News

Ft. Knox Selected for New Army HQ

February 12, 2020 By krda

Utilizing his role as Majority Leader, McConnell raised Kentucky’s priorities to the highest levels of the federal government. He led Kentucky’s Congressional representatives in urging the Army to locate the new corps headquarters at Fort Knox.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) announced today that at their request the Department of the Army selected Fort Knox to be the home of the new corps headquarters that is urgently needed to fulfill National Defense Strategy requirements and support U.S. forces and operations in Europe.

According to the Army, Fort Knox will be the fourth corps headquarters location activated and will be called Fifth Corps (V Corps). This new corps headquarters location will bring approximately 635 additional soldiers to Kentucky, which is one of the most military-friendly states in America. The Army plans to activate V Corps Headquarters by the fall of 2020.

Earlier this month, Senator McConnell led Kentucky’s Congressional representatives in urging Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy and Chief of Staff of the Army General James McConville to locate Fort Knox for the fourth corps headquarters location.

Today’s announcement builds on Senator McConnell’s continued efforts throughout his Senate career as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide robust funding and budget stability for the Department of Defense with particular commitment to ensuring Kentucky’s defense communities and military installations receive the resources they need. Senator McConnell has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for Fort Knox infrastructure and facilities.

“Fort Knox has proven itself as a leader in our nation’s armed forces time and again, and I’m delighted to announce Secretary McCarthy and General McConville answered my call to station V Corps headquarters in Kentucky,” said Senator McConnell. “As the Army continues modernizing its force structure to counter evolving global threats, Fort Knox is best choice to meet our urgent national defense needs. With its unmatched level of community support, Fort Knox will offer V Corps a warm welcome.

“Throughout its 100-plus years of distinguished history, Fort Knox has adapted to complete many high-priority missions. I’ve delivered substantial federal investment to help build facilities and infrastructure at Fort Knox, ensuring there is no installation better prepared to stand-up this headquarters,” Senator McConnell continued. “As Senate Majority Leader, I consistently raise Kentucky’s priorities with military leaders, including by hosting Defense Secretary Mark Esper last year to meet with the Knox Regional Development Alliance, and I’m glad they recognized the great potential of this community. I congratulate Fort Knox’s leadership and the KRDA on this announcement, and I look forward the V Corps’ arrival in the Bluegrass State.”

“As a staunch defender of Kentucky’s military installations and a fierce advocate for our nation’s armed forces, I am thrilled to announce the selection of Fort Knox for the newest Army headquarters and look forward to welcoming the troops to our beautiful Commonwealth,” said Senator Paul. “From working to protect Fort Knox’s energy independence capabilities, to advocating for service members at all of our military bases to be counted correctly by the census, I’m proud to be a voice for Kentucky’s soldiers, their families, and their communities.”

“I am proud to announce that Fort Knox has been selected for this new three-star command,” said Congressman Guthrie. “I personally spoke to Defense Secretary Mark Esper about their application last week. Fort Knox and the surrounding communities have the assets and the attitude to host these new soldiers and their families. Kentucky is a great place to be a soldier, and I look forward to welcoming the over six hundred troops that will be coming to Fort Knox as soon as October 2020.”

Source: U.S. Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

Knox Regional Development Alliance Launches Capital Campaign

January 30, 2020 By krda

Funding used to promote, protect, advocate for Fort Knox growth

The Knox Regional Development Alliance (KRDA) officially kicked off a capital campaign to fund the organization from 2021 – 2025 at its annual meeting of investors today. The organization, now in its fifth year, works to promote and protect Fort Knox to increase its economic impact in the Greater Louisville region.

KRDA Chairman and Fort Knox Federal Credit Union CEO Ray Springsteen praised the progress KRDA has made in showcasing Fort Knox and our region and positioning it for growth.

“Every day KRDA is singularly focused on proactively setting the conditions that help make Fort Knox and our region an ideal choice, whether it’s new military missions or new defense-related business or new partnerships,” said Springsteen. “KRDA is making sure we are ready to compete.”

Springsteen co-chaired the initial $2.5 million capital campaign to fund the organization through 2020.

KRDA CEO Brig. Gen. Retired Jim Iacocca said the community is instrumental in KRDA’s success.

“The support of this community to Fort Knox Soldiers and Families is second to none,” he said. “Your support helps set us apart.”

