1775 – Spring 2018
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The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association SPRING 2018 AG NCOs - Backbone of the Corps In Memoriam – MG (Ret) Ronald E. Brooks 1937 - 2018 MG (Ret) Ronald E. Brooks, 80, died peacefully in his home with his family on Thursday, 22 March 2018. He was the last Commanding General of Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. The City of Lawrence (Indiana) Government Center is named in his honor. MG (Ret) Brooks was born in eastern Tennessee in the town of Rogersville on September 12, 1937. A husband, father and grandfather, he lived a life of duty, honor, and sacrifice for others and his country. He and his wife Drusilla (Muse) Brooks were married for 60 years, residents of Lawrence, Indiana, and members of Sunnyside Road Baptist Church. MG (Ret) Brooks graduated from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) having attended on a football scholarship. He won the noted title of “Mr. ETSU” his senior year, and upon graduation was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He MG (Ret) Ronald E. Brooks later received an MBA at Butler University. The son of a farmer, MG (Ret) Brooks loved growing vegetables and sharing them with friends and family. He liked telling stories about hunting and fishing trips, his latest military field exercise, or his largest tomatoes. But most of all, he enjoyed sharing stories about winning important battles on policy debates and strategic decisions that benefited the lives of Soldiers. MG (Ret) Brooks’ Army career began as an Infantry Officer at Fort Benning, GA and he later joined the Army’s Adjutant General’s Corps. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam. During his Army career he also served at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; Fort Rucker, AL; Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN; Fort Leavenworth, KS; the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA; as well as in Washington D.C. and Germany. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1985 and subsequently served in a series of senior leadership roles developing and implementing critical wartime personnel management capabilities and essential support services for Soldiers. In 1989, he was promoted to Major General and assumed duties as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army. His Army career culminated as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Soldier Support Center at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN; a post he took great pride in having served there multiple times throughout his career. In this capacity MG (Ret) Brooks’ instrumental leadership and direction enabled mobilization successes during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. MG (Ret) Brooks ended his last tour of active duty as the driving force behind the successful move of the U.S. Army Soldier Support Center to Fort Jackson, SC where it was renamed the Soldier Support Institute, as well as the transition of Fort Benjamin Harrison from an active duty Army post to a thriving civilian community. For the latter, this enormous achievement spurred economic growth for the community of Lawrence, Indiana, fostered the establishment and growth of residing U.S. Army Reserve and Indiana National Guard units, and secured recreation and support services for military Reservists, National Guardsmen, military Retirees and the local community. After retiring from the Army, MG (Ret) Brooks continued to serve Veterans in the National Headquarters of the American Legion as Executive Director, American Legion Marketing Services Group. MG (Ret) Brooks is survived by his wife, Drusilla (Muse) Brooks; sons, Richard, Mark, and Robert; and grandchildren, Jamie, Cassie, Jane, Max. 03 THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S CORPS REGIMENTAL 37 HURRICANE RESPONSE DEPLOYMENT READINESS ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 39 “BEHIND FREEDOM’S FRONT DOOR” 03 FROM THE EDITOR 41 DEPLOYED THEATER ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM – SECTION I Regimental Leadership SUSTAINING THE BASICS OF HUMAN RESOURCE SYSTEMS IN A TRAINING ENVIRONMENT 04 NOTES FROM The Chief of the Corps 43 VIA LEADS THE WAY TO SOLDIERS’ EDUCATION 05 NOTES FROM GOALS The Chief Warrant Officer of the Corps 45 III CORPS AND FORT HOOD HROC “STANDING TO 06 NOTES FROM DELIVER” TO THE NEXT GENERATION The Corps CSM 47 COL JOHN A. O’BRIEN – AG CORPS SOLDIER FROM 07 NOTES FROM THE GREATEST GENERATION The President, AGCRA 50 THE LIFE IN A DAY AT THE PENTAGON FOR A 420A 08 CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER OF THE AG CORPS CHANGE OF RESPONSIBILITY 53 “DUDE, WHERE’S MY...FAMILY?” a.k.a. NONCOMBATANT EVACUATION OPERATIONS SECTION II Human Resources Command AG Branches (NEO) AND NONCOMBATANT EVACUEE 9NCE) ACCOUNTABILITY 09 THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S CORPS OFFICER SECURING AND SUSTAINING OUR SEAT AT 57 WARFIGHTER TRAINING SUPPORT PACKAGES THE TABLE (WTSPs) 58 TRAINING WITH INDUSTRY SECTION III AG Corps NCOs 60 EXPERIENCE LIFE AS A TRAINING WITH INDUSTRY 11 THE AG NCO’S FIVE PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS IN A (TWI) TRAINEE SPECIAL OPERATIONS REGIMENT 62 IN MEMORIAM BRIGADIER GENERAL (RET) JAMES 