Civilians Provide Continuity for Army, Esper Says

Civilians Provide Continuity for Army, Esper Says

Photo by: AUSA

Civilians who work for the Army provide vital cohesion for the service, Army Secretary Mark T. Esper said Oct. 10.

“You are the continuity for the force,” Esper told civilian employees at a luncheon on the final day of the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. “This is how we will sustain reforms into the future.”

Civilians who remain in their jobs while military colleagues rotate in and out maintain key institutional knowledge, Esper indicated. “Department of the Army civilians will carry the ball forward,” he said.

Civilians also provide valuable expertise that the Army needs, Esper said. One example is in the field of cyber operations. “Cyber security is critical," Esper said. “That’s where we can leverage our civilians.”

Later, as the conference wound to an end, Esper gave a thumbs-up to the annual AUSA meeting overall.

Esper made his assessment during an impromptu visit to the conference’s press room.

When asked by AUSA for his main takeaway from the meeting, Esper responded: “Very successful.”

 

-Susan Keating for AUSA