Supply Soldiers with the 325th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, held an open discussion about supply and property accountability with Brig. Gen. Matlock, deputy commanding general-support, 25th ID, at Schofield Barracks, on Sept. 3, 2015.
"Good units use and break equipment during training," Matlock said during the nearly two-hour long conversation.
The meaning behind Matlock's words was that a unit training hard in the field was bound to have losses and damage to equipment.
"A good unit knows when equipment is lost and reports it," he said. "They fix the problem during recovery, not before the beginning of another training mission."
Topics stressed by Matlock included the property book, organizational clothing and individual equipment, basic load and additional authorization list.
"We use supply and equipment unlike other militaries in the world," he said. "The Army is very confident in using our equipment, so accountability is necessary."
He also stated the need for platoon leaders to hold themselves accountable for the equipment they have signed for their platoon, rather than divesting it to Soldiers under their command.
"Every leader ought to be responsible for some sort of property," he said.
The information meeting didn't rely on the traditional conference room, but rather took place inside the Alpha Company supply room where Soldiers could engage Matlock where they worked.
"He didn't rely on PowerPoint slides," said Capt. Shawn Garcia, commander, Co. A, 325th BSB. "He used his experience, which made the discussion very informative."
Garcia recognized the importance of signing out equipment to the user level.
"If you don't sign it down, items will not be accounted for and lost," he said.
Sgt. Pamela Garcia, supply, Charlie Co., spoke to Matlock several times about supply issues and found the time informative.
"It really helped, especially with the company commanders and first sergeants present, here, while seeing Brig. Gen. Matlock understand our issues," Sgt. Garcia said. "His sharing of that knowledge helped to give a better view of supply."
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