FORT DRUM,N.Y. -- Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, commander of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum, and Maj. Gen. Troy D. Kok, commander of the 99th Regional Support Command, headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., discussed U.S. Army Reserve facilities on post, as well as opportunities for mutual support and future training, during a meeting Feb. 8 at Hays Hall.
"Today was a great opportunity to show our Reserve partners some of the capability and capacity we have here at Fort Drum," Bannister said. "The meeting today between Maj. Gen. Kok and the 10th Mountain Division is another step in improving our relationship and support opportun-
ities with our brothers and sisters in the reserve component."
Kok spent the morning taking a guided tour through Equipment Concentration Site 1 located within the Fort Drum cantonment area. ECS-1 provides logistical and maintenance support to all U.S. Army Reserve formations in the Northeast.
He then walked through the U.S. Army Reserve Center before meeting with Bannister.
"I couldn't ask for better support," Kok said. "The graciousness of the command to take care of us as I go around and walk the terrain has been superb."
The value of visiting the area was stressed by Kok, who said that being physically on ground to talk with Soldiers and Employees has helped to stimulate communication, which has led to ideas for solutions involving some of the issues that the Reserve facilities face.
"It's about readiness," Kok said. "It's about customer service, and it's about utilizing a holistic approach. It's tying in all of the assets within the area."
In addition to the informal partnership and cooperation between formations like the 99th RSC, the 10th Mountain Division currently is participating in the Northeast Regional Partnership Program and the Department of the Army Associated Units pilot program.
The two programs formalize relationships between the 10th Mountain Division and numerous National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units across the Northeast to increase joint training opportunities, improve readiness and reshape the Army's forces to more effectively meet national security requirements.
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