[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING FORT BENNING FOR BEING AWARDED PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR 
                                QUALITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 1997

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
recognize Fort Benning, GA--the home of the infantry and the Army's 
premier installation--for being the sole nominee and winner of the 1997 
Presidential Award for Quality, recognizing the best Federal agency in 
the Federal Government.
  On July 10, Fort Benning was honored with the award, having already 
received the Army Community of Excellence Commander-in-Chief's Award 
for being the best Army installation in the world three times in the 
last 4 years and the Army Community of Excellence Army Chief of Staff 
Award for being the best Army installation in the continental United 
States in each of the last 5 years.
  These awards are indicative of both the ability and professionalism 
of the tens of thousands of soldiers that pass through Fort Benning's 
gate very year and of the successful partnership that has developed 
over the years between Fort Benning and the greater Columbus area. No 
military facility can be fully effective without developing a positive 
relationship with the local community. Fort Benning has accomplished 
this and has developed a military/civilian team that is unmatched in 
its efficiency and effectiveness.
  In spite of the fact that the military population of Fort Benning is 
in a continuous state of transition, the installation has been able to 
maintain its high standards of quality. This is, in large part, thanks 
to the nearly 7,000 civilians who work behind the scenes to advance 
Bennings' mission. These are individuals like Sarah McLaney, Fort 
Benning's ACOE coordinator, who has seen the facility receive the 
Commander-in-Chief Award under three different commanding generals. 
Dedicated workers like Sarah have been instrumental not only in 
achieving Fort Benning's military mission, but also in the development 
of the strong ties that bind Fort Benning to the Columbus community.
  General Ernst and his able staff have further reinforced Fort 
Benning's longstanding commitment to military quality. Focusing on the 
watchwords ``First in Training, First in Readiness, and First in 
Quality of Life,'' Fort Benning soldiers constitute a cornerstone of 
our Nation's Armed Forces.
  Since 1918, Fort Benning has operated the world's foremost military 
institutional training center. As the home of the infantry, Fort 
Benning's mission is to produce the world's finest combat-ready 
infantrymen, to provide the Nation with a power projection platform 
capable of rapid deployment, and to continue to be the Army's premier 
installation and home for soldiers, families, civilian employees, and 
military retirees. This mission is achieved with distinction on a daily 
basis.
  While the Infantry remains the central focus of activity at Fort 
Benning, a number of other types of units have been added over the 
years, enhancing the ability of the installation to accomplish its 
mission. In addition to being home of the infantry, Fort Benning now 
houses the Airborne School, the Army Ranger School, the 29th Infantry 
Regiment--training unit for the Bradley fighting vehicle--the 36th 
Engineer Group, and the U.S. Army School of the Americas. Each of these 
units works tirelessly to defend our national interests around the 
world and to serve our communities at home.
  To the military and civilian personnel of Fort Benning, I am once 
again honored to offer my sincere thanks and congratulations for a job 
well done.

                          ____________________