Fort Sill hosts Workforce Development Symposium

Fort Sill held its first Workforce Development Symposium Sept. 29 at the Fort Sill Conference Center. Fifty Garrison employees attended in person while nearly 400 others across Installation Management Command joined online through Microsoft Teams and Facebook live.

“This is something we had been wanting to do for years,” said Earl Emerson, Workforce Development specialist. Emerson said with the current group of leaders in place at IMCOM-Training and here at Fort Sill, the focus to develop the workforce has never been stronger.

The symposium kicked off with a welcome from Col. Rhett Taylor, Fort Sill Garrison commander.

“We can only get out of workforce development what we put into it. One of the reasons we’re here — we talk about people first and that’s not just the Soldiers, it’s also our Department of the Army civilians.”

Professional development is one of Taylor’s priorities as well as the priority of the Fort Sill and Fires Center commanding general.

“You have to be comfortable outside of your comfort zone. How can you do that here at Fort Sill? We have developmental assignments, not only on Fort Sill but in other areas as well. I challenge you to do that,” said Taylor.

The audience watched a video demonstrating the Garrison’s impact on the Soldiers at Fort Sill followed by a video of civilians who recently took the Oath of Office.

“You at Fort Sill get a rare opportunity to turn civilians into Soldiers. What a privilege. I hope you really take heart that what you do is critically important,” said Vincent Grewatz, IMCOM-Training director. “It’s also important that we take care of you in that process and that’s what this day is all about.”

Career progression

Grewatz said there is no longer a career ladder, but a career lattice as employees balance work and major life events. He said that might look like taking lateral moves and added technology and the changing times make that possible.

“As an Army, as IMCOM, we have to do what both accommodates work and life. And I think we can do that,” he said

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Several more guest speakers followed Grewatz: Sylana Tramble, IMCOM Human Resources director; Tara McAdoo, IMCOM-Training Worforce Development specialist; Mary Cooper, IMCOM-Training Human Resources chief;  Tim McLean, Army Materiel Command G1 division chief;  Tim Weathersbee, Talent Acquisition Division chief; Lisa Rycroft, Talent Acquisition Division chief; and Meegan Kriley-Mackay, Artes pro Vita Academy.

They discussed numerous avenues DA civilians have readily available to grow in their careers.

“The outcome of professional development is really understanding who you are, what you want to do, and in my case what you’re capable of doing,” said Julia Sibilla, Fort Sill Garrison deputy commander. Sibilla discussed her personal experiences in advanced leadership courses.

“Applying for programs, pursuing professional development is not easy. We’re trying to make it easier, but in the end it’s really the employee that has to want to do that experience and go after that professional development. The standard I have for myself is the standard I have for all my staff members who participate in professional development: Absolutely do your best. Be the best participant, take on extra jobs, volunteer, raise your hand, network, maximize the opportunity that you’re given.”

Col. Taylor commended the Directorate of Human Resources for putting the symposium together. He said there can be no true leader development without first providing the forum to discuss it.

Jim Miller, Fort Sill Directorate of Human Resources director, said he believed the event went very well.

“I’m really looking forward to the results in terms of tangible numbers of employees seeking to develop themselves and find ways to improve their professional development needs,” said Miller.

The Workforce Development Symposium can be rewatched in its entirety at facebook.com/usagsill