Senator's staff visits CASCOM, views training, facilities

By Keith Desbois, Combined Arms Support Command Public AffairsAugust 23, 2013

Senator's staff visits CASCOM, views training, facilities
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Senator's staff visits CASCOM, views training, facilities
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Grace N. Hurlocker, P. Co., 266th Quartermaster Battalion commander, shows Mark Brunner, senior advisor to Sen. Mark Warner, a display made by an Advanced Individual Training Soldier to bring awareness to sexual assault and harassment preventio... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Senator's staff visits CASCOM, views training, facilities
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Tyler Bowe, Allied Trades Course student, discussed his training at the Ordnance School with Mark Brunner, senior advisor to Sen. Mark Warner, Aug. 21. The Richmond, Va., native had never used a welder before arriving at the school, and spoke ab... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEE, Va. - The Combined Arms Support Command welcomed Mark Brunner, senior advisor to Sen. Mark Warner, for a tour of the command and Fort Lee Aug. 21. Brunner was interested in the command's Sexual Harassment, Assault and Response Program as well as the impacts from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure initiative that provided CASCOM with state-of-the-art training facilities.

CASCOM is responsible for training over 180,000 students annually, through 541 courses taught by the Ordnance, Quartermaster and Transportation schools, Soldier Support Institute and Army Logistics University. It is also a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Upon his arrival, Brunner was given a tour of the post where U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Lee officials explained how BRAC consolidated the majority of sustainment training here. They also showcased how the use of "Green" technologies in the new facilities and housing units helped reduce energy consumption.

After the post tour, Brunner visited the U.S. Army Logistics University to learn about new initiatives and educational partnerships the university is spearheading. He was briefed on the various professional military and continuing education opportunities available at the university, as well as their logistics leader development programs.

His next stop was P Company, 266th Quartermaster Battalion's barracks to see how Advanced Individual Training Soldiers live and learn about the command's SHARP program. Capt. Grace N. Hurlocker, P. Co. commander, briefed Brunner on the safety measures the unit uses to help protect Soldiers from sexual assault and harassment.

"The company has great SHARP representatives who the Soldiers trust," Hurlocker said. "We have also implemented many initiatives to help keep our Soldiers safe both on and off post." Some of those initiatives include closed circuit cameras that monitor common areas, entrances and hallways as well as segregated floors and common areas for male and female Soldiers.

The visit provided an opportunity to showcase measures CASCOM has initiated to combat sexual harassment and assault. Brunner stated these measures reflect the great initiatives being implemented at Fort Lee.

"I'm impressed with your prevention measures," he said. "They are far ahead of where I expected them to be."

His last stop was at the U.S. Army Ordnance School to view Soldiers training at the new hi-tech facilities, which were constructed as part of the BRAC initiative. Ordnance instructors provided a demonstration of the virtual welder simulator. Through the use of simulators, students learn the basics of a specialty before engaging in hands-on training. The simulators also provide a cost-effective means to provide service members the basic skills required to perform their specialty before moving on to more advanced training.

In his parting comments, Brunner stated that the post had changed very much since his last visit three years ago and he will share what he learned with the senator and his counterparts in Washington.

"CASCOM and Fort Lee are continuing to do great things for our Army as well as the local community," Brunner said.

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