311th hosts 151st Signal Regimental Week
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Crista Yazzie,
311th Public Affairs
FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii- Signaleers from throughout the Pacific and the globe connected in Hawaii for the 311th Signal Command (Theater) Regimental Week, a week of events commemorating the Signal Branch.
The week kicked off with a golf scramble, followed by two intense days of forums for non-commissioned and commissioned officers, addressing tactical and technical changes and advancements in Signal and within the Army itself.
Brig. Gen. William Scott, 311th SC (T) commanding general and Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Thompson, hosted the event. They were joined by several distinguished members of the Army Signal community, most notably the Army's Chief of Information Officer Lt. Gen. Carol F. Pollett and the Army Signal Regimental Corps Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Pflieger.
"We are modernizing the approach to training Soldiers," Pflieger said. "The Signal Corps will decrease the number of Signal MOSs (Military Occupational Specialties) from 17 down to 9 and combine them into what makes sense, creating a multi-disciplined Signal Soldier, while maintaining the current strength across the force."
Throughout the week, Signal leaders discussed topics ranging from Regional Hub Node in Guam, which represents global reach for the Army, to the Signal Corps Regimental Association, which connects the Army Signal community with partners in the civilian Signal community and key leaders around the world.
"The role of the Warfighter is a specific role, to operate, maintain and sustain the Pacific LandWarNet," said Pollett, who engaged attendees with an open question and answer session. "With all the technologies and all the advancements in the Signal Corps, my fundamental belief is in you, the leaders and Soldiers. The leaders and Soldiers are the centerpiece which enables battle command."
The 311th Chaplain (Col.) Gary Gross hosted a prayer breakfast at the Hale Ikena Golf Club on Fort Shafter as part of the week's events. Chap. (Col.) Daniel Minjares, the NETCOM/9th Signal Command Chaplain, was the guest speaker.
The week culminated with two final events on Sept 16, a morning Regimental run through Schofield Barracks and the Regimental Ball that evening at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
The ball included many events, from the posting of the colors to a performance by the historic Kings Guard Drill Team, Royal Hawaiian Guard, and a regimental cake cutting ceremony, culminating with an address by keynote speaker Pollett and a presentation of awards.
During Pollet's address, he discussed some of the accomplishments within the command in the past year, specifically that of the 307th Expeditionary Signal Battalion's simultaneous mission accomplishment throughout the Pacific during their deployment to Afghanistan, and the 311th's timely relief efforts during Operation Tomodachi to provide Signal support immediately following February's disaster in Japan.
"These selfless feats are not the accomplishments of individuals, these things were accomplished by the work of teams" said Pollett.
Pollet also thanked the civilians and families of all the organizations of the Pacific for their hard work and Patriotism.
"You have an opportunity today to set the conditions for the future, but we cannot be afraid of change," he said. "We must embrace transformation as a way of life and set the tradition for a protected enterprise effort structure and services to enable the power to connect anywhere anytime on any device, to leverage information and enable decisive decision making."
The official portion of the evening came to a conclusion with a presentation of the Signal Corps Regimental Awards and retiring of the colors, ending the long and eventful week with dancing.
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