WASHINGTON (Sept. 27, 2013) -- Twenty-four Army Congressional Fellows received a Joint Force Headquarters -- National Capital Region/U.S. Army Military District of Washington mission and capabilities briefing about the command's vast roles within the NCR at Fort Lesley J. McNair.
The Army Congressional Fellowship Program educates selected Army officers, senior enlisted noncommissioned officers, and civilians on the importance of the strategic relationship between the Army and the Congress.
The 43-month Fellowship Program includes pursuit of a master's degree in Legislative Affairs at George Washington University, service on the staff of a member of Congress and utilization on the Army or Joint Staff in a congressional related duty position.
The Fellows spent a portion of their day in an open forum with Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, JFHQ-NCR/MDW commanding general; an opportunity to see a 911th Engineer Company static display and the JFHQ-NCR/MDW Mobile Command Unit.
"This command wears a lot of hats," said Sgt. Maj. Sarita Dyer, Army Congressional Fellow. "I really enjoyed hearing about the 911th Engineer Company's unique, yet important mission."
"The 911th Engineer Company is the only active-duty technical rescue company in the U.S. Army," said Capt. Michael Riccitello III, 911th Engineer company commander. "Our company conducts a lot of mine training. As you can see, there are a lot of underground tunnels including the metro system in the National Capital Region. We need to know how to get in there and get people out immediately during a man-made or a natural disaster."
The 911th Engineer Company trains for and conducts confined space and structural collapse rescue operations in support of military and federal contingencies within the National Capital Region. The unit also provides general engineering support to Fort Belvoir and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington.
"They have a special and important mission that can be life-saving man-made or a natural disaster," said Dyer. "Hearing about their capabilities makes me feel a lot safer within the NCR."
Related Links:
Congressional Fellowship Program (ACFP)
Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington
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