Faces of the Fort: Post IG answers to ma'am

By U.S. ArmyOctober 2, 2014

Faces of the Fort: Post IG answers to ma'am
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Fort Leonard Wood's Office of the Inspector General has a female at the helm -- a first for the installation.

Lt. Col. Teresa Schlosser, command Inspector General and 20 year Army engineer, has been the IG since August.

"As a female engineer, there already aren't very many of us at this rank. It's kind of cool to be the first female IG on post. I didn't even think about it at first, then we saw a list from the last 20 years, and I was the first female," Schlosser said.

The IG is a special staff officer of the commander, providing the commander with a sounding board for sensitive issues. The IG is also an extension of the commander's eyes, ears and conscience.

"IGs can come from any military occupational specialty. That is one of the things that gives this office a lot of knowledge from different experiences," Schlosser said. "Most of my time has been spent on the construction side, but I spent some time with the combat engineers and Corps of Engineers, too."

The role of the IG is to determine and report on the efficiency, discipline, morale, esprit de corps, readiness and resources of the command.

"Mostly what we do is help people navigate the Army system. A lot of times people just call, because they don't know where to go for help," Schlosser said.

Schlosser has been working on Fort Leonard Wood for more than two years. Before being appointed as the IG, she was the commander of the 169th Engineer Battalion.

She said one of the most challenging things about her new job is her friends and colleagues sometimes have to watch what they say around her.

"As the IG, I am obligated to get involved. People like to vent about what is going on in our lives. People are a little more conscious about venting to me now. A lot of my battle buddies are like, 'are you here as Teresa or the IG.' I would like to just be Teresa, but I am always the IG, so I tell them not to tell me anything they don't want me to help them with," Schlosser said.

For this fiscal year alone the IG office has addressed 714 issues.

"That is more than last year. The IG office tends to see an uptick in business during drawdowns. People are nervous and scared," Schlosser said. "We get a lot of questions about hiring practices."

Schlosser said anyone can file a complaint or request with her office.

"The IG is very centered on confidentiality and validating our answers before we give them," Schlosser said. "We even investigate anonymous complaints. It's interesting that across the Army IG system, anonymous complaints are often substantiated at a greater rate then named complaints."

Schlosser said Soldiers cannot be denied access to the IG, but they should first use their chain of command to resolve issues.

She said her favorite aspect about being the IG is the ability to help people.

"A lot of the same issues that come across my desk as the IG are the same problems I saw as a commander. I can help Soldiers by using my experience," Schlosser said. "Some things aren't IG appropriate, but our office can point them in the right direction."

Soldiers hold the IG position for up to three years.