Fort Polk ‘a jewel’ among installations

Secretary of Army impressed with military training

Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper met with officials at Fort Polk’s Joint Readiness Training Center Friday to observe first-hand the coordinated training efforts taking place at the installation.

With over 5,000 soldiers from various other installations and from around the world training together at at any given time, along with multiple National Guardsman components, Fort Polk has become known for its ability to offer multi-faceted training amongst all elements. Already this year, the installation has hosted military members from across the globe including Great Britain and Tunisia.

Sec. Esper said it was those training opportunities that led him to call Fort Polk “a jewel” among installations, and to choose the Vernon Parish installation as the perfect place for him to “reassess the state of training for the army”.  

“It’s been a great 24 hours to do that. I’ve been very impressed with what I saw on the ground, and what I saw with in regards to Brig. Gen. Patrick Frank and also the other elements here on Fort Polk,” Esper stated.

Sec. Esper said that with a recent push from Secretary of Defense James Mattis to focus on high-intensity conflict against strategic competitors, military training is making a fundamental change on how it prepares its soldiers. He said he believed visiting Fort Polk allowed him to make a good assessment of the improving readiness of soldiers.

During his visit, Sec. Esper observed a National Guard unit from Illinois launch an all-combat arms attack using Apache helicopters, tanks and weapons systems just before entering into a live fire training scenario.

“I saw a much more demanding, more dynamic training threat scenario than I recall from 25 years ago. I’m very encouraged by what they are doing. Gen. Frank and his team are on the right path with regard to presenting our soldiers with threat scenarios that they are likely to experience in any future conflict,” he stated.

Sec. Esper said that he believed Fort Polk would continue to serve a vital role in preparing soldiers for conflict in the future.

“There is a reason why the JRTC, the National Training Centers, are the last stops for any unit before they go abroad on deployment,” he stated. “Because we know this is the place where they will get the most demanding, most rigorous, and best training to validate all the training preceding them so that they are ready before they deploy,” he stated.

Sec. Esper said he will be bringing multiple lessons learned during his time at Fort Polk back with him to D.C.

“We have talked about a number of things over the last 24 hours, down to the tactical level up to the strategic level and across multiple components, so I take notes and I take them back to the army staff and we do a lot of follow-up on these things.”

‘I saw a much more demanding, more dynamic training threat scenario than I recall from 25 years ago.’

Dr. Mark T. Esper

Secretary of the Army

””

Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper met with officials at Fort Polk Friday, August 3, 2018.

Pamela SleezerBeauregard and Vernon Parish Reporter
https://www.americanpress.com/content/tncms/avatars/9/9d/d2d/99dd2d76-3a6c-11e7-b361-0bf4ce08a215.7222f7a7273cedc8f0b95aaa0666b97c.png
””

Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper, left, met with Fort Polk Commanding General Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, right, on Friday to observe ongoing training scenarios at the installation to assess the Army’s readiness.

Pamela SleezerBeauregard and Vernon Parish Reporter
https://www.americanpress.com/content/tncms/avatars/9/9d/d2d/99dd2d76-3a6c-11e7-b361-0bf4ce08a215.7222f7a7273cedc8f0b95aaa0666b97c.png

SportsPlus

Local News

School Board looks to make up lost time due to snow days

Local News

Jennings councilman wants to change rules for hiring, firing attorney

life

Preserving history for future generations: Exhibit examinins role Black churches play in communities

Local News

Trump administration tries to bring back fired nuclear weapons workers in DOGE reversal

Crime

2/17: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

life

Vote now for the People’s Choice Mardi Gras of SW La.

Local News

Trump begins firings of FAA air traffic control staff just weeks after fatal DC plane crash

McNeese Sports

Showdown in Hammond

McNeese Sports

Diamond roundup: Cowboys fall, Cowgirls win

Local News

US eggs prices hit a record high of $4.95 and are likely to keep climbing

Local News

Several Louisiana public university athletic programs — including McNeese — face financial deficits

Local News

Getting back on par: The long and short of the National Golf Club of Louisiana

Local News

NASA sending DeRidder students’ experiment into stratosphere

Local News

Shady Lane man found unresponsive has died

McNeese Sports

Richards shoots Cowboys by UNO

McNeese Sports

Cowgirls end skid at UNO

McNeese Sports

Late power lifts Pokes

McNeese Sports

Record win for Landreneau

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Movie highlights injustice

Informer

The Informer: LC was almost the home of a US naval base

McNeese Sports

Roundup: Cowboys win opener, Cowgirls fall to Tennessee

Business

Trump grants conditional export authorization for Commonwealth LNG project

Local News

Weekend thunderstorms followed by a mid-week cold front in the forecast

Local News

PHOTO GALLERY: Free Valentine’s Day dental care