Happy 40th PEC!! On this day, October 23rd, 1974, Camp Robinson AR was officially selected for the site of the National Guard Professional Education Center. Accordinly, we had a celebration that included two former PEC Commandants and one of the original six instructor PEC began with. For those history buffs, we have found a transcript from the 10th Anniversary and transcribed it for your enjoyment! The original was not quite perfect, so there are some gaps...... Intro During the long and illustrious existence of the Army National Guard there have been many events that have made a significant impact upon the Guard. These events, as they have occurred over the years have caused the National Guard to achieve a higher state of readiness and to assume its present role in national defense. No event, however significant, has had more influence that one which occurred at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, North Little Rock, Arkansas, in April 1975. On that date thirty Administrative Supply Technicians (ASTs) from twelve states began classes in the National Guard Professional Education Center. This marked the end of a dream and the beginning of a reality. •For the first time in history, the Army National Guard had a national education center for Guard members. Background In the summer of 1974, then MG Lavern Weber, Chief, National Guard Bureau, recognized the need to meet training requirements unique to a full-time Army or Air National Guard Technician, directed his staff to establish a center devoted to technician training, operated by Guard persons. The need for such a school had been recognized for many years, not only by members of the Guard, put by the Army Audit Agency whose reports were critical of contemporary technician training programs. NGB Planning Team General• Webers action was spurred by his personal knowledge of the situation in the nations armories where technicians were expected to perform duties for which they had little or no• formal training. The education and training of our National Guard Technician is a problem of paramount concern to the National Guard Bureau, he wrote in a letter dated 18 November 1974. Spearheading General Webers staff on the project were Wayne Robertson, Chief, Office of Technician Personnel; Charles Walker, Assistant for Employment Development; and COL Reed Johnson, Team ~ief of the Administrative Supply Technician Study Group. The AST Study Group was tasked with developing an AST training course of instruction and logistical support required for center operation. As Team Chief, COL Johnson was specifically tasked with two missions: AST training course development and the establishment of an educational center. Potential Sites/Selection criteria/Sites surveyed Initially, proposals for the location of the planned center were received from eleven sites in ten states. After subsequent review and additional sites emerged as possibilities, the following locations surfaced and were each visited by a site-selection team: Camp Beauregard, Louisiana; Fort Irwin, California; Camp Robinson and Fort Chaffee, Arkansas; Camp Williams and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, and Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland. • Camp Robinson, Arkansas Selection Camp Joseph T. Robinson, an Arkansas-owned, 32,000 acre reservation in the central position of the State, emerged early as the leading contender based on selection criteria and the stated desire of Arkansas officials to house the center. Additionally, Governor Dale. Bumpers stated Arkansas was willing to dedicate thirteen buildings on Camp Robinson to fulfill the need for administrative and academic space, and pledged state funds to be used for structural renovation. Site-selection criteria included: initial capital expense in construction and remodeling; projected costs of transportation of students to the center; medical services availability; recreation facilities, heating, air-conditioning and quality of housing for students; climate considerations; possibilities for future expansion, and lease consideration for the site in relation to federal needs and requirements. Site survey teams visited all locations under consideration, and Camp Robinson was rated the clear first-choice. Meanwhile, Arkansas officials continued to state their interest in locating the center in their State. Referring to visits in September and October of 1974 to Camp Robinson; MG Joseph R. Chappell, Jr, Arkansas Adjutant General, wrote on 9 October 1974 to General Weber: A review of state training objectives reveal that in the best interest of the National Guard, a school area dedicated to a National Guard training center would receive the highest priority. A recent visit with the Honorable Dale Bumpers, Governor of Arkansas, describing the visit and purpose of (the site survey team visit received a most favorable interest in financial