TACOM FMX liaison selected Hero of the Week

Frank Cardoza, a Tank-automotive and Armaments Command future operations liaison between Fort Leonard Wood's Training and Doctrine Command organizations and the TACOM Fleet Management Expansion, received notification Sept. 4 regarding his selection as the TRADOC Hero of the Week. The congratulatory email came straight from Gen. Paul Funk, TRADOC commanding general.

The email from Funk noted Cardoza's efforts concerning training requirements and planning for One Station Unit Training transformation as the reason for the honor.

Cardoza was surprised and honored by the recognition which, he said, was triggered by an earlier presentation of a two-star note from Maj. Gen. Donna Martin, commanding general, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood.

He was quick to point to his colleagues as partly responsible for the lauded work.

"It's a team effort," Cardoza said, referring to the task of ensuring that Soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Jackson, Fort Benning and Fort Lee train on current Program of Record equipment.

As a TACOM liaison embedded with TRADOC Operations at Fort Leonard Wood, he has a much better view and understanding of training needs and requirements.

"By putting me here, it gives FMX an opportunity to see what is happening in the training and TRADOC's world for future requirements," Cardoza said.

He added that he and his team validate the training facilities, ammunition requirements and equipment needs for training. Once the requirements analysis is completed, he then coordinates with higher headquarters for funding.

Validation requires that Cardoza and his teammates comb through Programs of Instruction training lessons and ensure that current, sustainable equipment is listed within the POIs. It's a process that ensures that Soldiers train on currently fielded equipment, not something outmoded, outdated or otherwise incorrect. The process also includes ensuring an adequate number of maintainers to properly support equipment Field level Maintenance requirements.

Cardoza, who's been in his liaison position for four years, noted that once he and his co-workers had a procedure in place that worked well for Fort Leonard Wood, they replicated their efforts at forts Benning, Lee and Jackson.

"We all work together as a team. We're efficient at what we do," he added, calling the process a win-win for TRADOC as well as TACOM.