KRDA board member and Louisville business owner Luke Schmidt is chairing the capital campaign committee. At the public launch, Schmidt shared that 100 percent of board members have recommitted to financially supporting KRDA and encouraged all investors to do the same.

Schmidt emphasized the importance of having an organization that is proactively working to protect and promote Fort Knox – a $2.6 billion annual economic engine and the second largest employer in the Louisville – Elizabethtown/Fort Knox Combined Statistical Area (CSA).

“Fort Knox is home to various commands which play critical roles in our nation’s defense, and, candidly, our regional economy. We want to keep it that way and that means we have to remain proactive,” Schmidt said. “We have to keep Fort Knox and our region top of mind with key decision-makers because we know other military communities with similar organizations are doing the same thing. It is my honor to chair the next capital campaign to fund KRDA from 2021 – 2025.”

The goal of the campaign is to raise $2.25 million over five years. Schmidt said the committee is also seeking new investors to support KRDA.

Brig. Gen. Andy Munera Sees Positive Future for Fort Knox, Region

January 29, 2020 By krda

KRDA updates investors, shares plans for future

Brig. Gen. Andy Munera painted a positive picture of Fort Knox’s growing importance within the Department of Defense and national security at the Knox Regional Development Alliance’s annual investor meeting today.

Munera, the deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command, cited new programs and expanded missions at the installation, including the Army’s Battalion Commander Assessment Program, or BCAP. The program evaluates officers competing for battalion command across multiple areas including physical fitness, written and oral communications, and cognitive and non-cognitive skills.

Munera described battalion command as one of the most significant leadership roles in the Army where officers at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel lead upwards of 500 soldiers.

“The Army chose Fort Knox as the location for the program given its central location as well as the talent management and leader development expertise that resides on post,” said Munera. The program is in its third week and will run through Feb. 9, with more than 800 candidates being assessed.

According to Munera, among the Chief of Staff of the Army’s highest priorities is talent management, and Fort Knox’s missions are at the center of that work. He added that the installation’s world-class training areas and ranges as well as its energy security make it well-suited for a broad range of missions.

Munera said the community’s support of Fort Knox cannot be overstated. “This community, this region is remarkable in all that you do. That makes Fort Knox stronger, and it makes our Army stronger.”

Following Munera’s remarks and his departure, KRDA investors received an update on the organization’s work in 2019 and its plans for 2020. KRDA Chairman and Fort Knox Federal Credit Union CEO Ray Springsteen praised the progress KRDA has made in promoting Fort Knox and our region and positioning it for growth.

“Every day KRDA is singularly focused on proactively setting the conditions that help make Fort Knox and our region an ideal choice, whether it’s new missions or new defense-related business or new partnerships,” said Springsteen. “KRDA is making sure we are ready to compete.”

KRDA CEO Brig. Gen. Retired Jim Iacocca said the community is instrumental in KRDA’s success. “The support of this community to Fort Knox Soldiers and Families is second to none,” he said.

Iacocca pointed to ECTC’s coding academy as a great example of how the region rises to the challenge.

“Our contractor partners shared their challenges and needs with us, and our partners at ECTC found a way to respond so quickly that high school students graduating this spring will be able to attend the first coding academy and graduate on time,” said Iacocca. “That means we’ll have high school seniors who will be competitive for high-paying jobs right here in our community. That’s a win for the student, for our region, for Fort Knox and for our Army.”

Iacocca added that initiatives like the coding academy and other community efforts create a competitive advantage when it comes to attracting new missions. Iacocca and Springsteen also recognized outgoing KRDA board member Dennis Johnson, CEO of Hardin Memorial Health, for his instrumental work in establishing KRDA. Johnson and Springsteen co-chaired the initial $2.5 million capital campaign to fund the organization through 2020.

As the organization enters its fifth year, KRDA board member and business owner Luke Schmidt announced the public launch of KRDA’s second capital campaign to fund the alliance through 2025.

Schmidt, who is chairing the capital campaign committee, shared that 100 percent of board members have recommitted to financially supporting KRDA and encouraged all investors to do the same. He emphasized the importance of having an organization that is proactively working to protect and promote the region’s $2.6 billion economic engine.

“We have to remain proactive. We have to keep Fort Knox and our region top of mind with key decision makers because we know other military communities with similar organizations are doing the same thing,” Schmidt said. “That’s why it’s my honor to chair the next capital campaign to fund KRDA from 2021 – 2025.”

