FORT POLK, La. -- Command of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort
Polk changed hands March 27 at Fort Polk's Warrior Field, with Lt. Gen.
Patrick J. Donahue, deputy commanding general, Army Forces Command, serving
as the senior commander for the ceremony. Brig. Gen. William B. Hickman
relinquished command to Brig. Gen. Timothy P. McGuire. But the change of
command was not the only highlight of the morning.
"At 9:10 (a.m.) this morning, we received an email . the U.S. Senate
confirmed the major general promotion list . and Brig. Gen. William Hickman
is on that list," said Donahue. This will be Hickman's second star, coming
as he departs Fort Polk to become the deputy commanding general, U.S. Army
Central Command/Third U.S. Army, Kuwait. Hickman was the JRTC and Fort Polk
commanding general for 28 months.
"Let me talk about what Bill Hickman has accomplished during his precious
time in command. Since November 2012, Hickman has effectively led the 14,000
Soldiers, Army civilians and contractors here at Fort Polk," said Donahue.
"With the support of almost 15,000 Family members, he met every challenge,
however difficult, however complex. Under his command, the JRTC readied 21
brigades for deployment and missions to defend the homeland -- that's over
122,000 Soldiers. Fort Polk has also become a center of excellence for
training Soldiers who are executing advise and assist missions with foreign
armies."
However the hardest training-linked task Hickman achieved during his tenure,
according to Donahue, was in transitioning the JRTC's focus from a
counter-insurgency mission rehearsal to conducting joint combined arms
operations in a decisive action training environment.
"That's Army jargon for basically describing today's world (operating
environment)," said Donahue. "Our Army can find itself fighting a near-peer
hybrid threat with modern weapons like ours, while simultaneously fighting
insurgents or guerillas hidden among the population in urban areas.
Therefore, thanks to Bill, units deploying to JRTC now have to fight armored
foes while dealing with demanding ambassadors, evacuating threatened U.S.
citizens, finding hidden chemical production sites, working with coalition
partners, and all the while defending against cyber attacks and countering
enemy propaganda. In essence, Bill has created a virtual training world here
in Louisiana that is as complex and deadly as the real world."
Donahue said he asked Hickman what he was most proud of accomplishing during
his tenure as commanding general. To his surprise, it was not a training
objective but rather his work in integrating Fort Polk Families with the
Vernon Parish school system and his program to find work for Army spouses.
"Bill's message to change Fort Polk one Family at a time was a resounding
success and is making Fort Polk a station of choice for our Army."
Donahue also spoke of the important role the JRTC and Fort Polk plays in
mission readiness for the entire Army.
"The Soldiers assigned here, from private to general, are among the best we
have," said Donahue. "Innovative, skilled and confident, and most
importantly, dedicated to making our Army ready for any contingency and any
mission."
Donahue then welcomed the incoming commanding general and his Family.
"Brig. Gen. Tim McGuire is no stranger to Fort Polk. (He served as the
deputy commander of Operations Group in 2007). He is a great trainer
himself," Donahue said. "He has proven himself in combat . and he can build
upon the solid foundation that Brig. Gen. (promotable) Bill Hickman has left
for him. To the Soldiers, civilians and Families at Fort Polk, you are in
good hands."
Hickman then took the podium to thank the scores of general officers,
command sergeants major, veterans, Soldiers, Families, local dignitaries and
state officials for their support during his time in command. He also
offered a special thank you to the Heritage families that gave their lands
to make way for the installation, and to the people of Louisiana.
"I have never been in a state that welcomes (the military) as much as
Louisiana," said Hickman. "It is a phenomenal welcome that we all receive on
an almost daily basis. And it's not just a pat on the back . it's the
resources and time and funds shared with our Families, the jobs offered to
our retirees and Soldiers getting out, and all the other things that go
along with being welcomed to a community. It can never be overstated how
important that support is to the strength of this installation and the
Army."
Hickman also said the area encompassing the JRTC is "hallowed ground,"
especially in the training areas, where Hickman said he could see the image
of every Soldier that ever stepped through the wood line or made camp among
the towering pines, from the days of the Great Louisiana Maneuvers to early
days of a fledgling Tiger land.
"I can see them just as plainly as if it were 1948, '50, '55, '68 . because
they're (today's Soldiers) the same Americans. The only difference is they
have better equipment, and the women are standing next to the men today."
McGuire, who comes to Fort Polk from U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force
Base, Florida, where he served as the deputy director for operations, was
the last to speak. As is tradition with incoming commanders, according to
McGuire, he strove to keep his remarks brief . but he wanted to emphasize
how important the mission of the JRTC and Fort Polk is to the Army and
nation, and offered his personal commitment to lead the command to the best
of his ability.
"Nothing did more to prepare me for deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq than
my time here at Fort Polk," he said. "I promise each of you my best efforts
every day. Our Army exists to fight and win our nation's wars. I pledge . I
will do all I can daily to maintain this tradition of excellence, build
combat readiness, take care of Soldiers and Families and to help forge the
warrior spirit."
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