15 SHARP AND THE ARMY VALUES: NORMALIZING R. RALPH, JR. THE CONVERSATION 18 THE 178TH HUMAN RESOURCES COMPANY FROM SECTION V CONTENT Army Music FORT BLISS, TEXAS – PREPARED TO ANSWER THE NATION’S CALL ANYTIME AND ANY PLACE 63 ARMY FIELD BAND BIDS FAREWELL, WELCOMES NEW COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR SECTION IV Around the Corps SECTION VI AGCRA 20 CHIEF OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S CORPS PROCLAIM 2018 “THE YEAR OF THE AG WARRANT 64 NEW AGCRA OREGON S.H.I.E.L.D. CHAPTER OFFICER” STANDS UP! 21 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF HUMAN RESOURCES 65 THE COLONEL J.P. MIKULA HR OPERATOR AND ARMY MUSIC WARRANT OFFICER SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD 24 THE 8TH HUMAN RESOURCES SUSTAINMENT 67 AGCRA HORATIO GATES BRONZE MEDAL CENTER “ALWAYS READY” 28 IPPS – A LEADS THE WAY WITH MILITARY PAY 68 COL ROBERT L. MANNING ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL TRANSITION TRAINING 70 GOLD STAR MOTHERS FOUNDATION COMPLEXITIES OF PROVIDING HR SERVICES IN A 30 AGCRA AWARD WINNERS BRIGADE ENGINEER BATTALION 74 32 AN OPEN LETTER TO THE STRENGTH MANAGER IN 78 SUTLER STORE ITEMS A BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS 80 NOT GETTING YOUR MAILED COPY OF 1775? 34 BRIDGING THE GAP: DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMS TO EMPOWER THE FORCE 1775, The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, (ISSN 1551-8205) is published by the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, a non-profit organization, headquartered at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and is devoted to the advancement and professionalism of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regiment members. Articles appearing in the journal do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers and members of the Regimental Association, nor the Army’s HR leadership. Articles submitted by AGCRA members, Soldiers, other service members or civilian employees of the US military services are expressions of personal opinion, unless otherwise stated, and should not be interpreted as reflecting the official opinion of the Department of Defense. 1775 is scheduled to be published three times a year. Articles for submission are welcomed and should be sent to the address provided below. The editor reserves the right to reject any articles and/or to modify articles for clarity or space limitations. The editor also encourages the submission of photographs and illustrations to accompany articles. By submitting your photograph or illustration, you will release publishing rights of the image to The Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, heretofore known as the AGCRA. If other people appear in your photo, you must have sufficient permission of any recognizable figure, model or person or persons appearing in the photograph to be able to submit the photograph to the AGCRA and to be able to release the publishing rights of the photograph. The AGCRA claims all rights to the usage of your photograph for use within 1775 and on printed and/or digital material. Important - By submitting your photograph to the AGCRA, you agree to all of the terms written above. Requests for authorization to reprint 1775 articles should be sent to the address below. VP, Publications, AGCRA PO Box 10026 Fort Jackson, SC 29207 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE www.AGCRA.com The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association | Spring 2018 www.AGCRA.com 18 The 178th Human Resources Company from Fort Bliss, Texas – Prepared to Answer the Nation’s Call Anytime and Any Place Soldiers from the 178th HR Company fill sand bags to build up their Entry Control Point (ECP) during unit defensive operations. Squad Leader, SSG Nicholas Anderson, gives his intent for the construction of the ECP position. 17 30 Complexities of Providing HR Services in a Brigade Engineer Battalion Army PFCs Lucas Garcia and Ashton Furney, and SPC Kevin Gallegos, with the 40th Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB), work as a team to set up an OE-254 antenna for radio 33 communications during the 2018 Iron Ram competition at Kuwait Naval Base in Kuwait, 5 January 2018. Iron Ram is a team event hosted annually by the 40th BEB testing physical fitness and Soldier skills. Army photo by SGT Thomas X. Crough. III Corps and Fort Hood HROC “Standing to Deliver” to the Next Generation Welcome to the III Corps Human Resources Operations Center (HROC). 45 The Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association Officers OFFICERS PRESIDENT COL (Ret) Robert L. Manning VP, HISTORY COL (Ret) Steven R. Shappell VP, AWARDS CW5 (Ret) David A. Ratliff VP, MEMBERSHIP SFC (Ret) Kenneth M. Fidler, Jr. VP, PLANS AND PROGRAMS COL (Ret) William (Al) Whatley VP, SALES AND MARKETING SSG (Ret) Barbara Bishop VP, PUBLICATIONS & ADJUTANT COL (Ret) Robert Ortiz-Abreu, Jr. VP, COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS LTC (Ret) Ward D. Ward VP, INFO TECHNOLOGY & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS LTC (Ret) James J. Galluzzo TREASURER LTC (Ret) David A. Smoot SECRETARY CSM (Ret) Teresa L. Meagher WEBMASTER SFC (Ret) Paul C. Hessert 1775 STAFF AND SUPPORT HONORARY OFFICERS EDITOR COL (Ret) Robert Ortiz-Abreu, Jr.