REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Improving communication, recognizing an outstanding workforce and working together as a team were all topics that the Aviation and Missile Command's commander touched on during his second town hall since taking command four months ago.
Brig. Gen. (promotable) Doug Gabram is committed to holding an AMCOM town hall each quarter to ensure employees have access to their leadership and the opportunity to ask questions. The town hall June 14 coincided with the Army's birthday, so it took on special significance when employees participated in a cake cutting ceremony conducted by AMCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Vela with assistance from AMCOM deputy commander Bill Marriott and AMCOM's outgoing chief counsel Fred Allen, who is moving on to serve in the AMC Legal Office. Allen received a standing ovation when his transfer was announced.
It's recognizing those kinds of events -- birthdays, retirements, promotions, anniversaries and achievements -- that will further build a teamwork environment for AMCOM employees. Trust, team, relationships and attitude are the attributes that lead to readiness for the Soldier, Gabram said.
"We have room to improve. I think you all would agree with that," said Gabram, referring to the four attributes. "The effectiveness of every organization is how much trust you have in your leadership, laterally and down throughout the organization."
Building trust involves education, training, counseling and self-evaluation, and is required to build a strong team, effective working relationships and good attitudes, he said.
"My initial observation of AMCOM comes from the operational side of the Army, where I've spent my whole career," Gabram said. "The breadth and scope of what AMCOM does is amazing. I can't believe all the 'aps' behind the screen that get everything done. Without the work of this dedicated workforce, we can't have readiness at the point of need."
Communication can be improved by being a better listener, communicating early and often, sharing information and ensuring clarity and understanding of the message, said Gabram with the help of employees in the audience who made suggestions.
"Each one of you here will probably take away something a little different from this town hall," Gabram said. "There is a difference between situational awareness and situational understanding."
Gabram outlined the AMCOM priorities, which are Unified Action, Sustainable Readiness, SHARP, Human Capital Development, Organic Industrial Base and Audit Readiness.
Unified Action is AMCOM's name for the Army Material Command's alignment order, which places the Army Contracting Command-Redstone and the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center with AMCOM under its operational control. It is AMCOM's top priority, Gabram said.
"Every day we're getting stronger. We're building relationships. We're building trust," he said. "This is going to take time. We're getting better and we're getting stronger, but there's a lot of work to do. We're building this thing in flight. We're coming together. It takes the whole team to do that."
The following employees were recognized during the town hall for 30 years of government service: Claudinette Purifoy-Fears, Anita Harrison and Elise McWilliams, all of AMCOM G-4 (Plans and Strategy); Wiley Foutch of AMCOM's Security Assistance Management Directorate; Mable McGhee-Grundy of the AMCOM Logistics Center; and Maureen Trainor of AMCOM G-8 (Resource Management).
In addition, Wade Pasquarella of the AMCOM Aviation Center Logistics Command at Fort Rucker was announced as the Army Materiel Command's Employee of the Quarter and Fred Allen, long-time chief counsel at AMCOM, received a standing ovation for his 48 years of service as he prepares to move on to the AMC Legal Office.
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