It’s been immortalized in carols as “the most wonderful time of the year,” and it is for the Army’s home. It’s a wonderful time to be part of the U.S. Army’s Installation Management community. We have an incredible workforce and mission. Ours is a diverse team made up of Soldiers, civilians and family members. Our team hails from every corner of the globe, with differing cultures and beliefs – all united in the service of others. It’s just the right mix to support troops, provide programs and offer world class customer service to the best trained Army in the world. Whether anticipating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or time among family and friends during this holiday season, know that you are a valued member of the team. Command Sergeant Major Rice and I can never thank you enough for the life of service and sacrifice you’ve chosen and for the opportunity to share that with you here.
We hope that this holiday season provides opportunities for reflection, recreation and renewed commitment to improvement. We’ve accomplished a lot in the last 10 years – developing our workforce, being good stewards of financial and environmental resources, improving the quality of life in Army communities worldwide. Our Installation Management team is a world class operation because of you.
Our mission is complex – a job that is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While some can rest briefly, others may not. Remember your teammates who will be manning facilities, serving chow to deployed troops or helping newly arrived families find lodging. This is the essence of what we do every day – provide a quality of life commensurate with their quality of service.
Now more than ever is the time to remember your family and extended Army family as well – battle buddies, co-workers and the person next to you now. As you travel or attend celebrations, be mindful of your actions and surrounding, keeping safety and responsibility to your teammates and families in mind.
We wish you and your families a happy holiday season, prosperous New Year and look forward to starting 2013 with each member of this team, ready, resilient and committed to the next step in enhancing the lives of our Soldiers. Army strong!
