Command Sgt. Major Yolanda Tate, the top enlisted
Soldier in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Pacific Ocean Division stepped
foot on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan for the first time and, said
she liked what she saw.
As the newly appointed command sergeant major, Tate
recently made her first official visit to the Japan District, one of four
districts she supports in the Pacific region.
“This trip is giving me a better perspective on what
the Corps of Engineers is doing across the Pacific,” Tate said.
Capt. Chatom “CT” Warren, Iwakuni Resident Office
deputy resident engineer said he was most excited to show Tate the abundance of
quality construction that the Iwakuni Resident Office provides to the service
members, family members and civilians.
“We continue to set the conditions by providing
amazing quality of life projects that will enhance the Iwakuni community,”
Warren said.
While in Iwakuni, Tate toured some of the
installations newest buildings set to open soon – the commissary, theater and
high school.
“It is good to see how we are improving the quality of
life for our service members,” Tate said. “I am also impressed by the great
relationship that the Iwakuni Resident Office has with the host nation. It is
outstanding.”
She also got to see the ground preparation work at the
Atago site where a housing area, sports complex and bridge are being
built.
Tate said the Iwakuni Resident Office is more set up
as an area office than a residential office and she is amazed that the office
can juggle all of the jobs at once.
“This team of professionals is handling 192 projects
simultaneously and they handle the workload with efficiency,” Tate said.
Tate said she is looking forward to being able to
share all the great things and hard work Corps employees are doing in Iwakuni.
“They are building a valuable relationship with the
host nation and engineering superb buildings,” Tate said. “Whether you are a
Department of the Army civilian, military or a Master Labor Contract employee
we must always make sure we are representing the Corps. We
have a great team of professionals in Iwakuni that are telling the Corps’ story
and telling it well.”
Warren said he believes Tate walked away with a
greater understanding and appreciation for the Defense Policy Review Initiative
(DPRI) program.
“We definitely showed her the DPRI value increased with
the addition of the new facilities that are being constructed on this base,”
Warren said.
Tate started her tour of the Pacific in Korea, next
visited Camp Zama and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and then headed to
Okinawa.