'The pointy edge of the spear:' New IMCOM director visits Fort Jackson

By Mr. Robert Timmons (IMCOM)December 14, 2016

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1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Vincent Grewatz, the Installation Management Command's Director of Training eats lunch with Garrison directors during his visit to Fort Jackson Dec. 8. The trip was Grewatz's first to the installation since IMCOM realigned is command structure away f... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Yvette Brown, 120th Adjutant General Battalion commander, and Col.
James Ellerson, Garrison commander, show Vincent Grewatz, the Installation
Management Command's Director of Training the Reception battalion's
footprint during his visit to F... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
VIEW ORIGINAL

Vincent Grewatz, Installation Management Command's Director - Training visited with Fort Jackson's senior civilian leadership Dec. 8 and 9 as he made his first visit to the installation.

Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Geddings, senior enlisted leader of IMCOM-Training, who visited the post with Grewatz said it was good to be on Jackson where "the heavy lifting" happens.

"You guys are the pointy edge of the spear. You are the ones that make it happen," he said to a gathering of Garrison directorate leaders. "We are here to help you do what you all do."

Grewatz and Geddings were making their first trip to Jackson after IMCOM realigned its command structure away from regions to concentrate on different focus areas such as readiness, sustainment and training.

Col. James Ellerson, Garrison commander, Scott Nahrwold, deputy Garrison commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. John P. Drawbond escorted them around various parts of Fort Jackson including the 120th Adjutant General Battalion and to a briefing on the status of the Directorate of Public Work's main efforts.

According to the new IMCOM director, he expects leaders to take initiative and resolve issues.

"The reason we have the best Army in the world is because we operate with mission command," Grewatz said to the directors. "Once you understand your commander's intent and his boss' intent you are then free to execute towards that objective … As long as you know what your boundaries are, you are free to operate in that space. That is how I'd like to operate."

"Operate by intent, not by permission," he added. "Don't wait for someone to solve the problem for you. Take the initiative and follow up on it. Make sure you understand your boundaries so you won't get someone in trouble because he's the one who's going to take the bullet if you guys get it wrong."

"Based on my experiences directors are the key to the success of IMCOM," he said. "Let me say that again, directors are the key to the success of IMCOM. You are going to be building your best and raising up the next generation."