FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
Sergeant Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, the Army's highest-ranking enlisted Soldier, and his wife Jeanne visited Ft. Eustis June 5, meeting with post personnel and spouses during their tour.
The Chandlers arrived at Fort Eustis' Felker Army Airfield via helicopter from Washington, D.C. Upon arrival, the Sergeant Major of the Army began visits to units across the installation, while Jeanne visited several Soldier-support organizations and spouse groups on post.
Under cloudy skies and light rain, Chandler visited the various units of the 7th Sustainment Brigade, stopping first at 3rd Port where he received tours and briefings on a variety of maritime vessels, including the 10th Transportation Battalion's Landing Craft Mechanized LCM-8594 and Logistics Support Vessel LSV-1, the 73rd Trans. Company's Light Tug LT-805, and the 97th Trans. Co.'s USAV Chickahominy, a Runnymede class large landing craft.
After departing the port, Chandler visited the 7th Sus. Bde. Headquarters, engaging with 20 female Soldiers ranking from private to sergeant first class in a sexual harassment assault response prevention, or SHARP, focus group. He addressed his concerns about the rise in Soldier-on-Soldier sexual assaults from 2010 to 2011, and emphasized the Army's resolve to fix the issue.
"Are we being effective at the private-through-staff sergeant level at eliminating sexual assault and harassment in our Army?" Chandler asked. "It's a huge issue for our Army, and it really goes back to who we say we are. If we're professionals, and take an oath of enlistment or commission, it really doesn't matter that much unless were willing to put the effort behind those words.
"Our mission as an Army, one of the things that we said were going to do is eliminate sexual assault in our Army, and to be the standard bearer for the rest of the nation," he continued. "Those young men and women that we have the privilege to lead deserve that from us."
The SMA also visited the Fort Eustis Club to speak at the Basic Officer Leadership Course conference, and enjoy lunch, before a stop at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command headquarters. He wrapped up his tour at the 128th Aviation Bde., gleaning insight on the brigade's mission and projected improvements to the Army's aviation technician training.
Meanwhile, Jeanne Chandler visited the post's United Service Organizations office for a review of USO programs at Eustis and nearby Forts Story and Lee. Afterward, she met with spouses at a Family Readiness Group Leaders focus group, before reading to two classes of third graders at General Stanford Elementary School.
Jeanne's tour included stops at McDonald Army Health Center, a meeting with post senior spouses, and briefings at Survivor Outreach Services, Soldier and Family Assistance Center and Army Community Service.
Throughout his visit, the SMA reinforced the philosophy of trust in Soldiers to accomplish the mission and continue their excellence and resilience, even as the nation deals with economic uncertainty. He said the Army is "built on trust," and that he, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, and Secretary of the Army John McHugh trust and believe in today's Soldiers.
"The one thing I know is when I leave the room, because you wear a uniform that says 'U.S. Army' and you are a professional, that our Army is in good hands. The crucial thing about our Army is trust," Chandler told Soldiers at the 128th Avn. Bde. "It's important for me to tell you that, because sometimes I think there may be an idea that maybe senior leaders may not trust subordinates to make the right decisions. That's absolutely not true.
"We've got to continue to talk about the great things our Soldiers are doing, I'm gonna take back what I learned her today to our chief and the secretary to understand how important what you do to support our Army."