Fort Riley, J.C. leaders bond during annual tournament

JUNCTION CITY - Leaders from Fort Riley and Junction City paired up for an afternoon of golf July 18 at the Rolling Meadows Golf Course.

Junction City hosted Fort Riley for the first of three home-and-home tournaments Fort Riley leaders will play in this year.

"It was a good community event," said Kevin West, executive officer for the Mission Support Element. "It was a good chance to interact with some of the Fort Riley supporters and see them in a setting away from the normal ceremonies and everything else we do."

West was joined by Gen. David Petersen, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley commanding general - rear, Garrison Commander Col. Kevin Brown, Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Ian Mann, as well as other Fort Riley leaders. The Fort Riley leaders teamed up with Junction City commissioners, civilian aides to the Secretary of the Army and local businessmen, including Mark Edwards, for the event.

"It was a wonderful day," Edwards said. "All the folks from Fort Riley were shooting under par and it made me worry about whether they actually spent time at the office or out at Custer Hill practicing, because they really dusted our shorts. The whole day was really fun."

Both West and Edwards said the golf tournament was a great opportunity for the leaders to spend time together outside of their normal public encounters.

"Fortunately, we all know each other pretty well already, but it's just fun to spend time in a different kind of a setting with people," Edwards said. "This kind of setting allows us to get to see a different side of people."

West said he has gotten to know the Junction City leaders better by playing in the golf tournament.

"I've done this for years now, and it's been a great opportunity to meet some of the community leaders, and it's a chance to get to know them one-on-one," West said.

Tournament host Denise Ott, Junction City Military Affairs Council executive director and Old Trooper Regiment administrator, said the tournament represents the long history of Fort Riley's community partnerships.

"The Old Trooper Regiment, since the late 1800s, has always had a partnership with Fort Riley. Back then, they were referred to as the 'townies' and the 'posties.' It's just a way to build friendship between the two communities," Ott said.