FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (June 10, 2010) - The new commander of the Army Corrections Brigade and commandant of the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks will lead the opening of the new prison and employ more than double the number of corrections officers on post.
Col. Eric Belcher assumed command of the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks and Army Corrections Brigade at a Fort Leavenworth ceremony June 4.
Belcher is replacing Col. Jim Gray, commandant of the USDB since 2008. Gray is retiring after 26 years in the Army and is leaving to direct a special training center for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Aurora, Colo.
During Gray's tenure, construction began for the Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility, support buildings and preparations for additional personnel.
The 512-bed, medium-security facility for U.S. military inmates is set to open in the fall. In addition to the prison, new barracks, a new dining facility, a new brigade headquarters, two new battalion headquarters, a company headquarters and a tactical equipment maintenance facility are underway.
Also during Gray's time on post, the 40th Military Police Internment and Resettlement Battalion, Army Corrections Brigade, and 165th MPAca,!E+Company were all activated. When fully staffed, the brigade will have 1,200 Army corrections Soldiers within two battalions and nine companies.
Also, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 705th Military Police Internment and Resettlement Battalion, deployed for a second time in three years in support of Iraqi detainment facilities. HHC, 705th is scheduled to return in a few months.
Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., commander of the Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, said Gray's list of accomplishments was impressive.
"As the first commander of the Army Corrections Brigade and the 49th commandant of the USDB, Colonel Jim Gray should be proud of the legacy he left behind," Caslen said. "Jim will be remembered as an exceptionally competent, compassionate leader, a true corrections officer and a bold innovator."
Gray said thanks for the accomplishments that took place during his tenure were due the Army civilians and Soldiers. Most of the Soldiers, Gray said, were not present at the ceremony because they were conducting the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support of the Fort Leavenworth facility, were deployed to Iraq or were preparing to transfer to or from other correctional facilities.
"A good chunk of the brigade is currently behind the walls of the USDB, safeguarding over 440 of the most dangerous criminals in the United States military," Gray said. "Another big chunk, the Vigilance Battalion HHC (705th) is in Camp Cropper, Iraq, doing essentially the same thing, in support of a sovereign Iraqi government."
Gray said he was especially proud of the deployed HHC, 705th MP I/R Battalion, Soldiers who have served at both Camp Taji and Camp Cropper detainment facilities.
"After successfully turning over and handing off the Taji mission, they just recently deployed to Camp Cropper to take on the mission of safeguarding the 'deck of cards' gang," Gray said. "You may recall those were the 52 most notorious thugs that helped Saddam Hussein maintain his reign of terror over Iraq. What you may not have known is that it's Soldiers from this brigade that, to this day, keep watch over them."
Gray also talked about the mission Fort Leavenworth received to carry out a death sentence on an inmate. The death sentence was granted a stay 10 days beforehand.
"To this day, that sentence hangs over the head of not only that inmate, but the team that will have to carry it out," he said.
Caslen said Gray's departure left a hole in the Army that will remain unfilled for quite some time.
"One of the Army's greatest strengths is that every time we lose a good leader, another one immediately steps forward," he said. "And today is clearly no exception ... Eric, we are certain you will serve us well as our new commander and commandant, and there's no question of your leadership skills and accommodations."
Belcher has served as the Military Police branch chief, senior military advisor to the Afghan National Detention Facility and recently worked for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.
"I will do all I can to professionally lead the command as we grow the brigade over the next few months, open a new confinement facility, redeploy a battalion from downrange, deploy battalion headquarters, move Soldiers in the new barracks and move units in the new headquarters, all while you fantastic Soldiers and civilians maintain the highest standards for fairly, firmly, compassionately caring for the prisoners who are entrusted to our care," Belcher said.
Social Sharing