Senior sergeants discuss sustainment future

By Sharon Mulligan, CASCOM, SCoE Public Affairs OfficerJune 23, 2010

Senior sergeants discuss sustainment future
RICHMOND, Va. - Command Sgt. Maj. CC Jenkins Jr., Combined Arms Support Command, Sustainment Center of Excellence command sergeant major, leads the discussion during the forum for the senior noncommissioned officers, June 21, 2010, at the Richmond Co... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

RICHMOND, Va. - About 30 senior noncommissioned officers representing varied sustainment fields from the active Army, National Guard and Reserve gathered in Richmond June 21-22 to discuss current operations and the future of their "War-fighting Function."

The command sergeants major and sergeants major participated in a forum for the first time during the Sustainment Commanders' Conference, which was held prior to the Association of the United States Army Sustainment Symposium and Exposition at the greater Richmond Convention Center.

"I felt it was important for the senior NCOs to meet, build relationships, and share information to help shape the future," said Command Sgt. Maj. CC Jenkins Jr., Combined Arms Support Command, Sustainment Center of Excellence command sergeant major. Jenkins, who hosted the event, identified several topics for discussion and had specific ideas about how he wanted these leaders to share information. "I didn't want a forum where people just gave slide presentations," he said. "I wanted them to really communicate with each other and talk about their needs and ideas, which they did."

The goal of the forum was to gather feedback and share information about current and future operations in order to continue to grow and develop a professional force capable of accomplishing any mission.

CASCOM, SCoE provides training and leader development, and develops concepts, doctrine and materiel solutions to support the sustainment field. One of the major topics of discussion of this forum was training provided to Soldiers throughout their careers.

"Training has to be relevant, rigorous and robust, but it must also be realistic," Jenkins said. "We have an array of training mechanisms and are here to support them. If they come to us for guidance or identify needs, we provide assistance and make changes based on their feedback."

Other topics of discussion for the senior sustainers included leader development, manpower, readiness, Soldier programs, and the need for multifunctional capabilities.

"There has been a lot of change within the sustainment field in the last 8 years or so," said Command Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hunt, Quartermaster School command sergeant major. "This meeting was a means to gain feedback on the best ways to move forward to ensure we remain relevant and ready for any challenge."