Preparing for the Leader's Recon

Living in 40-man open bay barracks, was the least of our problems. It appears, that we were moved to these barracks because D Co 101st FSB needed to make room for the 1st Bde 1st Infantry Division soldiers that would be reporting to Ft. Riley this summer.

That explains why my son, a PFC in HHC, 1st Bde has his own room and shares a bathroom and common area with his room mate, while his father, an 0-6 shares a 40-man open bay barracks with MiTT team members varying in rank from E-6 (Staff Sergeant) to O-6 (Colonel).

The open bay barracks only reflects the inconsistency of the Army. In June 2008 and again in May 2009, the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) sent out an e-mail to all senior leaders in the Army. In that e-mail he expanded on how important it is to fill our Military Transition Team positions with the Army's best and brightest. The future of the Army required its future leaders to obtain this critical skill set of advising foreign militaries. It is a crucial skill set that future military leaders must possess.

The CSA has ordered MAJ and LTC MiTT positions be now coded as Key Developmental for all career branches of services. A MiTT Chief position for a LTC is supposed to be equivalent to a Battalion Command. In fact, LTC's on the alternate Command lists are being offered these crucial MiTT Chief positions. That is how important being a MiTT member is to the Army (according to the CSA).

Now back to reality. Before a LTC takes Battalion Command, he goes to a Pre-Command Course. At this course he is instructed on the importance of his command. He is consistently told he represents the "cream of the crop" and the future of the Army rests on his leadership. He is taught the basics of command and the skills he will need to be a successful Battalion Commander.

MiTT Chief's report to Ft. Riley 2-3 weeks earlier than the rest of their team. To get "pre-command" instruction as their peers taking Battalion Command? -- NO !!! --

Their shown the 40 man open bay barracks, and they wait for a bus to take them 3-5 miles to main post to wait in line all day to complete Soldiers Readiness Packet (SRP), get issued their equipment and qualify on the range so they can conduct a Leader's Recon of where their MiTT will be assigned.

For me, that means Mosul, Iraq.

Team Griffin - Welcome to Ft. Riley !!!

(10 June 2009) My orders stated a report date of "no earlier than" 10 June and "no later than 12 June. Quite a narrow window, but necessary. Necessary, because with all the Military Transition Teams (MiTTs) going through Ft. Riley for training, living space is at a premium.

My original plan was to fly in over the weekend, stay in the Kansas City area for a couple of days and have my son come pick me up on 10 June and drive me to Ft. Riley so I can report in. However, my son, Steven, had driver's training during the week of 8-12 June, so he needed to come pick me up on Sunday (7 June) instead.

So, I left Stuttgart, Germany (in quite a hurry and leaving quite a mess behind me), on Saturday, 6 June. I flew through Atlanta to the Kansas City airport, arriving at 8 pm. I spent the night at the Kansas City Airport, Marriot hotel. Steven picked me up the following morning and drove me to Ft. Riley.

When I arrived at Ft. Riley, I had my son take me to the "Welcome Center" to see if I could report earlier than 10 June as my orders stated. I was told yes, and made reservations at the Distinguished Visitors Center and spent the night at Ft. Riley's DVQs (Distinguished Visitor's Quarters). So far, so good.

It wasn't until Monday, when I was brought to Camp Funston, did the reality of being a MiTT member hit me. I was given a bunk and wall locker in a 40-man open bay barracks and was told here is where I would spend the next 3 months of training at Ft. Riley. So here I am, with no vehicle stuck in the middle of no where of Ft. Riley to conduct my training. The main post area is about 3-5 miles from Camp Funston. Without a vehicle, you're in a very secluded spot.

Somehow, I thought being an O-6 with 20 years of military service, I wouldn't be treated like a fresh recruit that hasn't made it through Basic Training yet. I was only partially right. I didn't have any drill sergeant yelling at me, calling me a scuzzball or the like. But the rest of it... was very much the same.

Welcome to Ft. Riley - Camp Funston !!!