Email   Print   Share By Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General

Facebook Digg Delicious September 13, 2012 | Editorial

This coming week, we commemorate the 70th anniversary of Fort Hood, the Great Place. Fort Hood, with the tremendous support of our Central Texas community, has thrived and developed extensively over the past 70 years. I am proud of all we have accomplished together, and to say that we are a premier training base and station of choice for America’s warriors and their Families.

Since World War II, Fort Hood has been one of the largest bases in the continental United States and has always ensured that our Soldiers are trained and ready in both peacetime and wartime. Today, we continue to train Soldiers and units for combat while taking care of the civilians and Family members. The resources we have grown here are unparalleled. The Great Place continues to improve with new facilities that focus on comprehensive fitness, quality of life, warriors in transition and traumatic brain injury treatment.

Just like their predecessors, the fabled Tank Destroyer forces, who gallantly fought in World War II, today’s Fort Hood Soldiers are valiant warriors. For the last 10 years, III Corps and Fort Hood Soldiers have continuously, and courageously, supported operations in Afghanistan and recently completed operations in Iraq. We continue to honor and remember those who still serve in harm’s way and those have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

I would also like to highlight two other very special and important events that are occurring in September. September is National Preparedness Month and also marks the recent kick-off of our annual Combined Federal Campaign here at the Great Place.

First, National Preparedness Month helps us remember that we need to remain ready for emergencies. We must be prepared. Over the past year, we have seen drought, wildfires right here in Central Texas and numerous other disasters, to include the recent landfall of Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana. Emergencies, both natural and man-made, are rarely forecasted.

We practice emergency readiness on a daily basis as Soldiers and in our units. So I encourage everyone to develop a plan ahead of time for you and your Families. Emergency preparedness for the Army community is critical, and more information can be obtained at www.ready.army.mil.

Finally, we had our Kick-Off Luncheon for the Combined Federal Campaign last week here on Fort Hood. The Combined Federal Campaign has been the largest and most successful workplace charity campaign in the world for the past 51 years.

The Combined Federal Campaign is a volunteer program that offers Soldiers and government employees the opportunity to donate to the charity or organization of their choice locally, nationally or internationally. Last year, across our nation, 1 million federal employees pledged more than $272 million, and

contributions at Fort Hood exceeded $630,000 – even with over a third of our Soldiers deployed. This extraordinary amount illustrates what a compassionate and generous community we are here at the Great Place.

That being said, it is not about the money. It is about communication, leadership and informing everyone on this post about what CFC is all about, and providing them the opportunity to give as their heart tells them.

Phantom Warriors! Army Strong!