Email   Print   Share By Command Sgt. Maj. Douglas Gault, Garrison Command Sergeant Major

Facebook Digg Delicious October 18, 2012 | Editorial

Soldiers from the 41st Fires Brigade pull weeds outside of the brigade’s motor pool as part of Fort Hood’s postwide Fall Cleanup Monday. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Staff

Aaah, fall: The kids are back in school, the leaves are starting to drop, there is football on TV and we will soon start seeing more autumn-like weather. Fall also means an opportunity to spruce up your yard and cut down on the work you’ll need to do when the weather turns warm again. This week marks our annual Fall Cleanup here at the Great Place.

Like a successful football season takes a dedicated team, our Fall Cleanup will be a success if we have a dedicated team of Soldiers and civilians committed to doing their part in wiping away the cobwebs, so to speak, and putting a fresh shine on the installation that will carry us into the winter months.

During this time, the areas of focus are cleaning up our training and maneuver areas, the main post area – to include motor pools, parking lots and troop areas – and our Family housing areas. To make the biggest difference in this endeavor, leaders need to ensure Soldiers have the time, resources, clear expectations and most importantly, leader presence. In our Family housing areas, the community mayors are responsible to make sure that those living in their community are cleaning in and around their quarters. We must support our community mayors, our community life noncommissioned officers and our Family members.

I have no doubt that each and every one of our Soldiers, Family members and civilians care about the appearance of this installation, with each one having pride in this installation of excellence. Because of this, I expect this week’s Fall Cleanup to be a huge success. When we take pride in our installation, we take pride in our home and ensure it works and is maintained to the highest of standards.

Wednesday was designated for Family housing clean up. This day provided a great time to get to know others in your community and get involved. All Soldiers who live in post housing were released from their normal work location after physical training. From 9 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m., their assigned duty stations were their homes.

With engaged leadership from the unit, and teamwork between unit leaders and our Family housing support team – community life NCOs, community mayors, block captains and garrison agencies that support on-post housing, we have a great team here at III Corps and Fort Hood. Our units, Soldiers, Family members, Mission Support Element and garrison agencies are absolutely second to none.

By demonstrating our pride and commitment to excellence, we can make this Fall Cleanup, by far, the best one we’ve ever had.