2013 Gen. Frederick M. Franks Award presented to Ancker

By Bill Ackerly - Mission Command Center of ExcellenceDecember 19, 2013

Lt. Gen. David G. Perkins presents the award to Ancker
Lt. Gen. David G. Perkins, Commanding General of the Combined Arms Center, with retired Col. Clinton J. Ancker III, Director, Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate, at Mr. Ancker ceremony for the 2013 Frederick M. Franks Award, from the U.S. Army Armor ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- The commander of the Combined Arms Center, Lt. Gen. David G. Perkins, presented retired Col. Clinton J. Ancker III with the 2013 Frederick M. Franks, Jr. award for his "demonstrated improvement in mounted warfare, specifically in the area of survivability, lethality, maneuverability and mobility."

Sponsored by the U.S. Army Armor School and named after retired Gen. Frederick M. Franks, this prestigious award is presented each year to an Active or Reserve Component officer, warrant officer, noncommissioned officer or Department of the Army civilian, regardless of branch or occupational specialty. The nominee's long-term contributions to the ground-fighting and warfighting capabilities of the U.S. Army and the transformation of the mounted force to fight and win in unified land operations are key factors in selecting the recipient.

Doctrine defines the fundamental principles by which the Army conducts operations, including its armored forces. As the Director of the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate here, Ancker has been largely responsible for shaping Army doctrine for nearly 20 years.

In a letter to Lt. Gen. Perkins about Ancker, the Award, and the Army's new Doctrine 2015 Program, Gen. Franks said, "Doctrine 2015 is the best doctrine that's come out of the Army for the last 40 years." Lt. Gen. Perkins said that Ancker has a unique combination of persistence and dedication in wanting to make sure the Army has it right [with regard to its doctrine]. His work and influence extends far beyond the Combined Arms Center and the United States Army to all our friends and allies around the world."

In accepting the Award, Ancker said, despite however important Armor may be on the battlefield, "it is the combined efforts of everyone who shows up to make our armed forces the true force for good they are in the world."

Headquartered at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the Mission Command Center of Excellence is a network of organizations that develops, integrates and synchronizes Leader Development, Army Profession and Mission Command requirements and solutions to prepare leaders and units to successfully exercise Mission Command during the execution of Unified Land Operations. http://mccoe.army.mil.