FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Lt. Gen. Mike Ferriter, commander, Installation Management Command and assistant chief of staff for Installation Management, made his first visit to Fort Carson Monday-Tuesday since assuming the post in November.
The general, who commands the organization that oversees 184 Army installations, was accompanied by IMCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Rice. The leadership team received an orientation briefing, a tour of the post and wished Army Olympians luck prior to their departure to London.
The visit started Monday with a command update briefing given by the garrison commander, Col. David Grosso, who illustrated Fort Carson's mission, demographics, challenges and opportunities.
Acknowledging the "consensus of spirit and the dedication of this team here at Fort Carson," Ferriter took the opportunity to highlight to the garrison leaders in attendance the importance his command places on customer service.
"Our aim is to take care of every Soldier, every Family member, every member of our workforce, every retiree and veteran, every Gold Star Family and wounded warriors. But at the end of (the) day, no matter where your program starts, it all comes to you," Ferriter said.
"We have placed on the garrison commander's shoulders responsibility for integrating and coordinating and creating magic among the different services. … That magic is the feeling that we want because of the world class customer service and care that we have everywhere we go," he said.
Ferriter said he saw indicators here that make the Installation Management Command so powerful.
"We are now in a time of money constraint and it doesn't cost a penny to make somebody feel like a million dollars, because it is all about what it is inside of us. That is my kind of going-in thought and I know we can do it." He said he was proud to get out in an environment where he sees this practice everywhere, and everywhere he sees people who care.
Following the briefing, Ferriter recognized 13 IMCOM employees with IMCOM commander coins for their exceptional performance and selfless service displayed in response to the recent Waldo Canyon Fire. Introducing the awardees, the garrison commander said that the efforts of the men and women, both in uniform and civilian, were instrumental in helping to contain the fire and minimize the loss of lives and property in the Colorado Springs area throughout the emergency response efforts.
The employees presented coins were staff members from different garrison directorates: Lt. Col. Mike Kropushek, on behalf of the Directorate of Emergency Services; Dean Quaranta, public works; Gregory P. Joell and David S. Saenz, logistics; Rick Emert, public affairs; Kristen Kea, Army Community Service; Staff Sgt. Daniel L. Rasher, Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Carson; and Sabine Clark, Michelle Durgin, Charlotte Laufer, Lori Martindale, William Reed and Master Sgt. Robbie Rohren, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
A coin for outstanding service was also presented to Martha Reed, DFMWR volunteer, for coordinating activities within the shelter and ensuring proper support to the evacuees.
Following a windshield tour of the installation, the group concluded the visit at the Headquarters of the Army's World Class Athlete Program. The WCAP, which falls under IMCOM Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, is based at Fort Carson and has six other training sites scattered across the nation. Ferriter and Rice met with the WCAP staff and gave a formal sendoff to the 11 Soldiers the Army is sending to the Olympics. The Soldiers include coaches and athletes competing in wrestling, shooting, racewalking, the modern pentathlon and boxing.
"It was an extreme honor for Lt. Gen. Ferriter and I to be here, sit down with our Olympians and tell them how proud we are of them and their commitment as they go forward and represent the United States of America," said Rice.
"We trained and selected the best Soldiers in the whole program and our athletes here are our ambassadors for the Army and they know what it takes to be No. 1." He said that their determination and perseverance epitomize the Warrior Ethos and are inspirational for all, both at home and on the battlefield.
"To be No.1 is to give my best," said Rice, who noted he is confident the Soldiers will pull it together and do nothing less than to bring home Olympic medals.