New IMCOM commander challenges employees to be agile

By Robyn Mack, USAG Stuttgart Public AffairsJanuary 19, 2016

Dahl speaks at USAG Stuttgart town hall Jan 14 2016
Commanding general of U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Lt. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, visited U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart for the first time since assuming the position Nov. 4, to speak with military and civilian employees at a workfroce town a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Commanding general of U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Lt. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, held a workforce town hall for U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart military and civilian employees at the Patch Barracks Chapel Jan. 14.

Dahl, who took command Nov. 4, is responsible for the management of 75 installations worldwide, including USAG Stuttgart.

"We are in the business of supporting all those supported commanders out there," Dahl said.

IMCOM professionals provide Base Operations Support, as well as services like housing and family programs to community members.

During the session, Dahl asked the audience to apply their expertise to help inform the command's decision-making as they deal with continued resource and environmental changes.

"One of the first trips I wanted to make was to come here, to Europe," Dahl said. "The reason is, things are changing. As Europe was drawing down and getting smaller and consolidating, there was a lag time in policy, manpower, and resources catching up with that. And then, just as it catches up, guess what happens? As you know, the mission starts to grow and change. So that requires a lot of agility."

Dahl said he plans to take the good ideas he has seen across IMCOM and apply them in new areas to address both the challenges and priority needs of the organization. "There's nothing wrong with copying good ideas and spreading them around."

Over the next few years, IMCOM plans to make changes to installation support to ensure readiness continues to be served as priority No. 1.

"I need your input," the general told the audience. "You've got the texture, you're down there where the rubber meets the road, you're at the delivery level of those services, where the soldiers and their families are. You are going to have to help me make some tough decisions. You'll definitely have a better idea of what the alternatives are, because the alternatives depend on the local environment."

According to Dahl, these employee assessments are needed to address garrison support in a world that is rapidly changing. "That's why I think we have to do the reassessments more often then we have previously done. How do we massage and move things around and remain agile."

IMCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey S. Hartless added that the flexibility in service doesn't go unnoticed. "I want to thank you for everything you do to help the senior commander here to support our Soldiers and families that are stationed here. It's very important."

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