Civilian workforce has faithfully stood alongside Fort Benning soldiers, its leaders

As we celebrate Fort Benning’s 100 anniversary, we reflect on history.

At the top of the list are the generals, command sergeants, majors and other soldiers who have come and gone and made significant contributions and changes.

It is actually overwhelming when you start putting pen to paper to track what has transpired the last 100 years.

But there is one group who has also been there alongside our local community and soldiers — and that is the civilian workforce.

I was proud to have spent more than 30 of my 40-plus year career as a Fort Benning civilian. I worked with some of the most dedicated, talented civilians — leaders at the highest level (SES and GS-15), to instructors, clerks and wage grade workers. They all worked as “Civilian Soldiers,” making things happen and did what it took to train soldiers and take care of families.

We stood behind our military leaders to help them do their job to train soldiers and protect our country.

We helped prepare them for deployments, and sometimes civilians deployed with them.

We provided the continuity so that a soldier and his family could arrive at Fort Benning and swiftly transition into our community.

We sometimes jokingly called the soldiers “temp hires” as we knew we would still be there when they transferred on to their next duty station.

Over the years, many of the Fort Benning commanding generals and senior leaders recognized the contributions this group made — one leader passed out Blue Chips to recognize excellence, another handed out One Team Winner pins, and still another instituted the Excellence Breakfast (which exists to this day) where civilians and Soldiers are publicly recognized for their efforts.

I had the best job at Fort Benning and I was a successful at my job because of the support of my fellow civilian employees — from the ID card processor, to the airfield plane scheduler, to the medical appointment scheduler, to the legal advisers to the director of Public Works, you name it — we worked as a TEAM.

In 2007, the Army formally recognized the civilian work force by providing more emphasis on training for civilians and developing the Army Creed.

On behalf of the civilian work force, Happy Birthday Fort Benning, we salute you!

I am an Army Civilian — a member of the Army Team

I am dedicated to our Army, our Soldiers, and Civilians

I will always support the mission

I provide stability and continuity during war and peace

I support and defend the Constitution of the United States and consider it an honor to serve our Nation and our Army

I live the Army values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage

I am an Army Civilian

Susan Berry is a retired Civil Service employee at Fort Benning who served as an administrative officer to a number of commanding generals.

This story was originally published October 27, 2018 at 12:00 AM.