The goal of the campaign is to raise $2.25 million over five years. Schmidt said the committee is also seeking new investors to support KRDA.

New $58 million medical clinic at Fort Knox

January 20, 2020 By krda

Source: The News-Enterprise

It was standing-room only Tuesday inside the lobby of the new Ireland Army Health Clinic as soldiers and civilians gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the facility, which was called “the most recent and monumental upgrade in Ireland history.”

“What you see here is a testament to a nation and an army taking care of those who bravely and voluntarily serve,” Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Knighten said during the event.

“The opening of this new facility marks an important moment in the history of Army medicine and the Fort Knox community. The structure announces the unwavering commitment to readiness and health for service members and family members.”

The $58 million, 101,373-square-foot facility was touted as having state-of-the-art features and upgrades, including an exterior comprised of local brick, stone and glass. The landscape features more than 50 trees, shrubs and low maintenance plants and a semi-private outdoor physical therapy garden. The interior has cool LED lighting, motion activation and is designed to create an environment conducive to healing.

The clinic officially opens today.

A two-story glass curtain wall connects patients and staff with nature. It also is blast resistant and controlled with motorized shades.

According to Knighten, the new facility attained Gold Leadership in Energy and Environment Design certification through high performance, energy conservation, open design, low-maintenance plants, materials, air quality, storm water management, recycling and pollution control.

Clinical highlights featured in the December 2019 issue of Army Healthcare, noted the Ireland Army Health Clinic program offers a range of health care services, including primary care exam rooms and provider offices, reception areas, waiting rooms, physical therapy, a large behavioral health suite, specialty clinic services — consisting of optometry, allergy and hearing conservation — as well as radiology, pharmacy, labs and other support services.

“I am truly impressed with this state-of-the-art facility and I know it will serve our patients well for decades to come just as the former building did,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Place, commanding general of Regional Health Command Atlantic.

Place went on to praise the dedicated military and civilian staff who he said, “everyday strive to provide the highest level of care for the Fort Knox facility.” He said that’s what makes Ireland Army Health Clinic a treasure.

“It’s truly a great day to be a soldier and medic in the U.S. Army,” he said.

Maj. Gen. John Evans Jr., commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, said the chief of staff in the Army tells them consistently winning matters because should deterrents fail, the American people expect our Army to win and win decisively.

“And in order to do that we have to have fit, ready and resilient soldiers each and every day,” he said, noting the new facility will assist with that effort.

“This is going to be a place for soldiers to be well, to get well and to be strong. I know that because this is Fort Knox and strength starts here.”

The new health facility at 200 Brule St. is actually the fourth to have served Fort Knox.

According to a history provided in the event’s program, in 1918, the year of Camp Knox’s birth, the base hospital, a World War I cantonment building, was completed on the present site of Lindsey Golf Course near the Gold Vault. The hospital burned down in 1928 and medical services were relocated to the World War I guesthouse on Bullion Boulevard.

The history said a brick hospital, located on “E” Street – which is now 1st Calvary Division Road – was built in 1934 and served as the Fort Knox Post Hospital until 1942, when two mobilization hospitals were constructed.

According to the history, both hospital complexes were located along Dixie Street in the area now occupied by the dependent school facilities and the Morand Manor housing area. A multi-storied concrete structure, Ireland Army Community Hospital, named in honor of Maj. Gen. Merritte W. Ireland, the 23rd surgeon general of the Army, was completed in 1957.

Due to its age, Evans said the former building is scheduled for demolition.

ECTC creates Coding Academy

December 30, 2019 By krda

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College now is accepting applications for the Greater Knox Coding Academy. The first-of-its-kind program at ECTC train peoples to be certified information technology professionals with skills that are in high demand from area defense contractors that support Fort Knox, according to college officials.

The first cohort will begin training in February.

ECTC President Juston Pate said the program was developed after retired Brig. Gen. Jim Iacocca, the chief executive officer of Knox Regional Development Alliance, shared news of the challenges defense contractors face in finding certified IT talent locally for critical missions at Fort Knox.

Many of the vacant positions have starting salaries as high as $65,000 per year.

“We knew we needed to develop a solution because supporting Fort Knox, our region’s largest employer, is paramount and doing so provides opportunities for people right here in our region. It is a win-win,” Pate said. “We know we have the talent locally to fill the vacancies, they just need the right training.”

