TRADOC commander visits installation

By Allison ChoikeJanuary 30, 2009

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Jan. 29, 2009) - After visiting the installation Friday, Gen. Martin Dempsey, Training and Doctrine commanding general, said Fort Leonard Wood is adapting to the conditions of the Army's current conflict, as well as taking steps toward the future.

"What I find at Fort Leonard Wood and MANSCEN is that they are accomplishing both of those tasks (adapting and working toward the future) to an exceptional degree," Dempsey said.

Dempsey said as he visits TRADOC and other installations there is a lot going on, but the leadership has a focused course of action.

"We are living the nation's war. We are living in a tough environment in the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the middle of all of that we are transitioning into a modular force structure and growing the Army by 65,000 or so ...

"All of which, for some of you, may feel like you are hurdling down the tracks out of control. The fact of the matter is, the chief of staff, defense department and Secretary of the Army has us on a course to make us a more effective and more efficient Army," Dempsey said.

Dempsey said in order for the Army to become more efficient it needs to meet certain demands.

"We have not adapted our processes yet so we can become predictable. In simple business terms - fast, good and cheap - you can get something fast and cheap, but it won't be good; good and fast, but it won't be cheap; cheap and good, but it won't be fast," Dempsey said. We are in the business right now of delivering something fast, but as a result of that it is not cheap."

"I am not suggesting that we become cheap, but we are looking for ways to become more efficient in organizing resources," he said.

Dempsey said while the Army has deployed forces resources should be used in the most efficient fashion.

"We need to be better stewards for the resources given to us ... It just makes sense that after seven years, recognizing that we are going to be deploying into the foreseeable future that we adapt out process and not deliver just in time, but on a predictable basis," Dempsey said.

Dempsey said looking at the future in terms of requirements for the Army - the challenge is to continue to maintain high standards. He said Fort Leonard Wood is setting mark.

"With the three branches here, military police, chemical and engineer, you (Fort Leonard Wood) are setting the standard by working with one another, and we have to get the rest of the Army on that same standard to do the same," Dempsey said.

Dempsey said the Army has come to realize it is in a current era of persistent conflict and within the last 10 years adapted to meet the needs of not only the nation, but its Soldiers.

"All of our centers have had to adapt to the reality of (a) cyclic deployment schemes. If you are going to have cyclic deployments and pushing the forces in the fight, a portion is just back and a portion is just ready, and what the training base has to do is resource those three parcels differently and at different times," Dempsey said. "What Fort Leonard Wood has been able to do in partial at the center of excellence is gain the synergies of meeting the demands of an Army at war in a cyclic deployment sequence."

With that, Dempsey said Fort Leonard Wood and MANSCEN has also learned how to provide stability and civil support in non-combat situations.

While Dempsey looks for an adaptive, fast-paced Army - he looks to the young Army - the future of the Army to help meet some of those demands.

"We have the future of our Army in our Advanced Individual Training and Basic Officer Leader Course students and based on my observations, I would say that the future is bright," Dempsey said. "I hope you feel as good about what you are doing as I do."

Dempsey participated in Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin, Maneuver Support Center and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, promotion ceremony during his visit to the installation.