FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Senior leadership, including the commanding general, from the Army Materiel Command, headquartered in Redstone Arsenal, Al., met with several military and civilian leaders on Fort Campbell, Ky., Feb 8.
Gen. Dennis L. Via, the AMC commanding general met with the commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Maj. Gen. James C. McConville. Gen Via along with Maj. Gen. Gustave F. Perna, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for AMC participated in roundtable discussions with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Div. (AA) and the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Div. (AA) and a logistics rehearsal of concept (ROC) drill, which is an Army rehearsal to synchronize logistics with an operational plan, focused on the recovery of Army materiel from Afghanistan.
Gen. Via has been touring Army installations speaking to Army logisticians, installation management specialists, and division and brigade commanders to gain collaboration between Army logistical stakeholders. The AMC leadership ensured time was spent to discuss the benefits of the Directorate of Logistics transfer to AMC, which included challenges and the progress in reducing redundancy, enhancing quality and visibility of services on military installations, and standardizing processes for better efficiency in delivering logistical services.
The second key topic was the recovery of Army materiel from Afghanistan. Maj. Gen. Perna was able to bring personal experience to the round table discussion and ROC drill with his experience as a primary logistician in the drawdown and recovery from Iraq. As logistical units deploy to Afghanistan, they must focus on "the art of logistics," Maj. Gen. Perna said. He gave sound advice to the Fort Campbell logisticians and commanders on what should always be taken into consideration. As he went through a list of considerations, he repeated to the attendees that, "you must understand the third and fourth order effects."
Gen. Via gave similar advice and ensured the 101st Sust. Bde. and the 4th BCT leadership that "all strategic stakeholders have unity of effort." He added in reference to the recovery of assets in Afghanistan that "while commanders are still in the fight, they have embraced the retrograde mission."
Not only has Gen. Via met at stateside installations, he recently toured facilities in Afghanistan to ensure AMC maintains essential capability-based solutions for the warfighters during the drawdown and recovery mission in theater.
"Gen. Via's visit to Afghanistan was timely for us. He has been able to provide us with great insight and guidance on the evolving mission, especially as it relates to recovery operations," said Col. Charles R. Hamilton, the commander of the 101st Sust. Bde.
The commander of the 801st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th BCT, Lt. Col. Gavin A. Lawrence commented on the importance of Gen Via's visit. As the "Army's senior sustainment and procurement commander it means a lot for a BCT about to go into the fight to hear from the top that AMC has devoted significant resources to provide the highest level of support during our deployment."
When discussing the communication and the processes between commanders and their Soldiers in Afghanistan and those preparing to go or just supporting the warfighters from Fort Campbell Gen Via said, "what is clear is the exceptional collaboration between here and there."
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