The Army profession requires consistent attention and nurturing because it is “what we’re known for,” said Gen. Gary Brito, commanding general of Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Strengthening the Army profession, Brito noted, is the fourth item on Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George’s list of four focus areas. It is preceded by warfighting, delivering ready combat formations and continuous transformation, because “it underpins the three above,” he said.

“The Army profession is that first layer of bricks which we will continue to build a strong Army house on, and that is why I think this is most important,” Brito said Oct. 16 during a panel discussion at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C.

“Although we’re only nine months out of the Army’s 250th birthday, there’s no reason that the Army profession should not continue to be nurtured and paid attention to, not unlike your backyard garden or anything that you take care of,” he said.

That nurturing should take place whether it’s in the contemporary or operational environment or among the younger generations that are volunteering to serve, Brito said, because it’s “an obligation that we have with the moms and dads that are supporting their young daughters and sons to join, and the same for those noncommissioned officers and officers that continue to join and lead our Army as well.”

Panelist Sgt. 1st Class Leyton Summerlin said he is “incredibly passionate about strengthening the profession.”

“I think this is one of the most fundamental things that we can do. … It cross-cuts every other focus area that [George] has, so I think it's incredibly important,” said Summerlin, who is deputy director of the Harding Project, a program created at George’s direction to modernize and improve the quality of Army professional journals.

When his daughter was born, Summerlin said, he was a drill sergeant, and he saw in the faces of his trainees the future first sergeants, command sergeants major and even officers who would lead his daughter.

“I come from a very long line of military family members, and it made me think, you know, here in 18 years, there was a high probability that she's going to join the military, just by statistics,” he said, adding that he hadn’t realized until then how important it was to be a professional soldier. “It really kicked me into high gear.”

Brito offered that “as we continue to nurture and grow and develop that first layer of bricks, it's rounding all that expertise out in our Army and our civilian professionals. Our armed profession requires 24/7 attention because it is what we're known for, what we're good for, and what we're respected for, and I'm really happy to be part of this effort.”

— Gina Cavallaro