Engineer presents professional information designed to keep U.S. military and civilian engineers informed of current and emerging developments within their areas of expertise for the purpose of enhancing their professional development.
Issue link: https://engineer.epubxp.com/i/145930
Lead the Way Command Sergeant Major Butler J. Kendrick, Jr. Regimental Command Sergeant Major ■ Training. This is the best quality of life we can offer the team. It starts with updated doctrine publications (Army doctrine publications, Army doctrine reference publications, feld manuals, and Army techniques publications); the NCO Education System; leader development; and individual and collective training. A welltrained force is a confdent force that is ready for anything. F irst and foremost, I would like to thank God for the opportunity to lead the fnest military engineers in the world. Hello to all our engineers around the globe. I am glad to be onboard as your 17th regimental command sergeant major as we continue to serve this great Nation together. My wife Kim and I are delighted to have the opportunity to serve the Engineer Regiment as it heads into this coming era of unprecedented uncertainty. As an engineer for the past 28 years, I have served in numerous capacities. All of my assignments were tailored to make a difference and served a purpose for the organization and the U.S. Army. I look forward to serving the Regiment of more than 80,000 engineers (including 550 in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), their families, and 32,000 civilians. My goal will be to lead and inspire everyone with a purpose, a heart, and a clear focus on our mission. As always, I demand a sense of urgency and a team that is ready to collectively tackle our most challenging problems, many of which we are not yet aware. There is no doubt that sequestration will affect the Regiment. Leaders must take the time to mold their forces and to do it properly within the given constraints. This is nothing new. Senior leaders must teach NCOs and commissioned offcers the fundamentals that we mastered before the ongoing overseas contingency operations and the sequestration. Our frst obligation to our Nation is—and always has been— to the Soldiers, since they are the ones who bear the brunt of accomplishing the mission. We will learn from each other and assuredly recapture our profession of arms, the profession which has lapsed over the past decade of war. We will start by making sure that leaders know Field Manual 3-21.75, The Warrior Ethos and Soldier Combat Skills.1 Satisfaction is guaranteed if leaders can shape their formation—even with limited resources and budget constraints—by mastering the tasks outlined in this excellent manual. My responsibilities to the Engineer Regiment are to ensure that we are well trained, fully disciplined, and ready for whatever our Nation asks of us. Below is a list, not all-inclusive and in no particular order, of some areas of interest: ■ Engineers and families. Our most precious resources must be equipped with education, leadership, competence, and commitment to family readiness. Under every conceivable circumstance, our organizations must be armed with sufficient resilience to take care of themselves and the Nation. We simply do not know what is next. Resilience gives us the ability to handle 100 percent of what's coming—and then some. 4 Engineer ■ Brigade combat team engineer battalions (BEBs). The BEB is designed to provide full spectrum capabilities, with a baseline of organic engineer capabilities, to the brigade combat team. We must understand the implementation of the BEB and truly appreciate what this multiple-effects battalion brings to the fght. ■ Resources. Apply creative thinking skills to ensure that we get the best from our equipment and have the confdence to fght anyone, anywhere, anytime. There is no doubt that we have the most competent and seasoned combat force in the world. If the equipment we are providing is not meeting the specifed intentions, let me know. I can't promise you immediate solutions, but I will always bring your perspective to the attention of our most senior Army leaders. Of that, you can be certain. ■ Will to try and succeed. Whenever you feel that you don't have the passion or commitment to follow or lead in this Regiment, take a moment to think about the 378 engineers killed in action during Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn. Then, remember all of those who came before in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Those engineers believed in their leaders; their fellow engineers; their organization; their Regiment and; most importantly, the engineer mission. I look forward to seeing each and every formation that we have out there and to knowing who you are, what your capabilities and limitations are, and how you envision your role in our mission. I am ready, willing, and able to join you in action, either here or downrange as we close out Operation Enduring Freedom. As multipurpose engineers, every day we will learn, grow, and remain instrumental in moving our Army forward into the Army of 2020. Essayons! Endnote: 1 Field Manual 3-21.75, The Warrior Ethos and Soldier Combat Skills, 28 January 2008. May–August 2013