General Berry wife, Gwen, place his star on his uniform.
On December 15, 2008, a dream came true for a local Soldier. Al Berry, a career Soldier of 26 years and a resident of Racine since 1990, received orders promoting him to Brigadier General.
Brigadier General Berry commands a newly activated
Training Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His command spans a 12-state area. Although his headquarters is at Fort Knox, Berry spends about two-thirds of his time traveling to see Soldiers located throughout his 12-state area.
At his promotion ceremony at Infusino’s Banquet Hall, Berry first acknowledged that his promotion is God’s blessings and he recognized that he is the beneficiary of the support of his loving family. Berry also used the ceremony to thank his mentors, friends, and fellow church members.
Berry commented that he had dreams of having a military career prior to his being commissioned as a second lieutenant from the University of Georgia (UGA). Berry is originally from Glennville, Georgia and grew up on a farm. The Berry family farm is not far from Fort Stewart. Being so close to a military base, he saw Soldiers conduct military operations on or near the family farm. Growing up as the youngest of 15 siblings, 5 of the 9 sons served in the military – 3 in the Army, 1 in the Navy and 1 in the Air Force. Also, 3 of the 6 sisters married Soldiers. Berry’s brother, Bill, introduced him to the idea of entering the military through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). While at Fort Valley State College, Bill was a cadet in the Army ROTC program. When Berry was a freshman at UGA, he enrolled in the Army ROTC program and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG) and he was commissioned. The top ten percent of ROTC cadets are selected as DMGs.
Berry attributes his success in the military to his unaltered faith in God and His provisions, his family’s support, four mentors, prayer partners and Soldiers who served with him. Berry, who is not ashamed of his relationship with God include this fact in his command and leadership philosophies. He smiles with a reassuring expression of love as he adds that he met his bride of 26 years when they both were lieutenants in 3rd Infantry Division and stationed in Germany. The military brought them together, but it has been their love for each other through the challenges and rewards of a military career that has kept them together. They affectionately recall the period when he had a break in his military service while she continued to serve and was promoted to Major. Her promotion meant that she outranked him. Berry could not hide his beam of joy in commenting that he “gladly saluted her as often as possible.” Both of their daughters were born in military hospitals – Adia at Walter Reed, Washington, D.C. and Allena at Wynn Army Hospital at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Berry admits that his four mentors have influenced his military career. Although he served 11 years on active duty, his mentors appeared when he began serving as a Reserve Soldier. He joined the Army Reserves as a Captain, and his first mentor was his Brigade Commander, Colonel Peter Pochowski. Berry met Colonel Pochowski when his bride, Gwen, served as one of Colonel Pochowski’s staff officers and was being promoted to Major. Berry mentioned to Gwen’s commander that he was interested in returning to duty. Within a few months, he was back in uniform. Pochowski often reminds Berry that Gwen was the smarter officer in the Berry’s household. Berry fondly admits that assessment is true.
For about ten years, since his battalion command tour, Major General Robert Smith has guided and advised Berry to his promotion to Brigadier General. In fact, Major General Smith is the consummate mentor and has been influential in the military careers of approximately 15 officers being inducted into the General Officer’s Corps. Although he is retired, Major General Smith continues to serve on special details at the Pentagon and actively advices military leaders throughout the world.
Berry’s relationship with his current mentor and senior commander, Major General William Kirkland began when Berry attended the Army War College after he completed his tour as a battalion commander. Berry recalls calling Major General Kirkland for advice on strategic concepts and case studies as he worked to complete writing requirements. Now Major General Kirkland guides Berry as a protégé in the exclusive field of commanding generals. Major General Kirkland commands the top-rated Training Command organization in the United States Army Reserve Command (USARC).
Berry’s fourth mentor, Colonel Michael Hughes, is currently deployed to Kuwait. Hughes mentored Berry when Berry was a brigade commander. Berry recalls the focus of those mentoring sessions reminded him that during the demands and stresses of being a brigade commander, he must not allow the demands to overwhelm him and take himself too seriously. Berry smiles as he recalls that he growing up on the farm, he learned how to work hard. He adds, “As a brigade commander, I had to learn how work smarter and surround myself with smart people who know how to get things done. Doing so allowed me to think through my leadership vision, interject my influence, and direct resources where they would have the greatest impact.”
“Throughout my military career”, Berry continues, “it’s about the mission and people.” Berry reflects back on his former brigade motto coined by his first mentor, Colonel Pochowski, “Mission First, People Always.” He continues, “This motto captures the essence and azimuth for a balanced focus for me as a senior leader.”
As the Commanding General of his current organization, the 70th Training Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Berry encapsulates the spirit of his organization known as the “Trailblazers”. He reminds his Soldiers that the command’s mission is to train leaders. Therefore, he requires all Soldiers to think and act in terms of being a leader. As such, his command adopted the motto, “Trailblazers, Lead.” Berry adds that the motto is short and to-the-point. It also keeps Soldiers focused on who we are and what we do – Trailblazers who lead!
Additional reading
Brigadier General Berry commands a newly activated
Training Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His command spans a 12-state area. Although his headquarters is at Fort Knox, Berry spends about two-thirds of his time traveling to see Soldiers located throughout his 12-state area.At his promotion ceremony at Infusino’s Banquet Hall, Berry first acknowledged that his promotion is God’s blessings and he recognized that he is the beneficiary of the support of his loving family. Berry also used the ceremony to thank his mentors, friends, and fellow church members.
Berry commented that he had dreams of having a military career prior to his being commissioned as a second lieutenant from the University of Georgia (UGA). Berry is originally from Glennville, Georgia and grew up on a farm. The Berry family farm is not far from Fort Stewart. Being so close to a military base, he saw Soldiers conduct military operations on or near the family farm. Growing up as the youngest of 15 siblings, 5 of the 9 sons served in the military – 3 in the Army, 1 in the Navy and 1 in the Air Force. Also, 3 of the 6 sisters married Soldiers. Berry’s brother, Bill, introduced him to the idea of entering the military through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). While at Fort Valley State College, Bill was a cadet in the Army ROTC program. When Berry was a freshman at UGA, he enrolled in the Army ROTC program and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG) and he was commissioned. The top ten percent of ROTC cadets are selected as DMGs.
Berry attributes his success in the military to his unaltered faith in God and His provisions, his family’s support, four mentors, prayer partners and Soldiers who served with him. Berry, who is not ashamed of his relationship with God include this fact in his command and leadership philosophies. He smiles with a reassuring expression of love as he adds that he met his bride of 26 years when they both were lieutenants in 3rd Infantry Division and stationed in Germany. The military brought them together, but it has been their love for each other through the challenges and rewards of a military career that has kept them together. They affectionately recall the period when he had a break in his military service while she continued to serve and was promoted to Major. Her promotion meant that she outranked him. Berry could not hide his beam of joy in commenting that he “gladly saluted her as often as possible.” Both of their daughters were born in military hospitals – Adia at Walter Reed, Washington, D.C. and Allena at Wynn Army Hospital at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Berry admits that his four mentors have influenced his military career. Although he served 11 years on active duty, his mentors appeared when he began serving as a Reserve Soldier. He joined the Army Reserves as a Captain, and his first mentor was his Brigade Commander, Colonel Peter Pochowski. Berry met Colonel Pochowski when his bride, Gwen, served as one of Colonel Pochowski’s staff officers and was being promoted to Major. Berry mentioned to Gwen’s commander that he was interested in returning to duty. Within a few months, he was back in uniform. Pochowski often reminds Berry that Gwen was the smarter officer in the Berry’s household. Berry fondly admits that assessment is true.
For about ten years, since his battalion command tour, Major General Robert Smith has guided and advised Berry to his promotion to Brigadier General. In fact, Major General Smith is the consummate mentor and has been influential in the military careers of approximately 15 officers being inducted into the General Officer’s Corps. Although he is retired, Major General Smith continues to serve on special details at the Pentagon and actively advices military leaders throughout the world.
Berry’s relationship with his current mentor and senior commander, Major General William Kirkland began when Berry attended the Army War College after he completed his tour as a battalion commander. Berry recalls calling Major General Kirkland for advice on strategic concepts and case studies as he worked to complete writing requirements. Now Major General Kirkland guides Berry as a protégé in the exclusive field of commanding generals. Major General Kirkland commands the top-rated Training Command organization in the United States Army Reserve Command (USARC).
Berry’s fourth mentor, Colonel Michael Hughes, is currently deployed to Kuwait. Hughes mentored Berry when Berry was a brigade commander. Berry recalls the focus of those mentoring sessions reminded him that during the demands and stresses of being a brigade commander, he must not allow the demands to overwhelm him and take himself too seriously. Berry smiles as he recalls that he growing up on the farm, he learned how to work hard. He adds, “As a brigade commander, I had to learn how work smarter and surround myself with smart people who know how to get things done. Doing so allowed me to think through my leadership vision, interject my influence, and direct resources where they would have the greatest impact.”
“Throughout my military career”, Berry continues, “it’s about the mission and people.” Berry reflects back on his former brigade motto coined by his first mentor, Colonel Pochowski, “Mission First, People Always.” He continues, “This motto captures the essence and azimuth for a balanced focus for me as a senior leader.”
As the Commanding General of his current organization, the 70th Training Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Berry encapsulates the spirit of his organization known as the “Trailblazers”. He reminds his Soldiers that the command’s mission is to train leaders. Therefore, he requires all Soldiers to think and act in terms of being a leader. As such, his command adopted the motto, “Trailblazers, Lead.” Berry adds that the motto is short and to-the-point. It also keeps Soldiers focused on who we are and what we do – Trailblazers who lead!
Additional reading
