New MDW commander comes 'home'

By Paul BelloSeptember 3, 2009

New MDW commander comes 'home'
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Horst recalls days as a private on Belvoir

FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- In many ways, Brig. Gen. Karl Horst's visit to Fort Belvoir was a homecoming of sorts.

It was back in 1973 that Horst, then a private on his first active-duty assignment in the Army, was stationed at the place he now calls the "flagship of the National Capital Region."

As the newly appointed commanding general of Joint Forces Headquarters National Capital Region and Military District of Washington, much has changed since the early days of his career.

Belvoir's school for the Corps of Engineers is gone, along with many other agencies that were, at one time, linked to the installation, Horst said. Today - through all its changes - Belvoir continues to grow and is one of six installations under Horst's command, and he didn't hesitate telling why it means so much to him.

"This was my first assignment right after basic training and it holds a special place in my heart. It always will," Horst told a group of representatives and directors at a staff meeting Tuesday.

"I used to live across from the parade field and can still remember where certain things were located. The community is great and I'm thankful for the time I spent here. It clearly helped me along in my career," Horst said.

He went on to outline his philosophy for success, while reminding colleagues that a free and open democratic society can also be vulnerable. Though the Army exists to fight and win the nation's wars, Horst said it's also important to treat people with dignity and respect - regardless of rank.

"I used to work with a chief of staff that treated everyone the same way. The way he spoke to a high-ranking officer was the same as if he were speaking to an NCO. I pattern myself in the same manner," Horst said. "It's important to surround yourself with good people, but it's also vital to have constructive dialog. What makes the Army so special is its focus on people. We need to remember that."

At the meeting's conclusion, Horst said the information from everyone was useful and would go a long way in understanding concerns and accomplishing future missions at Belvoir. After all, he added it's all about working together.

"The fitness of the installation is a shared responsibility. I'm a strong believer in open-communication," Horst said. "It's one thing to exchange e-mails and phone messages, but it's something else when you can actually sit down and have a face-to-face conversation. Given my position, I believe this is how I should be spending my time and I plan on having many more of these meetings in the future. Promise."

As he approaches nearly four decades of service, Horst said he's living the dream he had as a young boy - that of being a Soldier in the U.S. Army and that he has no plans of slowing down.

At the same time, he said he never thought his Army career would one day include the title of commanding general.

While working as an infantry officer, he remembers just being happy with the opportunities afforded to him by his chosen profession. He shared that thought with a group of Advanced Individual Training Soldiers earlier in the afternoon while visiting Belvoir's dining facility and later told a story he said can be a reminder to anyone doubting their own abilities.

"When I first started in the Army, a sergeant once told me I would never make it and that I should consider getting out and going back to school for a degree," Horst said. "Well, as it turns out, I stayed in and eventually got inducted into the prestigious Sgt. Audie Murphy Club. Needless to say, where is Sgt. Rodriguez when I need him the most'"

A big sports fan, Horst pledges his allegiance to the New York Yankees and Carolina Panthers - the latter mainly due to his previous stops at Fort Bragg. He'll also be cheering hard this fall for his son, Paul, who is a second-team wide receiver for North Carolina State.

As far as his own endeavors are concerned, retirement is not one of them.

"I love what I'm doing and the people I get to work with every day," Horst said with a big smile. "As long as I can contribute in a positive way, I'm going to stay on as long as I can."