CAMP HUMPHREYS, Korea -- When Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew D. McCoy arrived here 18 months ago he knew little about installation management because he'd spent much of his career in Airborne and Special Operations units.
Before he came to Camp Humphreys he was the Command Sergeant Major of Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.
He didn't request the garrison command sergeant major's position, the Army selected him for it. He knew being a garrison command sergeant major with Installation Management Command presented him new challenges and opportunities for growth.
"Well, at first I had reservations. As the senior enlisted leader in a tactical organization you're one of the subject matter experts, you bring a skill set and experience to problems you face," McCoy said. "What I realized as I transitioned into IMCOM was as a command sergeant major you're not the most experienced guy at the table, you have directorates that have many, many years of experience and continuity in installations, they are extremely-valuable to the success of your mission."
McCoy also quickly realized that while he could make things happen quickly in his tactical jobs, things move at a different pace in a garrison.
In IMCOM it's more deliberate because resources are involved, he said.
McCoy learned new skills and grew professionally at Humphreys.
"Installation management is all about building healthy and synthesized relationships," he said. "One of the biggest skills I've developed is building relationships with others. I haven't had to rely on that in the past as much as I have in this position."
"We serve many commands here: IMCOM, IMCOM Pacific Region, our senior commander (Eighth Army Commanding General) Lt. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux sets our Fight Tonight priorities, we have customers, military and civilian, it's extremely complex. I don't think I would have had the opportunity to grow as much as I have here."
McCoy said he has appreciated the level of trust the Humphreys command team has from their higher headquarters.
It's been a key indicator of our success, the level of trust and empowerment we have here."
Regarding the on-going transformation of Humphreys McCoy said he's found the community extremely resilient despite the changes and disruptions transformation brought to the garrison.
"On any given day we've got transformation efforts. We're building 655 new buildings and tearing down 329…we've got swing space but we've not been given a bye to make sure the community is ready," he said. "A lot of folks are living here through the most-turbulent times, they get to see the post this will become but they don't get to enjoy some of the facilities to come."
Transparent communication between the directorates and the community helps the community cope, he added.
"It helps," he said. "We live with the same hardships as them. As a whole, though, we've received very-limited comments about transformation."
McCoy also credits his success to the assistance he's received from the "Team of Teams," the other garrison command teams in Korea.
"When we had a problem and needed a solution, we reached out to others, there's tremendous sharing," he said. "They're some of the best commanders and command sergeants major I've worked with in my career…it's a great team of teams."
As his tour draws to a close, McCoy said he's grateful for the opportunities it provided him--community relations events and the chance to work with the KATUSA (Korean Augmentee to the U.S. Army) Soldiers who live and work here.
"The KATUSAs are great, they have high national pride; they bring so much to the alliance with the sharing of their culture. I've enjoyed working with them and the Korean National employees on our staff."
Looking back, he said he's not disappointed he served as a garrison command sergeant major instead of in a tactical assignment.
"It's been a real pleasure, a humbling experience to serve in this position, to serve this community, I'm very thankful for this opportunity."
McCoy's next assignment is as the command sergeant major of the Army's Communications and Electronics Command based at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
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