HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Members of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command on Redstone Arsenal came together for a town hall meeting March 9 in the Sparkman Center's Bob Jones Auditorium.
Participating in the town hall meeting via video teleconference were command team members stationed at Arlington, Va.; the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.; Fort Monroe, Va.; and at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
"This is my first opportunity to have a town hall session with you here in Huntsville," said Lt. Gen. Richard P. Formica, USASMDC/ARSTRAT commanding general. "What I would like to do with our town hall is to have an opportunity to exchange information with you."
Formica spent time talking about his vision for the command's future, where everyone fits in, things he has learned as a leader as well as answering questions team members had for him.
During the meeting, the general discussed numerous issues including USASMDC/ARSTRAT being a diverse, complex and global command that provides critical capabilities to the Army. The command performs its mission at a high level while being split based, multi-component with diverse constituencies at dispersed locations with a talented work force of Soldiers, civilians and contractors who contribute on a daily basis.
He talked about USASMDC/ARSTRAT being the Army's force modernization proponent for space, high altitude and global missile defense as well as the Army's operational integrator for global missile defense now and in the future.
"We are one command, which happens to be geographically split-based between Huntsville and Colorado Springs, Colo., at the headquarters level, and we have assets and elements all over the world," Formica said. "No matter where we may be, we are one team and we have one function, to support the Warfighter."
Formica invited one of the command's senior enlisted Soldiers to speak to everyone and inform them of some events that USASMDC/ARSTRAT Soldiers are taking part in as well as training and safety issues that affect everyone in the command.
"The opportunity to go to schools both online and in person is there for the taking," said G-3 Sgt. Maj. John Mattie. "We want our supervisors to be able to give subordinates the chance to go to school.
"Another issue we want to stress is safety," Mattie added. "Everybody is a safety officer. When you see an unsafe act at home or in the workforce, raise your hand and report it."
Before concluding the town hall meeting, the general presented numerous civilian employees with varying years of service pins, as well as Soldiers and civilians who received local and national accolades.
"It is an honor to be able to recognize this workforce for the great job you do on a daily basis, and I am proud to serve with each and every one of you," Formica said.