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RTC-East 'ends as it began'

  • Published
  • By Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Trainer-Soldiers of the Regional Training Center-East stood in formation on Doughboy Field here for the last time as the unit prepared to case its organizational colors Aug. 24.

"The RTC-E was the first of three RTCs to be established - and is the last RTC to inactivate," said Brig. Gen. Bryan Wampler, commanding general, 78th Training Division, and the ceremony's presiding officer.

RTC-East officially began its short history March 7, 2008, in the field across from its headquarters on Delaware Avenue. Soldiers and honor guard members unfurled the organizational colors and affixed a new unit patch on their shoulders at what was then Fort Dix.

"The Regional Training Center-East 'ends as it began,' by training Army Reserve Soldiers with its culminating mission which ended on August 13," said Wampler. "The final rotation which consisted of 244 Soldiers and three units, officially marks an end to more than four years of training here at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst."

Mobilizing Army Reserve units identified a critical pre-mobilization training gap in 2007. Units found they needed a training platform prior to mobilization to undergo intensive individual-collective-and theater-specific training. The Regional Training Center concept was developed as a result of this critical requirement. The other two RTCs were RTC-West at Fort Hunter-Liggett, Calif., and RTC-North at Fort McCoy, Wis.

"The mission of the Regional Training Center-East has been to train Army Reserve units preparing to deploy focusing on Theater Specific Individual Readiness Training ... and the members of the RTC-E, past and present, can be satisfied in a job done beyond expectations of those who developed the concept," added Wampler.

RTC-East has successfully trained more than 370 Army Reserve units and more than 15,500 Soldiers since their activation.

Soldiers, Airmen and guests including Maj. Gen. William Waff, 99th Regional Support Command commander; Col. John Wood, 87th Air Base Wing and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst commander; Col. Richard Williamson, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander; Col. Jeffrey Doll, Army Support Activity-Dix commander; Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Whittaker, Army Support Activity-Dix Command Sergeant Major; Chief Master Sgts. Terrence Greene and Louis Orrie, command chiefs for the 87th ABW and 305th AMW respectively, and other distinguished guest and friends.

Lt. Col. Seth Gladstone, RTC-E outgoing commander, addressed the gathered Soldiers and guests with his parting words, recalling some of the accomplishments the unit achieved during his tenure.

"It has been my distinct honor to command such an outstanding team of cadre and support staff in fulfilling a very important mission of training United States Army Reserve Soldiers in the required individual skills to perform their mission overseas in harms way," said Gladstone.

The training command's performance has exemplified the great work and dedication to duty by its members during the past nine months. Its service members have trained in excess of 3,500 Soldiers with no major incidents; maintained, brought up to standards and turned in 67 pieces of tactical rolling stock without any major deficiencies; maintained, brought up to standard and turned in 375 individual and crew-served weapons systems without any major deficiencies and accounted for and turned in numerous training aids valued in excess of $3.5 million. All while maintaining the highest standards in Soldier readiness.

"Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to serve with and command such an outstanding unit," said Gladstone.

Maj. Gen. James Mallory, former commanding general of the 108th Training Division expressed the need and importance of the RTC when he addressed the members of the RTC-E during its official unfurling of the organization colors ceremony in 2008.

"There is only one Reserve organization to do this mission and that is made up of drill sergeants and Small Arms Readiness Group trainers," said Mallory. "You have become the critical enabler for the Army Reserve to put 'boots on the ground.'"

The RTC training concept was designed for Army Reserve Soldiers and their respective organizations to conduct individual and collective training before being called to active duty, thus reducing the amount of time at respective mobilization stations. The reduced time at the mobilization stations translates to more time for 'boots on the ground' in the assigned theater of operation.

The goal of the RTC was to program Soldiers and their respective organizations to be built in a pre-mobilization environment, rather than building the unit at the mobilization station. The RTC accomplished this by providing professional trainers, equipment used in respective theater operations and facilities to prepare for full-spectrum operations in hazardous duty environments.

The Army anticipated the advance-support organizations would help Soldiers two-fold. The Soldiers would develop team cohesiveness and complete individual and collective training tasks by the time they reached mobilization.

The first phase of training for the Soldiers started at their home station. Phase two, pre-mobilization training, was conducted at one of the RTCs emphasizing individual task training to include marksmanship; crew-served weapons systems and Humvee egress assistance trainer. Post-mobilization training was conducted at mobilization installations for the final phase of training and validation before deployment. The concept also placed the responsibility on unit leadership to develop the training plan needed to be successful during combat support and combat-service support operations.

"To the members of the Regional Training Center here today - past and present - the Army Reserve cannot thank you enough for the absolute professionalism you have displayed and the sacrifices you have endured to provide the very best training possible," said Wampler. "It has been an honor to have such an outstanding organization be a part of the 78th Training Division."