FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The Army command that transforms nearly 144,000 civilian volunteers into Soldiers and officers annually welcomed a new commanding general Thursday, July 2, 2015.
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command transferred command authority of Center for Initial Military Training from Maj. Gen. Ross E. Ridge to Maj. Gen. Anthony C. Funkhouser in a historically first change of command ceremony at its headquarters at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
The ceremony also signified a change of TRADOC deputy commanding generals for initial military training, as well as senior commanders of the Army elements at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Story.
As commanding general for Initial Military Training, Ridge holds one of very few positions that can touch the entire Army, because every single Soldier has to go through the doors of his command, said TRADOC Commanding General, Gen. David G. Perkins.
"Since you've been leading IMT, nobody came into the Army without you touching them," Perkins said. "Nobody. You have touched the future Chief of Staff of the Army. You have touched the future Sergeant Major of the Army. Probably a future Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They went through your command ... There are not many of us in the Army that have served that can say that. There aren't many people that go through life that can say they've had that impact either on the organization that they're a part of, or really, for that part, the greater good of our country."
Ridge has served with CIMT since November 2013. During that time, he ...
- Transformed CIMT from a center of excellence into a command, serving as the core function lead for U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command for initial entry training.
- Served as TRADOC's executive agent for the continued integration of the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, as well as executive agent for physical readiness, across the TRADOC enterprise.
- Opened four Master Fitness Trainer Course sites across the country to develop subject matter experts across the Army, to include the Army Reserve and National Guard. (MFTs are certified fitness advisors that facilitate unit level physical training.)
- Transitioned to a computer system that supports paperless processing of new Soldiers at the Army's reception battalions.
A separate retirement review in honor of Ridge's 35 years of service followed the change of command ceremony.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Ridge received the Distinguished Service Medal at his retirement review.
In his final address, Ridge expressed his gratitude to Perkins.
"You provided me with the latitude to command this organization in a way that best allowed the Soldiers and officers entering the 'front door' of the Army to receive the appropriate foundational skills and standards needed for them to honorably serve in their first unit of assignment," Ridge said. "Our focus on character, competence and commitment were essential in transforming that volunteer into an Army professional, and in turn, gained trust in us as an institution and reinforced trust from the American people."
Following retirement, Ridge will return to his home state of Indiana to reside in Indianapolis.
Funkhouser, incoming CG, is reporting from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he served as the 95th Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School, responsible for the direction and guidance of the entire military element of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Other assignments include serving as Chief, Joint Capabilities Division on the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.; Commander, Afghanistan Engineer District-South (Operation Enduring Freedom); and Commander of Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Dallas, Texas.
During his remarks, Funkhouser acknowledged Ridge for his legacy, vowing to build upon it because the nation is counting on the IMT command to serve as the front door for new Soldiers.
"As our TRADOC motto reminds us, 'Victory Starts Here,'" Funkhouser said. "'We get the first opportunity to influence and impress upon our Army's men and women volunteers that we are part of a profession and we'll provide you the tools that you need to get through as a 'Soldier for Life' in this experience."
CIMT is the core function lead for TRADOC for all initial entry training. The CIMT mission provides a process that aligns the development of competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and attributes) and behaviors in civilian volunteers so they can become Soldiers who are physically ready, grounded in Army values and competent in their skills so they are able to contribute as leaders or members of a team upon arrival at their first unit of assignment. CIMT trains nearly 144,000 Soldiers and officers annually.