Fort Bliss switches from TRADOC to FORSCOM

By Jonathan W. Thomas (16th MPAD Fort Bliss (PAO is MAJ Randy Taylor) )June 26, 2009

Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Peterson, speaks to the audience at the Fort Bliss TOA
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Senior leaders preparing to cut a ceremonial cake celebrating Fort Bliss' TOA
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Robert S. Rodgers (left) Fort Bliss command sergeant major, Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Peterson, U.S. Army Forces Command deputy commanding general (center) and Maj. Gen. Howard Bromberg (right), Fort Bliss commanding general prepare to cut... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Exchanging of shoulder sleeve insignia during the Ft Bliss TOA
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Peterson, U.S. Army Forces Command deputy commanding general, places a FORSCOM shoulder sleeve insignia on the left shoulder of Maj. Gen. Howard Bromberg, Fort Bliss commanding general. The Texas post transferred from U.S. Army Tra... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
75mm Pack Howitzer during the Ft. Bliss TOA
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FORT BLISS, Texas -- The Fort Bliss commander and the Fort Bliss command sergeant major changed their shoulder sleeve insignia from Air Defense Artillery Center to U.S. Army Forces Command in a transfer of authority ceremony held at the Fort Bliss Air Defense Artillery museum, June 25.

The changing of shoulder sleeve insignia of the post commander Maj. Gen. Howard Bromberg and the post command sergeant major Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Rodgers signifies that Bromberg now assumes responsibility for the training and readiness of maneuver brigades located on the installation.

"Since January 2008 Major Geneneral Bromberg has lead this great fort, he and Glenda (his wife) will continue to do so, but now under the Forces Command umbrella," said Lt. Gen. Joseph Peterson, FORSCOM deputy commanding general.

As the FORSCOM senior commander at Fort Bliss, the responsibilities of Bromberg's mission will be to synchronize, inaugurate and prioritize all Army forces and force generation activities at Fort Bliss, said Peterson.

"We will continue to make [Fort Bliss] better, so to switch our patches today is an exciting time to look at the future ahead and what Fort Bliss can do for our Army and our Soldiers and families," said Bromberg.

As Fort Bliss switches from a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command post to a FORSCOM post it will be the responsibility of FORSCOM to train, mobilize, deploy, sustain and reconstitute combat ready Soldiers capable of responding rapidly to crises worldwide.

FORSCOM will assume authority for ensuring the training, readiness and well-being of the units, Soldiers and families of Fort Bliss, said Peterson.

Bromberg assured the post that this change does not mean that Fort Bliss will become something completely different.

"For many years we've already had a great number of FORSCOM Soldiers on this installation, so this change doesn't mean we're getting a lot of new business, we're just stepping up the pace in the number of our FORSCOM operations," said Bromberg.

Peterson made it clear to the post that FORSCOM is here to help Fort Bliss during the transition.

"We will not let you down, the Forces Command team will work with all of you to ensure we achieve our objectives," said Peterson.