Stryker Brigade News

During his weeklong tour, the secretary visited more than a dozen installations and was briefed on unit transformation, readiness, family support systems and quality of life issues.

Harvey’s first stop on his trip was Alaska, where he met with Soldiers from U.S. Army Alaska and the Alaska Army National Guard. He also toured the ground-based Missile Defense System at Fort Greely.

“This system is an outstanding example of cooperation between the Guard and the active duty force,” Harvey said.

The secretary also discussed equipment capabilities and received feedback from members of the Stryker Mobile Training Team, who have been training Soldiers of the 172nd Infantry Brigade during their conversion to the brigade combat team organization.

Harvey spent the majority of his trip in the Republic of Korea visiting more than a dozen installations, which he was told were a microcosm of the Army.

“After 24 hours here on the ground, I know they are right,” he said. “The first thing I learned here was that commanders wear many hats.”

The secretary said his number one priority is to provide for the well-being of troops and their families, because Soldiers are truly the center of everything the Army does.

Following a visit to the Joint Security Area, Harvey told commanders in the 2nd Infantry Division that the importance of their deterrence mission is even more evident.

“Your mission of keeping North Korea in check is important not only to preserving the peace and security of the Republic of Korea, but also to helping win the Global War on Terrorism,” he said.

Harvey assured troops that “while in Washington I will be thinking of you and your mission here. I will do my job to ensure that you have the resources to do that successfully.”

The Army’s top official spent Thanksgiving Day visiting dining facilities within 2ID before eating the holiday meal with troops.

“There’s no place I’d rather be on Thanksgiving than with Soldiers,” he replied.

The secretary shared more than a meal with the troops; he also shared his near-term goals for the Army, which starts with developing a vision for the future.

“As part of the position of secretary of the Army, I have established a transition team which will help me develop this vision as well as address key issues.”

He said this team is composed of experienced individuals ranging from active-duty Soldiers and retirees to experts from the private sector.

“I’m going to ask them to help me form a vision for our Army,” he said. “I want a clear visual guide by which we provide a strategy to focus everyone on an end result.”

Harvey said he plans to join together with Gen. Peter Schoomaker to lead the Army to successfully meet the dangerous and difficult challenges of the 21st century security environment.