U.S. ARMY KWAJALEIN ATOLL, Marshall Islands - The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command commanding general made a short but important visit to Kwajalein this week, leaving Wednesday evening.
After spending Tuesday and early Wednesday visiting various departments on Kwajalein and receiving a series of briefings, Lt. Gen. Richard Formica hosted a town hall to discuss concerns about the future of Kwajalein with an audience of Soldiers, Army civilian employees and contract personnel.
Formica said SMDC/ARSTRAT is looking at long-term sustainment strategies for USAKA because of recent budget cuts and those expected in the future, not just for the Army but throughout the Department of Defense.
Tours of key facilities focused on base operations, though Formica did visit the Worthy and mentioned the valuable contribution this vessel makes as part of the "string of pearls" during test operations.
"The Army recognizes the importance of Kwajalein," he said. He cited the recent success of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon test and said he was, 'very proud of the conduct of the test facilities during this test.'"
Formica said there is no question that USAKA is a strategic asset to the nation and will remain so in the future. He said the challenge is figuring out how to shape requirements so that resources support the mission, adding that the feedback he received will be valuable in the decision-making process.
Before the town hall Wednesday, the commanding general spent time at the schools, talking to teachers and students. He stopped in several classrooms and asked students about the good and bad of Kwajalein, getting very honest responses from the children about things such as safety on the island and challenges with food choices. Formica also visited public works and logistics operations, where he received on-site information on crucial infrastructure requirements -- key to confronting the sustainment strategy for USAKA.
Formica opened the town hall with an overview of his command structure and how USAKA fits into that. Slides described SMDC/ARSTRAT as "one command… split based… multi-component… diverse constituencies… dispersed locations… talented work force of Soldiers, civilians, contractors, public servants."
Questions at the town hall largely centered on a pending decision about whether or not the installation will convert to unaccompanied only. Formica will be briefing the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army with the capabilities, risks and recommendations for all options later this month.
"We are cognizant that whatever decisions are made, they affect real people. … I'm really not sure which way it's going to go. We are considering the impact on the workforce -- military, civilian and contractor," he said. "I ask that you trust our leaders to make the right decisions."
Formica also fielded questions about the potential transfer of certain functions to Installation Management Command, SMDC/ARSTRAT's relationship with U.S. Strategic Command and future military construction projects on Kwajalein. He restated that the recent approval of more than $31 million Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization funding will be a shot in the arm for USAKA's infrastructure and he is pleased with the planning on these projects.
He asked that those in attendance at the town hall remind their peers, subordinates and neighbors of the overarching purpose to living on Kwajalein, which is to provide a capability to the U.S. Army and to the United States.
"The strategic significance of Kwajalein to the U.S. Army becomes more clear every time I (see a project) that came from Kwaj. … Let the capabilities (of USAKA) be the loudest voice that speaks to higher headquarters," Formica said.
Deborah Wymer, director of the Technical Center at SMDC, was also on Kwajalein during Formica's visit and joined him for many of the installation tours and at the town hall, and she committed her continued support to USAKA and the range mission. This was the commanding general's second visit to Kwajalein; he previously visited Kwajalein in February shortly after taking command of SMDC/ARSTRAT.
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