support to establish a center. Site selected On 23 October 1974, General Weber met with his staff to select the site for the proposed technician school. Adding to the attractiveness of Camp Robinson was a firm offer of $160,000 in financial support from Arkansas to open the center, and the realization that operating a National Guard school on state-owned property would prevent the center from being pushed off a federal installation if a mission or emergency took priority. Then, considering the central location within the continental United States and the extremely low costs to open and operate a training center at Camp Robinson, General Weber selected that location. Agreement Signed By the end of November, NGB and the Arkansas Adjutant Generals office had agreed on a document detailing administration of Arkansas National Guard technicians on duty with the center, based on a specific National Guard Professional Education Center manning statement. Also, details of financial and administrative control were determined. That agreement indicated the USP&FO for Arkansas would act as an agent for NGB, dispersing funds in accordance with the• requirements of the new center. The basic arrangement continues unchanged. Mission of PEC By the end of January 1975, the school was formally established and was given a threefold mission: 1. Prepare and conduct programs of instruction as directed by Chief, NGB. 2. Assist other agencies to conduct special courses and conferences. 3. Provide all facilities and services necessary to create a superior learning environment. Selection of Original Staff In January 1975, LTC Francis E. Jones, Jr, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, was selected by General Weber to be the first Commandant of the National Guard Professional Center. LTC Jones was promoted to COL in January 1975 when he reported for duty at the Center. During the same period, LTC Harry Neal, Missouri ARNG, was selected as Deputy Commandant and MAJ Richard Holt, Jr, Arkansas ARNG, was appointed as the Training Administrator. Other positions filled during this time were an Administrative Assistant, Training Administrative Specialist, Publication Specialist, Audio visual Specialist, six instructors and clerical employees. The six training instructors were selected from a list of twelve finalist chosen from a nation-wide job announcement. COL Jones, COL Remiszenski, Director of Military Education Branch NGB, MAJ Holt and Mr. Charles Walker of the Technician Branch NGB interviewed the finalist and selected the six original training instructors. Following is a list of the individuals, ranks, TDA positions and Civil Service grades of the original staff: Franc.is Jones Jr COL Commandant GS-13 Harry Neal LTC Deputy-Commandant GS-12 Richard Holt, Jr MAJ Training Administrator GS-11 Hulen Quattlebaum MAJ• Training Instructor GS-09 Delano Robberson MAJ Training Instructor GS-09 Fred Kearney* CPT Training Instructor GS-09 Bobbie Burrow CW2 Training Admin Spec GS-08 Lloyd Gore CW2 Administrative Assistant GS-lC) Philip Lipsmeyer CW2 Training Instructor GS-09 John Smith CW2 Training Instructor GS-09 Original staff/ Cont) Billy Thompson William Nichols Jerry Batey Original site support staff Mrs. Carole Mayes** Mrs. Bobbie Stuart** Mrs. Lisa Kempf** Mrs. Wanda Ritchey** Clerk-typist Clerk.-typist• *Returned to PEC as Commandant in -1988 ** Competitive -Civil Service In February of 19f5 a site contract was negotiated to operate and maintain the necessary facilities at the Center. The contract specified maintenance, supply, custodial and dining facility support. In July 197 5 a clerk was hired to maintain records and reports for the site contract personnel. Following is a list of individuals and positions which made up the first site contract. Donnie Brannen Maintenance Maintenance and Supply Supervisor Administrative Clerk Hiram Davidson Maida Elliott Tommy Flowers Ronald Fox Brooks Forrest Betty Godspooner Darrell Goodwin Charlie Hamilton John Harness Kenneth Hart Betty Lambert Dee Lawrence Lavertas Mack Wayne McCool Gary Moore George Reed Marie Widner The Training Directorate consisted of three committees; Administration, Logistics, and Personnel. Each committee had a designated committee chief, a full-time instructor and two guest instructors per committee for each class. The guest instructors were recommended for the assignment by their superiors from the participating states. Each class was to have 120 students, however, •the first class only had thirty members. Because of this, there were only three guest instructors for the first class. They were: CW2 •Blackwell, Louisiana; SFC Butler, Oklahoma; and CW3 Ma??;Tennessee. The Committees were organized as follows: Administrative - MAJ Hulen Quattlebaum, Committee Chief, SSG William Nichols, and two guest instructors. Logistics MAJ Delario Roberson, Committee Chief, CW2 John Smith and two guest instructors. Personnel- CPT Fred Kearney, Committee Chief, CW2 Philip Lipsmeyer and two guest instructors. The AST Study Group recommended the Program of Instruction (POI) should include the following elements: 1. It must be standard for all ARNG administrative supply technicians on the national level. 