FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick, commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, spoke to a group of Fayetteville civic leaders, Army ROTC cadets and students from Methodist University during a special presentation at the university's Reeves Auditorium Feb. 27.
Helmick discussed final operations in Iraq, as well as techniques in applied leadership.
During 2011, as part of Operation New Dawn, Helmick was the deputy commanding general of operations for United States Forces -- Iraq, whose primary responsibilities were day-to-day operations during the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.
"Doing what you love to do is very important because you have to have passion about what you're doing," said Helmick. "It takes a lot of your time and effort to do what you really love to do. You have to have passion."
Helmick also provided guidance to the future Army officers about the importance of leadership.
"Regardless of whether you know it or not, you are a role model and people are watching you," said Helmick. "It's the people who make the Army what it is today, from private to general, it's an awesome team. Discipline is key in anything that you do and is the foundation of our Army. That's why our Army is so great."
Following his presentation, Helmick answered questions from the audience and was then presented the President's Medallion, the school's highest award, from Ben E. Hancock Jr., president of Methodist University.
"We are proud of our partnership with Fort Bragg," said Hancock. "We really consider ourselves a military university, and to have General Helmick on our campus to share some of his thoughts on Iraq and leadership is very important as we look at our students' experiences while they are here in Methodist. General Helmick is a 'Soldier's Soldier'," said Hancock.
"Thirty-seven years of doing something I really love to do and I feel just as excited about the Army that I did today as when I graduated from West Point in 1976," Helmick said. "If you do the best you can, wherever you go, you can't ask yourself to do anything better because you did your best," said Helmick in conclusion.
Helmick has been the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg since his assumption of command Nov. 19, 2009.
He publically announced at the end of the presentation that he will retire from the Army in mid-May of this year.
Social Sharing