FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Early in his Army career, Maj. Gen. David Doyle, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, received some valuable advice about how to choose one’s future assignment.
“When you get the chance to shape your next assignment, there are three things you should consider: One, who are the leaders with whom you want to work? Two, in what position are you going to serve? And three, what is the mission you’re going to fulfill?” said Doyle.
According to Doyle, the Ivy Division and Fort Carson offer quality leaders, competitive positions and unique and relevant missions for officers who are in the assignment marketplace.
Recently, Doyle relayed this advice to students from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the School of Advanced Military Studies and their family members who expressed interest in joining the division.
His words resonated with several of the attendees.
“The 4th Infantry division is where I started my career and that is what I hold as the standard,” said U.S. Army Maj. Drew Patterson, a field artillery officer and School of Advanced Military Studies student.
Quality Leaders You’d Follow Anywhere
The fact that prospective Soldiers can look forward to serving with high-quality leaders is one of the Ivy Division’s competitive advantages in the talent marketplace.
Patterson attested to the exceptional caliber of leaders in the division.
One of those leaders, Col. Chuck Knoll, the division artillery commander, positively impacted him during a previous assignment.
“It’s personal for me. Col. Knoll was one of my first field-grade mentors and still is to this day,” said Patterson. “I’d follow that man anywhere.”
According to Doyle, Knoll is just one of many exceptional leaders representing the Ivy Division team.
Many others are similarly extraordinary.
“The people who are in the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson are doing very well and are doing things that are going to make a difference in the rest of our Army,” said Doyle. “If you join our team, you’re going to encounter that caliber and quality of people.”
Competitive Positions that are Personally & Professionally Rewarding
The various assignment opportunities in the marketplace for Ivy Division hopefuls will allow them to develop as organizational leaders.
Doyle offered some additional advice that he believes is a key to success for Army majors.
“You have made it to where you are because you have skills, but you’re going to encounter bigger problems—more challenging things—that will be beyond your individual ability to influence,” said Doyle. “If you’re a major and you have a network of people who you can call, then you’re going to be able to solve much more complex problems, and you’re going to be more value added to your team.”
Doyle acknowledged that most U.S. Army units have aspects about them that may be attractive, but he is confident that the experiences officers will have as members of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson will be personally and professionally rewarding.
“If you come to the 4th Infantry Division these four things are going to happen. We’re going to invest in people, accomplish our mission, take care of our stuff, and exercise creativity and innovation,” said Doyle.
Unique & Relevant Missions that Offer Practical Multi-Domain Operations Experience
The 4th Infantry Division’s missions and combat platforms piqued the interest of several of the briefing’s attendees.
“Fort Carson is my number one,” said U.S. Army Capt. Skyler Fairchild, an Infantry officer. “The Stryker is an underrated platform that delivers heavier firepower for the Infantry closer to the objective. I think that’s where the next fight exists.”
Doyle highlighted a couple of the many opportunities those who join the Ivy Division will experience.
“We’ve got a group of partners and a geographic area that makes us have a unique opportunity that you can only get with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson,” said Doyle.
The proximity of the joint force partners offers the division several advantages, especially by enhancing its ability to train for multi-domain operations.
“The reason the 4th Infantry Division is going to be exquisitely capable in multi-domain operations is because of all of the joint force enablers nearby Fort Carson,” said Doyle. “They know that we are doing these things and seek participation in our events. When we do capstone training events, we get spectacular participation from players in all these domains, which makes us real practitioners of multi-domain operations. It’s not just doctrinal or theoretical. It’s practical for us.”
Patterson includes these potential benefits among the reasons for his interest in joining the Ivy Division.
“With all the joint enablers, you get a little bit of everything,” said Patterson. “Being able to cultivate the team up at the division level through command post exercises, through warfighter, and working with the [brigade combat teams] will pay dividends moving forward.”
Join the Ivy Division
For any officers wondering if the Ivy Division is for them, Doyle laid his service record on the line.
“I have a pretty eclectic background, but what it has allowed me to do is work with majors in an incredible set of different conditions. I’ve seen majors of all shapes, ilk and military occupational specialties,” said Doyle. “I know what it takes to make them successful, and I know what it takes to make them be the very best version of themselves.”
The 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson leaders visited Fort Leavenworth as part of their “Winning the Fight for Talent” campaign, which aims to recruit Soldiers who want to contribute to the division’s legacy of success.
One officer underscored the difference between the 4th Infantry Division’s recruiting approach as compared to other units.
“I attended other unit visits, and this is one of the best ones I’ve seen,” said U.S. Army Capt. Erica Burgess, a logistics officer. “You can tell this unit is a team, and they care about the people.”
The 4th Infantry Division is the most agile and lethal division in the U.S. Army inventory and has served in every major U.S. conflict since World War I. Click here to stay current with Ivy Division operations and events.
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