2. It must address all aspects of the technician position description for ASTs. 3. It must include basic familiarization with duty requirements for newly employed, inexperienced ASTs, but also serve as a progressive refresher course for highly competent, experienced AST personnel. 4. All other training programs must be considered to insure that the curriculum does not duplicate training available through other sources. 5. All subjects presented must be organized in a logical sequence illustrating proper procedure in accomplishing assigned duties. The training instructors were on board by l March 1975 and began to develop the POI which would be used during the April class. The AST training consisted of 88 hours of instruction .over a period of two weeks and three days. Subjects and subtopics for study were selected by an in-depth survey of the ASTs technician position description, five POIs from ARNG schools in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio and the USAR School at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Army and National Guard publications and regulations were researched to determine all administrative, supply, Personnel and maintenance functions conducted at company troop detachment level by an AST. The 88 hour POI was completed and ready to use when the first class reported in April 1975 The first AST class was scheduled for April 1975 for thirty students from twelve adjacent states to Arkansas. The students would be placed on full-time training duty and would be required to use government transportation. The second class would also have thirty members and was scheduled for May 1975. Since quarters were not available at the Center at this time, Arkansas National Guard facilities would be used for the first two classes. Classroom facilities at the Phillips Armory were used for instructional space. The billets to house 120 students were completed and ready for use in July 1975. The billets consisted of two 60 person single room block type buildings. In July a full 120 person class reported to PEC and the first time utilized the Centers billets, dining facilities and classrooms. Six guest instructors were brought in from the field to supplement the staff instructors and they were on full-time training duty. Arkansas National Guard guest house and billets were utilized by these instructors. First female students during the early days of the Centers operation, it was realized female students would need to be trained along with male students. The bathroom facilities in the Centers billets were common central facilities located in the center of the billets, which meant other arrangements would be needed for female students. PEC expansion Eight mobile homes were acquired from an inoperative government facility and moved to Camp Robinson. One of the trailers was used as the headquarters for PEG until their designated building would be located by the Arkansas Technician Branch. Six of the mobile homes were remodeled into three bedroom quarters for the students. Another mobile home was converted into a lounge and laundry facilities. The work was completed on the mobile home park and the first female students were received in November 1975. The mobile home billets were used by female students until 1980 when the west side of Yorktown Hall was modified to accommodate thirty female students. In 1982 Liberty Hall was completed with individual rooms having adjoining bathroom facilities. This was the first time male and female students were assigned to the same billets. In April 1975 when PEC became a reality, General Weber said on 3 January 1977, it was envisioned that AST training would constitute the primary justification for the existence of the Center. However, recent evaluation of the total technician training requirements and an assessment of the capability of PEC indicate an immediate need to introduce new courses to the curriculum. Instrumental in that expansion was a conference on 5 April 1977 at PEC attended by the following: MG Armstrong, Arkansas Adjutant General; MG Charles Ott, Army National Guard Director; Mr. William Baird, Chief Technician Training & Career Development (NGB-TNS-T); and COL Jones, PEC Commandant. With the concurrence of MG Armstrong, successor as the Arkansas Adjutant General to MG Chappell, expansion of PEG activity became a reality. As a result of that conference and General Webers assessment of PEC, the realization the PEG mission would continue to expand and become more important. Thus, the need for three additional staff instructors was verified in order to ease the heavy workload of existing instructors and to reduce costs of bringing in guest instructors. The three new staff instructors added were: CW2 Bobbie Burrow, PEC Training Administrative Assistant; CW2 William Reaser, West Virginia; and CW2 Billy Thompson, PEG Publications Officer. Early Renovations In 1979 two other 60-person billets and a building which had been a dining facility were renovated to provide 120 more quarters for student: and classroom space. The two billets were named Lexington and Lafayette Halls and the classroom building was named Truman Hall. For the first few years, the subsistence storage was also housed in Truman Hall. Later the subsistence storage was moved and publications and duplication functions were moved from Jackson Hall to Truman Hall. The renovation of these three buildings was the first •time NGB funds had been used to make physical improvements at PEC, it wouldnt be the last time! Fiscal Year 1981 was highlighted be the construction of Militia Hall. The construction of Militia Hall confirmed the belief PEC would be a permanent institution. This two-story brick building housed offices for PEC Headquarters, registration facilities, classrooms, and an area large enough to seat 500 persons. This large area has “high-tech” audio visual capabilities to be used during conferences, orientations and other large meetings. Due to the enlarged instructional staff and additional positions, the Administrative and Logistical Committees moved from Jackson Hall to Washington Hall when the PEC Headquarters moved to Militia Hall. The Training Directorate staff and the Personnel Committee remained in Jackson Hall. In 1982 Liberty Hall was constructed as a 160-person billet. These quarters were connected to the east side of Militia Hall and increased the resident capacity to 4oo. Liberty Hall has individual rooms with a common bathroom facility for each two rooms. In 1985 Patriot Hall was connected to the west side of Militia Hall and added another 200 rooms. Patriot Hall also has individual rooms with similar bathroom facilities as Liberty Hall. With the completion of Patriot Hall. PEC could now sleep and feed 6oo students and conference participants. In 1983 a new dining facility was connected to the southwest corner of Militia Hall. The new facility took the name of the old dining facility, Concord Hall. The old dining facility has not been give a new name, but is known as the Media Center since it now houses the offices for the Director of Information Management, Television Branch and the Audio Visual Branch. In 1985 a gymnasium, Freedom Hall was completed and provides recreational and physical fitness facilities for PEC students and staff. In 1987 two new buildings, Roosevelt and Colonial Halls, were accepted by PEC. Roosevelt Hall has seven classrooms and Colonial Hall has four classrooms, and also houses the PEC Library and Learning Center and offices for ??? Original buildings It became clear the course offering at PEC needed to be expanded to include, as a minimum, POIs for Command Administrative Assistant (CAA), Command Administrative Specialist (CAS), Safety Officer, Food Service Officer and Staff Training Assistant. So from the meager offering of one AST course attended by 30 technicians during •the first class, PEC now offered the following additional courses: 1. The AST POI was revised to require 104 hours of instruction within a 19-day period. 2. A 12-day, 60 hour CAA course emphasizing administrative, personnel and logistical subjects. 3. A 12-day, 60 hour CAS course emphasizing administrative, personnel and logistical subjects. 4. A 12-day, 60 hour Operations Training Specialist (OTS) course. Instruction was provided for OTS at battalion/brigade/group/regiment/division levels and included training management, readiness, combat and garrison operations and general training. 5. A 12-day, 60 hour Operations Training Readiness Specialist (OTRS) course. The course was developed for OTRS at battalion/brigade/group/ division levels and included training management, readiness, combat and garrison operations and general training. The first buildings which housed PEC had been signed over by Arkansas per the 1974 agreement. The buildings had all been renovated to meet the functional needs with the $160,000 that Governor Bumpers had agreed to earlier. Names were soon selected for each building which reflected the heritage of the National Guard. The practice of naming buildings as a reminder of the history of the militia has continued through the years. Following is a list of the original buildings and their functions: Washington Hall; PEC Headquarters Jackson Hall; Training Directorate MacArthur Hall Classrooms Lincoln Hall; Classrooms Grant Hall; Classrooms Concord Hall; Dining Facility Havens Hall; Billets Yorktown Hall; Billets
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 20:45:53 +0000
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