Signal senior enlisted leaders want Army space Soldiers input

By DJ Montoya, 1st Space BrigadeOctober 28, 2011

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Ron Pflieger, regimental command sergeant major, U.S. Army Signal Center of Excellence, Fort Gordon, Ga., talks to U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command Soldiers about the changes coming in the Si... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Gerald Williams, 9th Signal Command (Army), U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, Fort Gordon, Ga., talks to U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command signal Soldiers about their space role... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Signal senior enlisted leaders from Fort Gordon, Ga., address the U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces 'signalier' Soldiers at the Peterson Club, Oct. 25 on the upcoming changes in the Signal Corps and the vital role they bring t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- The Soldier 'signaliers' of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command got a special visit by the Army's Signal Corps senior enlisted leader Command Sgt. Maj. Ron Pflieger, regimental command sergeant major, U.S. Army Signal Center of Excellence, Fort Gordon, Ga., Oct. 24-26.

Accompanying Pflieger was Command Sgt. Maj. Gerald Williams, 9th Signal Command (Army), U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, and Sgt. Maj. Nathanial Hatchett from the 15th Regimental Signal Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga.

The visit, sponsored by the 1st Space Brigade, covered briefs and tours of the command's Directorate of Training and Doctrine and the 1st Space Brigade. The highlight of the visit came on Tuesday with a luncheon and meeting with Soldiers at the Peterson Club.

Pflieger has been on the job only 90 days, and is already making changes. "We are taking the Signal Corps in a different direction." He stated.

"When you look across at what the Army asks the Signal Corps to do right now, based on our strength, the way our equipment is laid out, and the way we are designed we can only support 34 percent of that requirement -- in anybody's eyes that is a non-starter."

The answer, according to Pflieger, is micro-cyber, "Basically this is a re-look as to how we want to train, procure and use equipment."

"You have got to give us some feedback. We don't want to change the Signal Corps in a vacuum. We need ideas from you guys out there in the field."

Williams addressed the Soldiers by adding, "You, as Soldiers (signaliers), represent every member of your regiment and you need to be the best damn Soldier that they have ever seen."

"I challenge each and every one of you not to 'drag your duffle bag' as go through the required series of training and certifications in your field.

"The things you do in space impacts the freedoms that we share each and every day as American citizens.

"Our Army is downsizing -- you all know that. But I will tell you your mission here in Army Space and Missile Defense Command is increasing tremendously. So never take light of what you bring to the table as an individual.

"Nothing that they do here in SMDC/ARSTRAT can be successful if they cannot connect to the network. They can talk about us, but they cannot talk without us. And you guys are the backbone to allow the mission of SMDC/ARSTRAT to be successful."

After the group departed on Wednesday Command Sgt. Maj. Marcus Campbell,53rd Signal Battalion, reflected on the visit by saying, "The Soldiers of this command are charged with an awesome responsibility."

"It was good to see the senior enlisted leadership of the Space and Missile Defense Command and the Signal Corps work together to enhance our ability to train the Soldiers of the 1st Space Brigade."