Command of Fort Wainwright garrison changes hands
Published Thursday, July 3, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — Despite spending most of his 20-year military career in special forces, the outgoing commander of the Fort Wainwright garrison said his best assignment was right here in Fairbanks.
In fact, being stationed in Alaska was something he had long hoped for.
“My dream was that my first assignment would be in Alaska, but my wife said there was no way she was going to get pregnant and live in a cabin,” said Lt. Col Ron Johnson, noting that he had especially enjoyed the Last Frontier’s fertile hunting opportunities during the past three years.
But on Wednesday, command of the garrison was officially handed over to Col. Timothy Jones at an hour-long ceremony outside the unit’s headquarters on base.
“I’m really excited being at Fort Wainwright as garrison commander,” he said. “It’s a significant opportunity for any soldier. It’s what we strive for.”
Though he hasn’t been hunting in some time, Jones said he is looking forward to taking Johnson’s place in the wilds of Alaska as well and getting the “whole Alaska experience.”
Jones’ new job entails overseeing the daily operations of the Army post, a task similar to a mayor or city manager who oversees public works, social services and other infrastructure related to any other American community.
During his tenure as commander, Johnson oversaw about $1 billion in new construction on base and the transformation of the 172nd Infantry Brigade into a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. But perhaps the most difficult part of his time in charge was dealing with the extended deployment of the brigade.
Originally scheduled for a 12-month deployment to Iraq in 2005 and 2006, the brigade had its mission extended an additional four months after some 400 soldiers had already returned to Fairbanks.
The 172nd has since been reflagged the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Stryker Brigade Combat Team, and is scheduled to begin another year-long deployment this fall. Johnson had some advice for his successor in dealing with what will be the largest military deployment in Alaska’s history.
“Stay tight with the spouses and family readiness groups, treat the families as your own and you’ll be all right,” he said.
Johnson will soon deploy to Afghanistan for a tour with special forces, but he said he hopes to return to Alaska after his mission is complete.
Jones is also in the special forces and previously served in Afghanistan as commander of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
Along with the upcoming deployment of the 1-25th, he will also oversee the privatization of housing and utilities on base as well as what he called the “significant challenges” of the unit becoming a stand-alone garrison that will report directly to commanders in the Pacific.
“I look forward to serving the soldiers of this post as we move forward in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
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What's a boss contractor? If the matter is still under investigation it's not LTC Johnson's place to comment on that under any circumstances.
Boss stands for Base Operations Support Services. Everything else gets reported during investigation ie DUI's , Soldiers patronizing masage palor in North Pole and so on. When something this costly to the taxpayers occurs are you saying we the public should be kept in the dark.Are should we stand by and just say bussiness as usual.
nossosure,
A change of command ceremony is NOT the place for such discussion. I'm not familiar with said investigation...but its place of discussion is not a change of command ceremony (as an outgoing/incoming Cdr, I would not put that in my speech, either).
Such discussions/dissemination/press conferences/freedom of information requests should be carried out...but the "pomp and circumstance" of a military change of command is NOT where a commander would discuss this. I take it you have never been in the military or you would have "some" idea of what such ceremonies entail (it is not "business as usual" on such days)?
Now if you are saying the DNM should have mentioned it...have at it. Sounds like you thought either the LTC or COL should have mentioned it in their speeches. That is not happening or appropriate since I don't think you can say the outgoing cdr is leaving "under a cloud"/leaving in disgrace.
Why did they wait until our soldiers are in CA for training, before they had such a "pomp and circumstance" ceremony?
The military treats their soldiers and their families like second rate citizens. I know, they "signed on for it"...young, easily influenced, with an incomplete frontal lobe development. Fill them with alcohol and let them "be all they can be."
Yes, I support our troops, my family is full of soldiers doing "their part for their country." Who picks up the pieces for the children who's parents come back alive, yet not whole? You don't hear about the families broken by PTSD. Those children potentially live through more trauma than those who lose a parent in combat. I can only imagine the fallout from the second deployment.
The chaplain's office has been useless to us, not answering their phone or returning messages left.
It would really not even be appropriate for the DNM to mention something like that in an article like this. It is not the time or the place. Some other time, in a very different type of article should something like that be brought up. I'm really disappointed that the first comment about this story was so negative, and whether intended or not, it was a slap in the face to the military and to the outgoing Commander, who spent how many years serving our country? Twenty years? Have a little more respect. This article is about the Commanders themselves (incoming and outgoing), not misdeeds that an employee of a BOS contractor did during their tenure. And, just for the record, as far as I know, BOS is Base Operating Services, not BOSS, but that's not the point. The comment may not have been intended to come across that way, but I know that's how I read it, and obviously a few others did as well. I'd like to thank both the Commanders for their service, and wish them both well in the future.
This article is about the change of command, not an on going investigation.
A change of command in the military is somewhat of a celebratory ceremony. It would have been out of place and out of line to mention some idiot that stole something in an entirely unrelated incident.
"Why did they wait until our soldiers are in CA for training, before they had such a "pomp and circumstance" ceremony?"
He is the Garrison commander. His job is to command the operations at the base. He is more directly in line with family members of the soliders then the actual soldiers. As far as I know, no part of the base or family members have been mobilized to CA.
Your argument would be valid if they had the Brigade commander's change of command ceremony while the soldiers were gone.
super,
nmsg60 is thinking of 1/25th conducting their mission readiness exercise at the NTC in Cali. You're right that it has no relevance to the Garrison Change of Command Ceremony. Pretty much like the original poster's comment...no relevance to what was reported on. Oh well...off to enjoy the beautiful day.
I have met personally with LT. Johnson about oportunities for spouses here on post, he is a great and kind man who has done much for the families of Ft. Wainwright, I can only hope for the same from the new Garrison Commander. That being said the mention of someone stealing is not appropriate in this setting and FYI the boss you refer to actually is B.O.S.S., Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers, he probably meant just the head contractor for the post. Oh and I'm sure my husband is grateful they did it while he was gone so he wouldn't have to stand at parade rest for a couple hours in the hot sun.
It is definitely confusing between the two...there is the BOSS (Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers) and then there are the BOS contractors who are responsible for Base Operating Services (which is kind of funny since with the Army, it's a "post" and with the Airforce, it's a "base" but I guess we use the "base" for consistency purposes). I didn't actually hear about the story, so I just assumed by the postings that a contractor was the focus of the comment. nmg60...are you sure you have the correct number for the Chaplain? I can't imagine them not returning phone calls. Even if the Chaplain is TDY or on leave, they usually have another Chaplain covering down for them.
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