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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Staff Report
Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter gathers with more than 50 U.S. general officers during the CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course in Washington, D.C., July, 2015. Kentucky’s Brig Gen. Scott Campbell was one of six National Guard officers selected to attend. (Courtesy photo)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell, of the Kentucky National Guard, is the deputy commanding general of the 38th Infantry Division and was chosen to attend the Department of Defense’s CAPSTONE Program July 13 to Aug. 14, 2015.
The CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course was created in 1982. The Goldwater-Nichols DoD Reorganization Act of 1986 subsequently mandated that all newly selected active duty generals and flag officers attend CAPSTONE. The course is managed by the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. Course attendance is still competitive for National Guard and Reserve general officers.
According to NDU, the course objective is to make these individuals more effective in planning and employing U.S. forces in joint and combined operations. The CAPSTONE curriculum examines major issues affecting national security decision making, military strategy, joint/combined doctrine, interoperability, and key allied nation issues.
Campbell was one of only six National Guard general officers included in the class of 55 Fellows. Few Kentucky Guard general officers have been extended the privilege of attending this course since its inception.
Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell tours the Great Wall of China during the overseas portion of the CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course, July, 2015. Campbell visited China, Japan and Korea as part of the course which examines major issues affecting national security decision making, military strategy, joint/combined doctrine, interoperability, and key allied nation issues.(Courtesy photo)
“This was by far the best educational experience of my 34-year career,” said Campbell. “It was an amazing experience that exposed me to senior decision makers, both domestic and international, and gave me a better understanding of the complexities in the world and the security challenges facing the U.S.”
The course began in Washington, D.C. with briefings from directors of the various federal agencies and combatant commanders. Day 3 began stateside travel with visits to various military command headquarters in Virginia, Florida, Nebraska, Colorado, and Illinois.
The class returned to Washington upon completion of the 10-day stateside trip and prepared for overseas travel. The class was broken into three groups traveling to Europe, South America or the Pacific region.
Campbell was selected for the Pacific trip which included stops in Japan, South Korea, and China with a visit to U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii on the return trip. The overseas trip lasted approximately 13 days with the CAPSTONE Fellows visiting with U.S. and host nation military officials, U.S. Embassy officials to include ambassadors, host nation government officials and local think tanks.
Campbell said the focus of the overseas tour was to study U.S. policy as it relates to the visited nation and the region. The exchanges also included cultural stops which included The Forbidden City and The Great Wall of China, the Demilitarized Zone, Seoul Tower and Gyeongbok Presidential Palace in Korea, and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
The course ended back in Washington, D.C. and concluded with briefings from the Secretary of Defense and directors of federal agencies, to include the National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as the DoD Service Chiefs from each branch of the military.
“I feel very privileged for being selected to attend,” Campbell said. “The senior leader briefers and CAPSTONE staff told us that the most fundamental objective of this course is an understanding and appreciation of the other services and agencies and building relationships with the other Fellows that will stay with you throughout your life. I feel like that objective is being met. I’ve already met several of my Capstone classmates in other forums and we now share a common bond.”
Kentucky maintenance unit recognized for being “best in the Army”
Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Soldiers of the 307th Component Repair Company stand in formation following the presentation of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 27, 2014. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
GREENVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Guard’s 307th Component Repair Company has been named one of the best maintenance companies in the whole Army, and they’ve got the hardware to prove it.
A plaque was presented to the entire unit at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 27, 2014.
Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell presents the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence to Capt. Eric Green, commander of the 307th Component Repair Company at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 27, 2014. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
The unit received the Combined Logistics Excellence Award for the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence for the 2012-2013 Department of the Army competition for the medium category.
Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell, the Land Component Commander for the Kentucky Army National Guard delivered the award to the unit, calling them not only one of the best maintenance companies, but one of the best companies overall in the Army.
Lt. Col. Todd Ewing, commander of the 751st Troop Command said the unit truly understands how to work as a team and their focus on the mission is what impressed him the most about the 307th.
“I am very proud of the soldiers of the 307th,” he said. “They exceeded the standards in every level of competition and represented themselves and the Kentucky National Guard extremely well.”
“I am glad we were able congratulate them here today on a job well done. Each and every Soldier in the 307th has certainly earned it.”
Please see the original story on the award below.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — In July of 2012, the Kentucky Army Guard’s 307th Component Repair Company conducted it’s annual training to transition from a component repair mission to a sustainment maintenance level mission. Even with the change in mission, the Soldiers of the unit continued their efforts to ensure the 307th met and exceed it’s task requirements, regardless of the type of work they received.
The Soldiers’ commitment paid off, and the Central City, Ky.-based unit raked in the awards. For fiscal year 2012, the 307th won four unit awards from the state to National level.
They first were recognized with the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME) for the medium Modified Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE) category at the state level for 2012; next was the Region III winner for National Guard Bureau (NGB) for 2012. The 307th then hit the national stage as the NGB winner for 2012 for the medium category
The extraordinary run culminated with the Combined Logistics Excellence Award for the AAME for the 2012-2013 Department of the Army competition for the medium category.
“This competition was a true reflection of how great the 307th was during the 12 months period,” said Capt. Timothy Lee, who commanded the unit from 2011-2013.
“I am extraordinarily proud of my Soldier and their significant efforts, dedication, and sacrifices during this timeframe,” he added. “The Soldiers of the 307th went above and beyond all expectations every drill weekend and every training event. It was a unparalleled pleasure commanding this exceptional unit.”
The 307th is made up of roughly 140 Soldiers with a variety of military specialities that have taught them to repair anything from heating and air units to tracked vehicles. Many Soldiers work full-time in a military maintenance facility, a fact that Chief Warrant Officer Greg Scott said the unit uses to its advantage.
“We are a maintenance unit competing for a maintenance award, we played to our strengths,” said Scott who worked as an engineer maintenance warrant officer. “The 307th not only utilizes maintenance systems and programs, but they seek to understand and master them and become subject matter experts. By doing this, others often turn to us for guidance on fixing things from all over the state.”
Scott said it was because of the Soldiers’ dedication to their job that the unit was so highly recognized. Each member strived to do what was right and exceed the standard, a quality that has been with the unit for years said Staff Sgt. Ashley Wolfe, Training NCO for the unit.
“It has been a pleasure to be a part of a such a unit for this long,” said Wolfe, a 12-year member of the unit. “We have excelled in our transformation from a maintenance company to a CRC over the last 12 years and the 307th has consistently met all the challenges placed before us. I’m sure our teamwork and dedication to duty will continue with every mission of this unit.”
According to the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps and School, the winner of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence displays an expertise and professionalism in performing their tasks. Each unit is evaluated on their effectiveness in ensuring that Soldier competency is maintained. Assessments of each unit in the categories of attitude and effective leadership are rated with a benchmark based on those of past winners, and the tenets of exceptional maintenance processes that were exhibited are validated and ranked.
With past Army-wide awards, the winners would travel to Washington, D.C. to accept the trophy or plaque, but due to budget constraints, the award was to be mailed to the unit. At the time of publication, the award has yet to make it to the 307th. A fact Lee said does not disappoint the unit.
“Regardless of who gave it to us, or when we get it, it will hang on our wall, saying we are the best,” he said. “It will hang there as a constant reminder of the hard work and dedication of these Soldiers and their pride in doing a good job for the Kentucky National Guard.”
