk, La. - The Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk hosted a Protocol Fundamentals class October 12 and 13 at the Mission Training Center. The training was widely attended by 41 Soldiers and civilians from six separate installations and representation from most units and organizations on Fort Polk.
Timothy Tilley, director of protocol for JRTC and Fort Polk, said he coordinated the class with the Headquarters Department of the Army Protocol Office prior to his arrival in April.
Tilley said he began his career as a protocol assistant when he retired from active duty in 2009.
“I fell in love with protocol,” he said. “Because it is rules based, it is regulatory based, and I realized everyone wants to do the right thing. Protocol is about doing right.”
Tilley developed a relationship with the HQDA Protocol Office early on, and has coordinated five separate training events at every installation he’s worked at to improve internal communication and outreach efforts with subordinate units on post.
“Before I arrived at Fort Polk, I learned there had never been protocol training conducted here. I knew I wanted to make it happen, and coordinated this before my arrival six months ago,” he said. “This training validates and helps so much with the concept of if it’s good enough for our highest military leaders, it’s good enough for us at Fort Polk.”
Elizabeth Simpson, chief, HQDA Protocol Training Program, said she began formally conducting protocol training in 2012 to help organizations standardize their events and ceremonies.
“The Chief of Staff of the Army at the time noticed everywhere he went, ceremonies looked different,” she said. “There are a million different reasons for that, but ultimately there are certain things that should be the same no matter where you go and what type of an event you’re hosting.”
Simpson said classes like this open up a dialog among installation stakeholders to determine what is best for their organization, post leadership and get everyone on the same page moving forward.
“I want everyone to know the order of precedence about flags, seating personnel at official functions, and getting rid of antiquated gender based etiquette,” she said. “This is a protocol foundations class that gives everyone the fundamentals to successfully conduct ceremonies for their organization.”
Capt. Josh Kniss, executive fellow for the Army Medical Specialist Corps Office at the Medical Center of Excellence, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, said he is responsible for setting up or assisting his organization with protocol efforts on behalf of Brig. Gen. Deydre Teyhen, medical specialist corps chief.
“I’m a physical therapist and was selected for this long term training and education opportunity,” he said. “This is a broadening assignment outside of my normal area of concentration, but more than that it gives me a broader knowledge base outside of my profession. I think the history and rules that go along with protocol can get lost, and I hope I can gain a greater understanding of how to avoid mistakes that will distract the audience from the content of each ceremony and event.”
Kniss said it’s important to honor the history and traditions of the Army through the proper execution of ceremonies conducted at the MECOE.
Staff Sgt. Anthony White, unmanned systems operator, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina recently accepted a position with the division protocol office and said the class was extremely timely for him.
“I’ve been working in the protocol office for about two months,” he said. “This class is important because it will give me more knowledge about the proper way to conduct the multitude of ceremonies and events we conduct on a regular basis.”
White said seating is the biggest take away for him.
“My biggest challenge is seating,” he said. “I see my counterpart creating a seating chart and it looks like magic. This class is helping me understand why certain leaders sit in certain positions at ceremonies, dinners and meetings based on their rank or position. Eventually, he will leave and I want to be prepared to take over seamlessly.”
White said he wants to get so good at doing seating charts that he doesn’t need to reference the protocol precedence list because he will know it by heart.
Logan Morris, CEO, Greater Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce, said he registered for the course to learn more about how the Army makes decisions about event planning processes and ceremonies.
“As the head of the chamber, I attend multiple ceremonies, events, functions and interface with the Army frequently,” he said. “I felt like this was an excellent opportunity to learn those processes that will also help my members understand as they work with the Army.”
Morris said this course will help the community understand what the military expects when they participate in events.
“This will help us set up our events in a way that the military leadership at Fort Polk is used to seeing,” he said. “Both the military and civilian community are dependent upon each other. We consider the Vernon Parish and Leesville community to be the best hometown in the Army. The more our local and military leadership work together, the better quality of life we will all have both on and off the installation.”
Kayla Moore, chief of the garrison plans, analysis and integration office, said this class reinforces a lot of what she’s been doing throughout her career.
“This has been a great azimuth check to codify what I thought was correct in regards to military protocol,” she said. “It is a big deal that this course has been brought to Fort Polk. We are the premier combat training center and we want things to be done correctly. When distinguished visitors come here, we want them to have a positive experience.”
Tilley said for planning purposes, the more time you have the better.
“Units should begin planning as far in front of the event as possible,” he said. “The more time you give yourself to coordinate high level events the better chance you will have for success.”
Tilley said his office is always available to assist.
“We need at least six weeks to ensure there is enough time to ensure the event is carried out properly,” he said. “We should look professional. We should want to represent the organization in a way that brings credit to Fort Polk. One way to do that is to plan events with intent, purpose and focus that achieves the Army’s strategic mission.”
Tilley said protocol is very important.
“Protocol can be, if implemented appropriately, a combat multiplier for a unit,” he said. “The flag is all about history, protocol highlights our time honored traditions as an organization and a country. The emphasis placed on large scale events is important. The sequence of events, the bugle calls, the placement of the flags, the seating of the attendees is all so important. It’s not just about a place setting or having things look right, it’s instilling a sense of correctness in everything we do. Protocol is critically important.”
Editor’s Note: As the public affairs officer for the hospital, I now have a greater appreciation for protocol and the effort required to ensure a great ceremony. Elizabeth Simpson is an amazing instructor with a wealth of experience and knowledge that kept the class engaged at all times.
| Date Taken: | 10.13.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 10.13.2022 16:14 |
| Story ID: | 431249 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 598 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, HQDA Protocol Office trains Soldiers, Civilians at JRTC, by Jean Graves, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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