Post announces formation of Sportsman's Council

Fort Jackson will do just about anything to improve its Soldiers' readiness including creating a Sportsman's Club.

Maj. Gen. John "Pete" Johnson, Fort Jackson and Army Training Center commander, announced Feb. 16 during a town hall meeting the formation of a Sportsman's Advisory Council to spearhead initiatives to improve installation outdoor activities.

The council is charged with improving activities such as hunting, fishing, cycling and shooting on Fort Jackson in an effort to make the post one of the premier Army installations. The council is made up of installation commanders, Soldiers, and civilians.

"To me those activities are about Army readiness at the end of the day," said Fort Jackson's senior commander and avid golfer. "If we can convince more Soldiers and their Families they can be a part of all the outdoor activities … that's a win for the Army team.

"It is about readiness, but it's also about having a community here at Fort Jackson where Soldiers, their Families and civilians can thrive."

Outdoor activities help improve "the body and the mind," he added.

Fort Jackson is looking to use the iSportsman app to help those conducting outdoor activities to sign in and out without having to go to range control. The installation is also looking at shooting range hours, and how to improve fishing and hunting, and other improvements to outdoor activities on post.

During the town hall community members voiced various concerns and contrasted Fort Jackson to other installations such as Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

"People have brought up good stuff, and everyone has good ideas," said Rod D. Celestaine, a recently retired command sergeant major, and former senior enlisted advisor to the Garrison commander. "I just want to share that Fort Bragg has good things going on, and Fort Benning (Georgia). We here just aren't resourced that way."

Celestaine added he was glad to see it moving forward because it had been talked about for a long time.

Johnson said he would like to see outdoor activities become self-sustaining like the installation's golf course.

"We are not shooting for second place," Johnson told a group of interested Fort Jackson Soldiers and community members at a Sportsman's Club Town Hall. "We might end up in second place, but we are not shooting for second place."

I am passionate about all the activities we have going on here, Johnson added.

"I have a responsibility here as the senior commander to try to make this community the best we can," Johnson said.