Applying SAME Values to Military Engineering Challenges

Happy New Year!  As we enter 2007, our military engineering community faces many challenges. These challenges will require leaders who exhibit the values of their respective organizations as well as those reflected in the SAME Strategic Plan. Integrity.  As the volume of work increases and government manpower declines, our challenge will be to maintain integrity in the public-private partnership that is essential to our success. While the government seeks to maintain essential fiscal control and quality assurance, contractors seek flexibility and freedom to exploit innovative approaches. Our military engineering mission demands organizations and leaders with a high degree of integrity, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve a level of trust that promotes accountability, innovation and superior results.

Patriotism. SAME continues to provide an opportunity for those in uniform, those in the civilian component of the uniformed services, and our private sector partners to demonstrate our patriotism.  As I mentioned in my message in December, companies that have responded to the call to support our national security missions in the Middle East have done so out of patriotism as much as achieving corporate profits. Supporting the nation in its fight in the Global War on Terrorism is not without risks, particularly in austere, insecure overseas operations. We continue to show our patriotism at SAME events by opening with color guards, the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance.  And finally, the SAME logo, approved by the Board of Direction in 2005, reflects our pride in the red, white and blue.

Public Service. Within the Department of Defense (DOD), we continue to see talented individuals drawn to public service at the entry level through intern programs, and at the senior level with retired military officers and senior noncommissioned officers
re-entering public service as civilians. I am pleased to report that more than 50 percent of our Post leaders come from the public sector, which demonstrates a continuing commitment of our members in public service to support SAME’s mission, goals and objectives. The SAME medals and awards program provides an excellent opportunity to recognize our public servants. I encourage SAME Posts to provide similar recognition as part of annual Post awards programs. While we should expect greatness from our uniformed and civilian public servants, we also should recognize their accomplishments.

National Security. National security is the foundation of the SAME mission and values. It is our reason for being. I am pleased with the changes recently approved by the SAME Board of Direction that redefine the role of our Posts in supporting the National Response Plan and in readiness and homeland security, and I look forward to the Board’s continuing discussions on how SAME plans to contribute to national security in locations outside the United States. I also applaud SAME’s active participation in The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) and hosting of the annual TISP conference. SAME needs leaders who understand the importance of collaboration among federal, state and local public agencies as well as the private sector in support of national security both in the U.S.  and abroad.

Technical Competence. SAME must continue to provide the training and education that will assist our members in achieving and maintaining their technical competence. While we depend primarily on our colleges and universities to educate our members, SAME should provide opportunities for members to better understand how to apply their skills to DOD projects and programs, including the instruction of new technology such as building information modeling and new delivery methods such as design-build. I applaud SAME’s strategic alliances with other professional societies that promote licensure and certifications, which demonstrate technical competence and a commitment to continuing education.

Excellence.  As we seek to achieve time and cost savings, we must always keep in mind that as engineers we will be judged by the long-term quality of our efforts. We have learned much from the aftermath of Katrina and are seeking to better understand how we can define and achieve excellence in overseas operations. Defining acceptable standards and risks are essential to forecasting and achieving agreed upon outcomes. SAME should continue to promote dialogue on these issues so that the public is well served.

Environmental Stewardship. I applaud SAME for providing an Environmental Sustainability Guide as an insert to the January-February 2007 issue of The Military Engineer. SAME’s Environmental Committee has done an excellent job in providing a forum for our members to learn from our DOD leaders the expectations for the environmental sustainability and to provide private sector expertise in solving DOD’s environmental challenges. I encourage SAME to continue to promote environmental sustainability in its education and training programs, including LEED certification.

SAME’s values are consistent with the values of the uniformed services and provide a foundation for SAME’s support to national security.  As we diligently work to meet GWOT demands, our values should continue to guide our actions. Leaders should mentor subordinates on values, and SAME should continue to be a values-based organization.

Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock, P.E.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
SAME President, 2006 – 2007