FORT KNOX, Ky. – Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston conducted a successful walk-through of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command’s (TSC) barracks and met two of the command’s top senior enlisted leaders while visiting Fort Knox on Oct. 23, 2019.
Grinston interacted with 1st TSC Soldiers while inspecting barracks rooms for health and safety and any maintenance discrepancies.
Command Sgt. Maj. Carey A. Welsh, senior enlisted advisor, Special Troops Battalion (STB), 1st TSC, said he received nothing but positive feedback on the inspections.
“Quite honestly I’m very proud of our Soldiers,” Welsh said. “We didn’t just raise our standards because someone was visiting us. We simply just exhibited the standards we keep. … I have leaders at all levels who are doing the things that we are asking them to do and checking on our Soldiers and making sure our Soldiers are taken care of.”
Grinston tweeted about his impression of Welsh and 1st Sgt. Tammy Belcher, top enlisted for Headquarters and Headquarters, 1st STB, 1st TSC. Both accompanied him on the inspection.
“CSM Welsh and 1SG Belcher are an outstanding example of a strong NCO leadership team. I just finished checking out barracks at 1st Theater Sustainment Command and you can tell these two take the time to make sure their Soldiers are taken care of!"
Grinston awarded four 1st TSC Soldiers coins for maintaining high standards of their quarters. Spc. Khari Johnson, information technology specialist, 1st TSC, was one of the Soldiers who received a coin.
“I think the first impression we made on the new Sgt. Major of the Army was pretty successful,” Johnson said. “If he does stop by 1st TSC again, hopefully we leave an even greater impression.”
Welsh said the visit was a success and a good representation of leadership and noncommissioned officers at all levels.
“We received positive feedback on everything from haircuts to discipline to leader presence, so I was quite happy,” Welsh said.
(Editor's note: Sgt. Nahjier Williams, mass communications noncommissioned officer, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, contributed to this article.)