FORT CARSON, Colo. — Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy tours Family housing at Fort Carson, Colorado, to discuss Army initiatives and quality of life Nov. 7, 2019. McCarthy and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston ate with Soldiers, met with senior leaders, did physical training, toured barracks and held a town hall, to ensure that every voice was heard during their visit Nov. 6-7, 2019. (Photo by Sgt. James Harvey)
“We had tremendous leadership across the Army, in particular the noncommissioned officer corps.”
— Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy
By Master Sgt. Dan Balda, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. —Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston visited Fort Carson, Colorado, Nov. 6-7, 2019, to discuss Army initiatives and quality of life.
The two senior leaders visited units across the installation and held a town hall to discuss Army and Family life initiatives Nov. 7, 2019.
The senior Army leaders ate with Soldiers,met with senior leaders, did physical training, toured barracks and held a town hall, to ensure that every voice was heard.
At the town hall McCarthy spoke about the Army’s focus on readiness, modernization and reform.
“Readiness is something we were challenged with several years ago, because we had a couple of factors that we are not very consistent with; we were challenged with a lot of demand and not enough money to run this. So for the last couple years we have worked very hard to justify our funding,” McCarthy said. “One thing in particular is that we had
tremendous leadership across the Army, in particular the noncommissioned officer corps. It’s as much funding as it is hard work, focus and training plans and the execution of those training plans.”
McCarthy also mentioned another reason they visited Fort Carson-recruitment.
“The reason the sergeant major and I have been in Denver and here is because of recruiting has been a challenge for us,” McCarthy explained. “Drug use, mental health, trouble with the law, obesity; we can’t get them through those wickets without a waiver, so the sergeant major and I are meeting with the mayor of Denver, the superintendent of schools, and local civic leaders to get their help in recruiting to help local men and women to jointhe force. Recruitment is a leader issue. People are our number one priority. We want individuals who can reach their maximum potential so that their career can flourish and they can go do whatever it is they chose to do.”
Grinston spoke to the assembled Soldiers at the town hall about Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville’s five priorities: housing, health care, child development, spouse employment, andpermanent change of station moves.
He focused on two of those, housing and PCS moves. He visited on-post housing and barracks and met with Soldiers and Family members. He also talked about how he wants Soldiers to look around their formation and say, “this is my squad.”
“Everybody has a squad,” Grinston said. “I asked a Family member who’s in their squad and she said another spouse. It’s not just about a rifle squad, (it’s) who you care about. You want them to be the best there is at everything they do.”
“People are our number one priority. We want individuals who can reach their maximum potential so that their career can flourish and they can go do whatever it is they chose to do.”
— Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy