Army Reserve’s 108th Training Command wins two
Quality of Life awards at AUSA conference

By Rob McIlvaine
FMWRC Public Affairs

WASHINGTON, DC – At the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) annual meeting and exposition, John McHugh, Secretary of the Army, awarded the 2009 Quality of Life Awards to eight commands, garrisons, and programs that demonstrated commitment to improve Soldier and Family quality of life on base and in the community in five categories.

The 108th Training Command, U.S. Army Reserve, Charlotte, N.C. won both the 2009 Secretary of the Army Quality of Life award for Best Practice and the Medium Installation Secretary of the Army Superior Quality of Life award.

Two years ago, Army leadership unveiled the Army Family Covenant to communicate the Army’s commitment to improving Soldier and Family readiness through programs and services, quality health care, housing, schools, youth services, child care, education and employment.

Since its unveiling, commanders around the world have demonstrated their commitment to providing Soldiers and Families a quality of life commensurate with their service by providing a strong, supportive environment where they can thrive, and by building partnerships to enhance their strength and resilience.

All Army commands, Army service component commands, direct reporting units, Army National Guard and Army Reserve units and personnel are eligible for this annual award. Throughout the year, they are encouraged to hold internal competitions progressing from the installation or unit level, to regional levels, and at the headquarters level, before being forwarded to the Department of the Army level as nominations for the Secretary of the Army award.

For the second year, the Secretary of the Army recognized these superior achievements through five Quality of Life Award categories: Command Team; Best Practices; Partnership, with one Honorable Mention; Communication Excellence; and the Superior Quality of Life Awards presented to a small, medium and large installation or command.

The 2009 Secretary of the Army Command Team Quality of Life Award was presented to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, U.S. Army Reserve, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
 
The Military Intelligence Readiness Command demonstrated unwavering personal command team involvement in integrating numerous Quality of Life improvements throughout the global intelligence community. The Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Leslie A. Purser, created a culture that ensures Family Programs are integrated into every level of the Military Intelligence Readiness Command’s planning and operations. She linked the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration program, a new Army Reserve initiative, with Family Covenant initiatives, ensuring essential training was delivered to Soldiers and their Families across the command’s five specialized brigades, 11 battalions, and 70 detachments, groups, and teams, located in 32 states and overseas. This effort is in keeping with the commitment to Soldiers and Families as pledged in the Army Family Covenant.

The 2009 Secretary of the Army Quality of Life Award for Best Practice was presented to the 108th Training Command, U.S. Army Reserve, Charlotte, N.C.

The 108th Training Command demonstrated the ability to develop best practices, designed and proven, to improve Soldier and Family Quality of Life. The 108th Training Command is recognized for its vision and being wholly and decisively engaged at the strategic and operations levels. Noteworthy is “Fort Family,” whereby the 108th Training Command leveraged technology, shattered old paradigms, and changed antiquated business practices, resulting in improved care for Soldiers and Families. Their effort is in keeping with the commitments to Soldiers and Families as pledged in the Army Family Covenant.

The 2009 Secretary of the Army Quality of Life Partnership Award was presented to the U.S. Army Garrison, Ft. Hood, Texas.

Ft. Hood has demonstrated superior abilities in developing and establishing partnerships to promote Family member and Veteran employment opportunities. Ft. Hood has forged strong partnerships between the Garrison, the Greater Killeen Economic Development Corporation, local Chambers of Commerce, the Texas Veterans Commission, Heart of Texas Defense Alliance, Central Texas Workforce Center and the Central Texas Business Resource Center. The results of these partnerships demonstrate Fort Hood’s commitment to improving Soldier and Family readiness by expanding employment opportunities to Soldiers and Family members.

The 2009 Secretary of the Army Quality of Life Partnership Honorable Mention Award was presented to the Joint Family Readiness Program, Ohio National Guard, Columbus, Ohio.

The Ohio National Guard’s Joint Family Readiness program has demonstrated superior abilities in developing and fostering new and existing partnerships with youth groups, resulting in improved Quality of Life for Soldiers and Families. The strong partnership forged between the Ohio National Guard’s Family Readiness Program’s Operation Military Kids, and the Ohio State University Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program, has created a network that supports the children and youth of military Families and provides opportunities for them that build community, camaraderie, and resiliency. Together they have developed and delivered programs throughout Ohio that would not have been conceived or possible outside of this partnership. Their efforts are in keeping the commitment to build partnerships with Army Families that enhances their strength and resilience.

The 2009 Secretary of the Army Quality of Life Award for Communication Excellence was presented to the U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii.

The U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii is recognized for having employed unique and creative communication efforts to improve Soldier and Family Quality of Life. Through traditional and non-traditional communications and marketing techniques, the “Rediscover Hawaii” marketing campaign successfully promoted new programs and services available through the Army Family Covenant, and changes in Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facilities and programs. This resulted in significant increases in the usage of programs and facilities by Soldiers and Families of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the 25th Infantry Division, thus, providing a supportive environment where Soldiers and Families can thrive.

The Superior Quality of Life Awards were presented for a superior Soldier and Family Quality of Life initiative that could be emulated by all installations or commands world-wide, and exemplify the commander’s direct involvement, discovered best practices, teaming efforts and unique communications. The awards are presented, one each, to a small, medium and large installation or command.

The 2009 Small Unit Secretary of the Army Superior Quality of Life Award was presented to the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Ft. Hood, Texas.

The efforts of the Soldiers and Civilians of the Carl R. Darnell Army Medical Center’s Department of Family and Community Medicine have significantly improved Soldier and Family Quality of Life in and around Ft. Hood, Texas. Through “QuickCare,” an acute care, walk-in service, Family members are being provided prompt treatment of minor injuries and sudden illnesses that cannot wait for the next available appointment with Primary Care Managers, thus demonstrating the Army’s commitment to improving Family readiness by increasing accessibility and quality of health care.

The 2009 Medium Installation Secretary of the Army Superior Quality of Life Award was presented to the 108th Training Command, U.S. Army Reserve, Charlotte, N.C.

The Soldiers and Civilians of the 108th Training Command have significantly improved Soldier and Family Quality of Life for the 10,000 Citizen Soldiers, 38,000 Families, and others of the force who are dispersed geographically across 48 states, three territories, and Iraq and Afghanistan.

These accomplishments were achieved through the “Fort Family USAR Virtual Installation” website. “Fort Family” is a virtual 24-7 installation with customers, workforce, stakeholders, partners and collaborators who care for those who have limited or no accessibility to traditional military installations.

The 2009 Large Installation Secretary of the Army Superior Quality of Life Award was presented to the U.S. Army Garrison, Ft. Campbell, Ky.

The Soldiers and Civilians of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Campbell significantly improved Soldier and Family Quality of Life throughout 156 counties of Tennessee and Kentucky.  Through the establishment of the Family Resource Center at Ft. Campbell,  this one-stop shop offers Family assistance and support services to Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers, Family Readiness Groups, Family members, and civilians in support of daily garrison operations, installation deployment, mobilization, and training.