Leaders in the Flint Hills community got a front-row seat to Fort Riley's future plans Jan. 8 as post leaders unveiled their comprehensive plan to make the installation the "premiere division-level installation in the world" in the next five years.
"What we'll lay out today is our vision," explained Maj. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, who said Fort Riley was the Army's best-kept secret. "We don't want it to be a secret."
In making that secret known, Brooks said the surrounding communities would play a significant part.
"We will not be successful if we don't have your assistance," he said.
The plan, a 175-page document named the Fort Riley 2015 Campaign Plan, was presented to a packed house of community leaders in the 1st Inf. Div. headquarters building. It is posted on the installation's Web site at www.riley.army.mil/fr2015.
Col. Patrick Frank, who was instrumental in writing the campaign plan, said the post has made great progress since 2006, when the 1st Inf. Div. returned to Fort Riley after being stationed in Germany.
The Fort Riley 2015 Campaign Plan builds on that progress and expansion, Frank said, as well as the internal campaign plans that have come before. It also takes cues from the Army's posture statement, looking to restore balance and set conditions for the future.
Using information gathered from a variety of Soldier and Family surveys, leaders addressed areas Fort Riley could improve upon. Goals are laid out in four areas - resiliency, sustainability, community and ARFORGEN, or Army Force Generation.
One of the installation's main resiliency goals is the creation of a Resiliency Campus, the epicenter of an Armywide Comprehensive Soldier Fitness effort that will include a physical fitness and wellness center with access to child care, a spiritual fitness center, all located near the current Army Community Service building on Custer Hill.
In addressing sustainability, Frank referenced man-on-the-street interviews that revealed areas Fort Riley could improve upon, such as traffic congestion.
The plan also addresses Fort Riley's involvement with the community, as well as the community's involvement with Fort Riley.
"We want to ... attract the best of the Army," Frank said. "They want to be part of the team once they hear the story," a story that community members could aid Fort Riley by telling, he said.
Community members took special note of several of the initiatives highlighted under ARFORGEN, whose central theme was calendar predictability. As Frank put it, the immediate goal will be that a Family can plan a weekend trip and be sure to take it, without plans being interrupted by staff duty responsibilities or field training exercises.
Measuring success
Even though the campaign plan is a wide-reaching one, accountability is assigned to every task. Additionally, the goal - for Fort Riley to be the premier division-level installation in the Army - is a measurable goal.
Leaders will quantify variables in Fort Riley pride and morale, the Army's view of the division, Garrison facilities and resources, and community factors to determine if Fort Riley is indeed the premier installation in 2015.
Community reacts
Community leaders were quick to share their thoughts and questions with the Fort Riley leadership, ensuring members of the community would be updated on the plan's progress, asking what they could do to get involved and expressing their approval of the campaign's measurable goals.
Manhattan Mayor Bob Strawn took careful note of the plan's ideas regarding the expansion of the Manhattan airport. In response, Brooks said many issues need to be addressed, such as runway length and load capabilities.
"We believe that will take some time," Brooks said.
In addressing concerns over continuity, Brooks said, the plan was a road map for the future and would be a starting point should new leadership assume command.
"This is how we make things last longer than one briefing in January 2010," he said. "There's much work to be do, but much great work has been done. We're excited."
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