Graduates of the 17-week program will be prepared to test for certification in CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Security+ and as an Oracle Java SE 8 Certified Junior Associate.

“These are certifications the contractors specifically identified for us,” said ECTC’s Steve Bratcher, Coding Academy coordinator.

Bratcher said admission to the program is selective and highly competitive. People ages 17 and older are eligible to apply, including high school seniors. After conferring with area school superintendents, ECTC intentionally chose the February start date so seniors could complete the course in conjunction with their graduation.

All applicants are required to take three aptitude tests, pass a background check and participate in an interview to be considered for the academy. The aptitude tests can all be taken at ECTC’s testing center. Each test takes approximately one hour.

“This is a very demanding course and the certification tests are extremely difficult,” Bratcher said. “We have developed a program to give participants the best chance of passing. The application process is designed to select candidates who are well-positioned to succeed in our program.”

Bratcher said the background check is designed to eliminate people with a criminal history who would have a challenging time receiving security clearance required for jobs on the military installation.

Bratcher said the college plans to offer the course two additional times in 2020 but the cost almost certainly will increase. Offered through the college’s Workforce Solutions department, it does not qualify for most traditional forms of financial aid.

“Testing for the certifications alone costs more than $2,500,” he said. “This is an incredible opportunity for students willing to dedicate the time to the course.”

The class will run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and lunch is provided.

Iacocca touted ECTC’s leadership and responsiveness. When decision makers at the Department of Defense are looking at where to add missions, among the many things considered, he said, is whether the community is supportive and has a skilled workforce.

“The Greater Knox Coding Academy is yet another example of how time and again this community steps up and supports Fort Knox,” Iacocca said. “ECTC epitomizes the words community partner.”

While the academy is designed in response to Fort Knox workforce needs, Pate said coding skills academy graduates will acquire knowledge also in demand by several of the region’s employers.

Source: The News-Enterprise

New Army assessment is ideal fit at Fort Knox

December 13, 2019 By krda

Beginning in early January, Fort Knox will play a new and important role in how the U.S. Army identifies and selects future battalion commanders.

The post has been selected for the Battalion Commander Assessment Program, a new five-day course geared at moving forward the best-of-the-best of Army officers on the Lieutenant Colonel Centralized Selection List in their pursuit of battalion command.

About 800 officers on the Army’s list of potential principal and alternate command leader will attend BCAP annually on post at Fort Knox from Jan. 15 to Feb. 9. Some 150 or so Army leaders and cadre will relocate to Fort Knox in support of the program.

The program is part of a larger strategic shift prioritized by Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville to move beyond what he characterized in November as the Army’s “industrial age” personnel management practices, a system of promotion and leadership assignment based on seniority.

“Right now, we spend more time and more money on selecting a private to be in the Ranger Regiment than we do on selecting what I would argue is one of the most consequential leadership positions in the Army, our battalion commanders,” McConville said.

Maj. Gen. John Evans Jr., commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, praised the Army’s decision in selecting the local post for the program. He believes as the home of U.S. Army Cadet Command and U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox is ideal for this program.

“It’s literally our daily business here to produce future Army leaders and select existing leaders for the right command positions,” Evans said.

Success with the program will be important for the Army for a number of reasons.

While the candidates’ file of performance and career achievements will continue to be part of the selection process, new physical, verbal, written, cognitive and non-cognitive assessments will combine with interview sessions by behavioral psychologists and panels of senior Army officers to more fully equip promotion decision-makers to understand the candidate’s total skill set.

Sometimes hidden in past practices, potential success derailers will be more easily identified through the expanded program.

Better command promotion decisions with more well-rounded and better qualified and equipped lieutenant colonels provides stronger leadership for other officers and NCOs under their command, improving retention and fostering other future leaders.

The program is equally important to the future of Fort Knox, too.

Moving more of the Army’s future command leadership ranks through skill development and leadership training programs at Fort Knox results in hundreds of future mission placement decision-makers and influencers with a firsthand familiarity of the post’s key attributes.

Chief among these are Fort Knox’s world-class 360-degree live-fire ranges and training areas; fully instrumented C-130 capable airfield, energy resilience and ability to produce more energy and water than it consumes, state-of-the-art physical and cyber security, modern facilities, buildable acreage and central location within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population.

More Army commanders and top leadership with firsthand knowledge of what Knox has to offer strengthens the post’s position for new and expanded missions.

This editorial represents a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.

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