SSI hosts future leaders

By SUSANNE KAPPLER, Fort Jackson LeaderApril 22, 2010

SSI hosts future leaders
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT JACKSON, SC -- Eleven future battalion and brigade commanders visited Fort Jackson Monday to brush up on their knowledge about human resources, financial management and chaplain support. The officers are enrolled in the Sustainment Pre-Command Course at the Army Logistics University at Fort Lee, Va. and are expected to take command of a sustainment unit within the next four months.

Previously, officials from the Soldier Support Institute have traveled to Fort Lee to brief the course on human resources and financial management, but for the first time, participants traveled to Fort Jackson to get a close-up look at the SSI and U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School.

Col. Pat Devine, the SSI's deputy commander, said the visit will have a two-fold impact.

"One (impact) is visibly seeing the facilities and what the Soldiers actually go through," Devine said. "And the second thing is, we have more of a capacity for them to hear speakers, because, of course, you can't send everybody (to Fort Lee) at the same time."

Maj. Colette Moses, the Pre-Command Course director, said that visiting Fort Jackson will help the officers better prepare for their command time.

"This is their refresher course on everything sustainment-wise," Moses said. "So when they go in and actually take command, they have an understanding of what to expect."

In addition to enhancing the future commanders' understanding of how human resources, financial management and chaplains contribute to the mission, Devine said the visit shows the significance of the SSI and Fort Jackson.

"First of all, it's recognition of the importance of AG and finance, primarily, to the warfighting function. For Fort Jackson, it ... includes the Chaplain School," he said.

"Secondly, it gives us more of a capability to put out our message through the experts and make sure that senior leaders get face to face with those future battalion commanders or brigade commanders as they take their command, so that when there are issues and they have questions, they can at least say, 'Oh yeah, I remember that point of contact,' and reach out and ask the question or get resolution."