ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Maj. Gen. Patricia McQuistion, Army Sustainment Command commanding general, signed the Army Family Covenant on Feb. 15, just before the kickoff of the Rock Island Arsenal Health Fair, located at the RIA fitness center.
"Since the last time, we all ask ourselves, 'Didn't we already do this at one point in time: sign the Army Family Covenant?' McQuistion said. "But I think it is really important message because we have had change in leadership in the Army."
Also serving as keynote speaker for the event, McQuistion took the time to explain the importance of the document being signed.
"What this signals is the continued commitment to the covenant," she said. "This is a shared promise to our families, meaning all the folks that have worn this uniform, regardless of active component, reserve component, Army National Guard or a retiree, previous service or whether you are a contractor or civilian and their families."
The covenant signed here at Rock Island Arsenal applies to the entire Arsenal community. That includes civilian and contractor employees and their family members.
The covenant is a standard Army document that has already been signed by the Army's top leaders. This includes the Sergeant Major of the Army, the Army Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Army. The covenant is to serve as an agreement between Army leadership and Soldiers.
By signing their names, McQuistion, ASC Command Sergeant Major James Spencer and Joel Himsl, garrison manager, are publicly proclaiming they will take care of Soldiers, the members of the other services, civilians, contractors and their family members.
After signing the front of the document, McQuistion invited the audience to come up and sign the back of it. She emphasized that this does apply to all of the Arsenal community members, "We are going to ask all of you to sign the back," she said, "Because you are in this, you are in this covenant."
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