[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING FORT BENNING ON RECEIVING THE ARMY COMMUNICATIONS OF 
                    EXCELLENCE CHIEF OF STAFF AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I have been a Member of Congress for ten 
full years, going on my eleventh year now. Since 1993, when I was 
elected, the ``Home of the Infantry,'' Fort Benning has consistently 
been selected as the best installation in the nation, and a few times 
as best in the world.
  As a politician, something inside me wants to take credit for that, 
but as a statesman, I realize that it has been the fine leadership of 
people like Major General Paul Eaton and Colonel Joe Torres and those 
who have preceded them who are really responsible for the outstanding 
performance of Fort Benning.
  As a major power projection platform for the Army, Benning serves a 
very transitional community of soldiers. With our war in Iraq and 
Afghanistan, more than 7,000 Fort Benning troops are stationed 
overseas. Obviously, this kind of deployment leaves a hole. 
Additionally, several thousand more soldiers from other bases have 
passed through Benning's gates to receive specialized training before 
deploying to the field. This has placed a great deal of demand on the 
services offered.
  But, in spite of all of these challenges, Fort Benning has been 
recognized again this year as one of the top 10 military installations 
in the world with the Communities of Excellence Chief of Staff Award. 
Competing on the Training and Doctrine Command level, Benning has 
demonstrated a better, more efficient, faster way to provide 
outstanding service to the community which calls Fort Benning home.
  Additionally, Fort Benning is an integral part of the tri-community, 
Columbus, GA, Phenix City, AL, and Fort Benning. The military and the 
civilian communities strive to mutually support one another and each 
community compliments the others. This is the result of tireless effort 
by the military, the community leaders of Columbus, and Phenix City. 
Their effort has paid off and I am glad to see it recognized with this 
award.
  Fort Benning, while it has a proud legacy as the foremost training 
center of the Army, is only a patch of Earth and some buildings. It is 
the people who work there that make it an outstanding example of 
military efficiency and service. It is the dedication of those people 
and the leadership of its commanders which drive the level of 
excellence higher each year.
  The consistent performance of Fort Benning reflects well on the Army 
and demonstrates why Fort Benning is a shining example of the Army 
being all it can be.
  I congratulate Major General Eaton and his fine staff on receiving 
this award and thank them for their service to America and to the 
community which makes Benning its home.