Engineer Memoirs _____________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT: OPMS Command Selection and Selection of District Engineers
accomplish missions. He must lead and motivate--different personalities require different techniques
just as in troop units. He must handle the personnel problems of his command and since it consists of
the whole spectrum from the lowest grade of wage-board employee to GS-15, this means: he is
concerned with replacements and timing; he has discipline problems; equal opportunity problems,
and congressionals; he is expected to produce results--through his operating elements, using his
staff, and his own qualities of leadership. It is his command and he is responsible for the whole of
it--he cannot delegate his responsibility. This doesn't establish that districts should or are perceived
to rate a priority over troop command--there are large and small districts, more and less challenging
and more or less desirable just as there are more and less challenging commands--e.g., an engineer
bde in USAREUR with five combat battalions compared to an engineer group of one battalion at Ft.
Riley.
5. The relationship is valid from the standpoint of force structure and offers professional
development as well. In time of peace the Army logically seeks to retain the highest possible
percentage of its combat forces in the residual force structure. Headquarters are opportune items for
deletion. The few residual engineer battalions are spread about CONUS with little need for Engineer
Group headquarters to pull together their efforts. As a consequence the Engineer troop unit structure
is truncated at the top. That gap in command experience historically has been adequately filled by the
engineer district. It provides the opportunity for the Army to train officer who can command the
combat groups and brigades in an expanded wartime forces. It provides the opportunity for all
engineer officers to see command running from platoon to company to battalion to group/district.
6. Alternatives for selecting troop commanders and district engineers.
a. Alternative I - Board selection of troop commander with District Engineers selected by the
Chief of Engineers in a slating session for OPD. (Present System)
Advantages:
(1)
Chief of Engineers has maximum flexibility in selecting of District Engineers.
(2)
Eliminates possibility of board having more than a single set of selection criteria.
(Assumes there would be different criteria. Present COE indicates he is looking for
same criteria.)
(3)
Maintains a clear-cut distinction of troop command. (Assumes such distinction is
desirable.)
Disadvantages:
(1)
Carries "halo" effect for engineers since there are so few positions.
(2)
Establishes District Engineer position as second class--not equivalent to troop
command.
A-2
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