History, education key subjects at leadership sessions

By Mike Bassett and Kevin Fleming, ASC Public AffairsJune 21, 2016

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2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Grant Morris, G3/5/7 (Chief of Operations, Plans and Training), U.S. Army Sustainment Command, and George Eaton, historian, ASC, lecture on the evolution of Army logistics and creation of ASC at Heritage Hall, Rock Island Arsenal, June 16. (Phot... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, speaks about why he thinks it is important for personnel to develop professionally following June's senior-level Leadership Professional Development session at Heritage Hal... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, presents Kim Summers, director, Army Management Staff College, with a letter of appreciation for speaking at June's senior-level Leadership Professional Development session... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- U.S. Army Sustainment Command personnel learned about the history of Army logistics and the civilian education system during two separate Leadership Professional Development seminars at Heritage Hall, Rock Island Arsenal, June 16.

The lectures were given as part of the commanding general's monthly LPD, an initiative designed to achieve maximum institutional readiness among Soldiers and civilians serving at RIA.

George Eaton, historian, ASC, served as the speaker for the first session, which was targeted for personnel in non-supervisory positions.

Eaton lectured about Army logistics as it evolved following World War II to the present. He focused on events that refined Army logistics and that might eventually lead to a system that could function as efficiently in peacetime as in wartime.

"Today, ASC, through Army Field Support Brigades, Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, the Distribution Management Command, and Logistics Readiness Centers, provides a global logistics structure that stretches from the national to the tactical level, implementing most of the concepts of the revolution in military logistics and creating a logistics system that operates in peacetime like it does when deployed," said Eaton.

Attendees said they found the lecture insightful and interesting.

"[It] opened my eyes to how ASC fits into the effort to equip and sustain the peacetime and wartime Soldier," said Paul Trier, headquarters ASC Civilian Personnel Division (G1).

Trier said he liked seeing how the Army's logistics structure has evolved.

"The most interesting thing I learned was about the transformation of the Army from a bureau system to a command structure. Also fascinating is the continued reorganization in Army Materiel Command from 1962 until present."

Kim Summers, director, Army Management Staff College, served as the keynote speaker for the senior-level LPD session following Eaton's presentation.

"[AMSC] educates and develops the Army Civilian Corps for leadership and management responsibilities throughout the Army and serves as executive agent for the Army Civilian Education System," according to its website.

Summers discussed the driving philosophy behind the CES. He said the system is built on leaders who drive change by helping others to see their value and by moving them to change in new positive directions. He said the system depends on leaders who actively engage in change.

Summers also compared and contrasted civilian education to the military education system. He said that, unlike Soldiers who have to follow Army directives, civilians have the choice to develop. But, he said, civilians are still expected to be just as dedicated to their service as Soldiers in order to maintain trust in the Army profession.

"The business of leadership and leadership development is everyone's responsibility, and there's a lack of shared understanding about what that means," said Summers. "I want [attendees] to take away a better understanding of what we do, and why we do it … and hopefully that sparks some initiative in folks to continue on their own professional development."

Summers also presented an overview of the CES, which included a chart depicting the various education opportunities offered for each level of professional development.

Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, ASC, spoke briefly about why he thinks it is important for personnel to develop professionally.

"Mission accomplishment is number one," said O'Connell. "The more training, education and experience we give you the more you'll develop. As you develop, your people will develop, and you will perform the mission better and faster. It's maximizing your potential to be all you can be."

O'Connell encouraged senior personnel to support the further development of their staffs.

"In the civilian corps, we need you as the civilian leaders, to make sure the people below you have the individual development plan so they know what gates there are, they know what schools they have to go to, they know what jobs there are and they know what career broadening assignments there are," he said.

Related Links:

Army Sustainment Command homepage

Army Sustainment Command Facebook page

Army Sustainment Command Flickr page

Rock Island Arsenal Homepage

Army Sustainment Command YouTube page