DETROIT -- Capt. Marcos (Mark) Garcia, aide-de-camp to the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command's commanding general, spoke to a group of about 20 students recently at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation on the city's southwest side as part of TACOM's community relations program.
Garcia, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, is a Transportation officer. He discussed his experience growing up, his studies at Texas A&M University and the University of Oklahoma, and what it is like to be a Soldier. The interactive discussion provided the youth a glimpse into Army life and what the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command does to enable the Army's readiness.
"The Army is great," Garcia said, "and being a Soldier is awesome. The Army is also made up of civilians who have jobs like researchers, accountants, lawyers, logisticians and engineers," he explained.
"We (the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command) have a cool mission," Garcia continued. "The bottom line is, if a Soldier drives it, shoots it, eats it or wears it, our team researches, develops, produces, fields, maintains and upgrades it."
The U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command is headquartered in nearby Warren, Michigan, on the historic Detroit Arsenal and is commanded by Maj. Gen. Gwen Bingham. It is the only active-duty Army installation in the tri-state area (Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.) It is part of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
A global enterprise with 19,000 military and civilian acquisition, logistics, contracting and technology professionals, the LCMC's mission is to develop, acquire, equip and sustain the world's most capable military ground and support systems. Approximately 7,500 people are employed on the Detroit Arsenal.
The TACOM Life Cycle Management Command has a robust community relations program designed to leverage partnerships and connections in southeast Michigan. In the last several weeks alone, its Soldiers have supported several Veterans Day observances, participated in community events with the Detroit Pistons as part of the Department of Defense's "Commitment to Service" program, have visited local school children, and exhibited at the North American International Auto Show.
The Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation's mission is to make a difference by creating life-changing opportunities for youth and their families. It is committed to meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, innovative and culturally appropriate services, primarily in southwest Detroit. The organization is embedded in long-standing collaborations spanning academia, business, and the community. The middle and high school students Garcia met with participate in the DHDC's Youth Services program.
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