Wagonmasters dedicate Q-West education center

Photo By Staff Sgt. Matthew Cooley | Col. Larry Phelps, the commander of the 15th Sustainment Brigade, hangs the dedication plaque on the wall at the McKay educational center, Dec. 31, at Contingency Operating Location Q-West. The center was named for retired Lt. Col. Ivor McKay, Phelps' mentor.  

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

12.31.2009

Story by Sgt. Matthew Cooley 

15th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq — The 15th Sustainment Brigade "Wagonmasters" dedicated the McKay education center during a small ceremony, Dec. 31.

The Q-West education center has served more than 1,000 Soldiers since it originally opened, Nov. 5, and has been a centerpiece of Soldier support services here, said Col. Larry Phelps, the 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) commander.

Phelps said choosing whom to dedicate the center to, was an easy one.

"We knew we had to dedicate it to a Soldier who epitomizes wisdom, mentoring, and grooming our next generation of Army leaders," Phelps, a Greenville, Ala., native, said.

Phelps chose retired Lt. Col. Ivor McKay, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, who has been Phelps' mentor for about 10 years.

"Today, we rename our education center in honor of a Soldier with over 60 years of experience in training, mentoring, and growing Soldiers," Phelps said. "We dedicate it to a man who spends his time, even today, despite the fact that he will soon be 90 years old, to sitting together with junior leaders and sharing his experiences and knowledge.

"More than any other officer, Ivor has been fundamental to my own success as a battalion commander, a division rear detachment commander, and now as a brigade commander. I have always relied on him to be my teacher and advisor ... and can think of no one who has done more to pass on the lessons of the past to countless Soldiers," he explained.

15th Sust. Bde.'s Staff Sgt. Bridget Savage, the education center's non-commissioned officer in charge and Princeville, N.C., native, said.

The center has 4 classrooms, 20 internet enabled computers for student use, a printer, and phones.

Interested students can take a Functional Academic Skills Training, FAST, class, the Defense Language Aptitude Battery, Army Correspondence Courses, proctored exams and college courses through GoArmyEd, Savage said.

Savage also said she is capable of handling most issues with GoArmyEd.

"If I can't do it myself, I have contacts on Speicher and Balad," she explained.

The Q-West education center is located on the corner of Main Street and Idaho Street and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.

• Date Taken: 12.31.2009
• Date Posted: 01.04.2010 04:57
• Story ID: 43429
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