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Preston reassures Soldiers that the war is making a difference

Army News Service

Release Date: 4/1/2004

By Spc. Kamryn Jaroszewski

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, April 1, 2004) - The sergeant major of the Army explained to junior Soldiers that as the Army transforms to be more lethal, it is also going to put policies in place to keep them more informed and their families stable.

"This is the biggest transformation of the Army in the last 50 years," said Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston's during his first visit to Fort Bragg, N.C.

"We're going to grow the Army from 33 brigade combat teams to 43. They will be smaller and more modular with the same capabilities, if not more lethal. By growing more units of action, we'll have more forces for rotational flow," Preston said.

He also talked about the Army's plan to give more predictability; for example, units will be notified up to one year before deployments.

"They'll go do their deployments, Korea or Bosnia, and come back to their home station," Preston said. "Families stay in place. Kids stay in school."

Preston added that with the Army's transformation, deployments would be reduced to six months.

"From years of experience, we've learned what's the right amount of time for deployments. One year is too long," he said.

Being prepared for a deployment is something Pfc. David Middleton, parachute rigger, 82nd Airborne Division, said would benefit him greatly.

"It allows us to be mentally ready, not just physically ready," he said. "If we know we're deploying, we can say our goodbyes and have more financial stability."

Pfc. Jessica Allemand, parachute rigger, 82nd Airborne Division, said the Army transformation would allow her to maximize her family time.

"My husband is in Iraq right now. If we knew when deployments were, I would know how much time I had with my family. Also, it would help with my family care plan."

Another question Preston addressed was the actual need for troops in Iraq.

"I've had a lot of Soldiers ask me, 'Sergeant major, do you really think we can make a difference (in Iraq)? Do you really think that these people understand democracy?'"

"If you look at Europe in 1939, how many countries really were democracies?" Preston answered.

After World War II, Preston said Soldiers of the "Greatest Generation" set up a democratic government that is still working today. In the last 14 years, other European countries have converted to democracy and are now competing for enrollment into the National Atlantic Treaty Organization.

"Many of those countries have forces right now that are deployed to Iraq as part of that coalition," he said. "Who would have thought that possible 15 years ago?"

Preston said that changes are beginning to take place in Iraq, like the satellite dishes that populate many rooftops.

"Today when you fly over Baghdad and you look down at all of the houses in that city, every other house has a satellite dish on the top of it," he said. "There's apartment buildings over there with 12 and 14 satellite dishes on top of it. You wouldn't have seen that a year ago. That's how quickly that country has transformed, just in the last year."

Above all, Preston said he wanted Soldiers to remember that they are part of a great organization and they should take pride in their service.

"You are the next 'Greatest Generation.' Be proud of your service to your nation," he said. "I am very proud of all of you. We are the greatest Army in the world. There's nobody that even comes close."

(Editor's note: Spc. Kamryn Jaroszewski is a staff writer for the Paraglide.)