LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Leaders of the 1st Infantry Division visited the University of Kansas on Nov. 23 to formalize a partnership resolution between the "Big Red One" and Jayhawks.
Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley commanding general, and Bernadette Gray-Little, KU chancellor, signed the resolution, which outlined ways the organizations could aid each other in their missions. This included the following goals: create a campus community aware of the military and the role it plays in American society; expand access of Fort Riley to KU leaders, innovators and scholars; provide subject-matter expertise to Fort Riley leaders and assist KU in its mission of education and research; create opportunities for the KU community to connect with, learn from and experience America's Army; and collaborate with KU on mutually beneficial research initiatives.
The university has long had a relationship with the military and veteran communities, Gray-Little said.
"Today, we deepen those ties and build upon that partnership that already exists between us and the Big Red One," she added.
That formal partnership began in February when Brig. Gen. Eric Wesley, then the 1st Inf. Div. senior mission commander, and Col. Miles Brown, commander of the 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., met with KU deans and senior educators. Talk began then about establishing a mutually beneficial partnership between the division and university.
Brown's Soldiers and language and culture experts at KU began meeting as the "Dagger" brigade prepared for a September deployment to Kuwait. That partnership was referenced during the Nov.23 event.
"Col. Brown and his team were very instrumental in bringing this together today and we wish him the best during his deployment," Gray-Little said. "We take great pride in knowing that we played a small part in the language and cultural pre-deployment training for Col. Brown and his brigade. This partnership resolution is a foundation on which we can build future academic exchanges, research initiatives and partnerships."
Before and after the signing, Grigsby; Brig. Gen. John Kolasheski, deputy commander for maneuver; Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Cornelison, 1st Inf. Div. senior noncommissioned officer; Col. Thomas Bolen, 1st Inf. Div. Artillery commander; and Maj. Brad McCoy, 2nd ABCT rear detachment commander, met with KU deans, department heads and other officials in the KU ROTC program, School of Business, KU Edwards Campus and KU Medical Center to talk about ways to implement the goals and take the resolution beyond a piece of paper.
This included opportunities at KU for Soldiers in the business and science, technology, engineering and math fields of study and helping them get class credit for military training and experiences.
"We recognize that we have special responsibilities and at the forefront of those responsibilities is our outreach and service to one half of one percent of the citizens of our nation who serve our country in arms," Gray-Little said.
Grigsby said a partnership with KU could complement the existing ties the Big Red One has with Kansas State University. KU's cultural and language expertise combined with its ties to nearby Fort Leavenworth, the Command and General Staff College and its Ph. D programs are an advantage.
"I think we can just take huge, huge advantage of that," Grigsby said. "And working with two different schools, two different philosophies, two different missions … we see a different perspective, which helps us out tremendously, as well. I think it's a strength. I really do."
With the Army's current fiscal environment, well-qualified Soldiers are re-entering the civilian ranks, Cornelison said. Many enroll at K-State and stay in the community. Leaders can also direct them toward the Kansas City and Lawrence areas, he added, in an effort to give them more opportunities.
And, Grigsby added, the KU community could benefit from the experiences of these Soldiers.
Social Sharing