Fort Jackson's Garrison command team took time April 30 and May 3 to speak with Department of the Army Civilians and to receive their feedback during an all hands meeting at the Post Theater.
Garrison commander Col. Stephen Elder and Mark Cox, the deputy garrison commander, lauded the workforce's efforts at the event saying they can't thank Fort Jackson's civilian employees enough.
The meeting was one way to recognize employee's efforts and also to get feedback directly from the workers' themselves and is a great way to get the "pulse of the workforce," Cox said. It would also outline the unit's way to continually improve.
"We have an incredible workforce here," Elder said May 3, but he needed to get more feedback in order to continue improvements to the garrison because the "status quo is not good enough."
"If you have things you think we need to improve upon let me know," Elder said as he began speaking about the great things directorates like the Directorate of Public Works, and Directorate of Family, Morale Welfare and Recreation have accomplished. "I have a pretty thick skin … you're not going to hurt my feelings."
Some of the efforts the team praised were the Directorate of Human Resources streamlined onboarding and out-processing program; the ease trainees departed on Victory Block Leave; and the Child Development Centers' ongoing efforts to get reaccredited.
"I am proud of everyone for making this work," Elder said about the CDC's reaccreditation program.
Every year CDC strives to be reaccredited because it shows the centers as being the best they can be.
The Skill Enhancement and Employee Development and Civilian Wellness programs were also highlighted as ways the unit is striving to continually better itself.
The SEED program consists of on-line courses, formal classroom training, and developmental educational opportunities designed to prepare the participants for future leadership while enhancing skills, knowledge, and abilities of current managers and supervisors.
SEED is open to all permanent employees in pay grades up to and including GS-11, NAF, and WG equivalents assigned to Garrison.
The Civilian Wellness Program allows employees to take time off during the workweek to work out and get better physically.
Elder said the way ahead for the garrison included holding an off-site event where employees can learn and network with each other and leveraging partnerships with Columbia.
At the end of each session, Elder took questions from the workforce about their concerns.
He said he was optimistic about the future because "we have the right team mates to pull off anything."
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