History made: Leaders of Army Reserve, National Guard don third star in historic first - U.S. Army 226th birthday - Brief Article

Army Reserve Magazine, Summer, 2001 by Randy Pullen

WASHINGTON (June 13, 2001)--Hundreds of Army Reservists and Army National Guardsmen saw history made on the eve of the Army's 226th birthday.

Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Plewes had the three stars of his new rank pinned on by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki and by Plewes' wife, Elizabeth, during a June ceremony held in the Pentagon courtyard. He is the first three-star Chief, Army Reserve, in the Army Reserve's 93-year history.

Also promoted to three-star rank during this ceremony was the Director of the Army National Guard, Lt. Gen. Roger C. Schultz. He is the National Guard's first three-star Director.

"It's a great day for the Army and a great day for the Plewes and Schultz families as we recognize the achievements of these two general officers and promote them to Lieutenant General," Shinseki said. "The Army is privileged to have great officers like Tom Plewes, Chief of The Army Reserve, and Roger Schultz, Director of The Army National Guard, leading our magnificent citizen soldiers."

"Two years ago, we made a bold declaration -- that we were "The Army -- totally integrated, with a unity of purpose -- no longer the total Army, no longer the one Army." We acknowledged our components and their unique strengths and made it clear that we would "march into the 21st century as The Army," Shinseki said. "Today, that's exactly what we're doing, and today's ceremony is symbolic of the unity our Army has demonstrated over the past two years, serving "on point" for the Nation."

Shinseki also reminded the audience that there were good examples of The Army unity from the Army's past.

The Chief of Staff discussed how much the Army and the Nation relies on its reserve components and how much they -- like their active Army counterparts -- are on point around the globe in places like Kosovo, Bosnia, East Timor, South America, the Philippines and Korea. In all, there are 64 countries to which Army Reserve and Army National Guard soldiers have deployed in the last two years.

The Army Chief of Staff highlighted a few things from the careers of both Plewes and Shultz before ordering their promotion orders read. He praised Plewes for his efforts to ensure Army Reserve soldiers understand and internalize the Army Vision and the Army Reserve's role in Army Transformation.

Shinseki also noted Plewes' leadership during the many achievements attained by the Army Reserve in recent years, exceeding recruiting goals, raising readiness to its highest levels in history, making itself into a force that looks like America and becoming more relevant -- and busier -- than ever.

The Army's newest lieutenant general, Thomas Plewes, general thanked Shinseki for his continuous support of the Army Reserve. He also thanked Congress for its commitment to citizen soldiers and gave special thanks to several Members of Congress who had been instrumental in making the long-standing dream of three-star reserve chiefs a reality.

Plewes also thanked his hometown mayor, Mayor Les Hoogland of Zeeland, Mich., who was present at the ceremony and noted that this town of 6,000 turns out twice that number of people every year for the Memorial Day parade to honor veterans.

He also expressed his appreciation to the service associations, such as the Association of the United States Army and the Reserve Officers Association, and to former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Charles L. Cragin for fighting to make this day happen. He graciously thanked the trailblazers in the Army Reserve who had brought the Army Reserve to its present high level of readiness and relevance, to include the six previous Chiefs, Army Reserve, present at the ceremony.

The newly promoted lieutenant general warmly thanked his partner and best friend, Elizabeth Plewes, saying that without family support, none of what we do is possible. He also thanked his children and mother.

His biggest thank-you was saved for the end.

"To all the men and women of the Army Reserve, who are represented by the local reservists and the OCAR staff here today, I thank you for all that you do every day and in every way for your country, "Plewes said. "You make your leadership look good."

"Every day is a great day to be a soldier, "Plewes said. "Today, it feels especially great to be a soldier in the Army Reserve!"

"I can't help but think that this event is in recognition of the growing respect for the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. Today is a visible demonstration of the appreciation of the national leadership in what the Army Reserve has done and continues to do for the Nation."

"I pledge myself, as I renew my service this afternoon, to providing that leadership and support, Plewes said.

Turning to Shinseki, he continued, THE Army? You haven't seen anything yet."

As the Chief, Army Reserve, and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Plewes oversees more than 205,000 Army Reserve soldiers in the Selected Reserve and another 180,000 in the Individual Ready Reserve and an annual budget of nearly $4.2 billion. The Army Reserve maintains and sustains two of the Army's major Installations, 12 regional support commands and an overseas Army Reserve Command. These commands function as "virtual installations" with facilities in 1,200 sites across all 50 states, most US territories, and in Europe.