By Natela Cutter
Lt. Gen. James E. Rainey, commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, visited DLIFLC today and took the opportunity to speak with leadership about the effect of the pandemic on foreign language students, as well as the imminent rollout of a vaccine against the coronavirus.
Lt. Gen. James E. Rainey, commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, visited DLIFLC Jan. 14 and took the opportunity to speak with Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center leadership about the effect of the pandemic on foreign language students.
“His (Rainey’s) visit was a follow up to the virtual visit he participated in May of last year,” said DLIFLC commandant Col. Gary Hausman, adding that the general took the opportunity to find out more about how DLIFLC was ensuring the safety of students during the pandemic, and discuss issues surrounding behavioral health and the rollout of the vaccine against COVID-19.
Rainey stopped by the Presidio of Monterey California Medical Detachment to give coins to military personnel and civilians to thank them for their hard work in taking care of military service members and their dependents during these challenging times. He took a moment to speak with each individual and express his gratitude for their service.
“Thank you for your hard work here during these unprecedented times,” Rainey said, adding “if you would like me to reassign you to Fort Polk from beautiful Monterey, just let me know,” he said jokingly, causing personnel to laugh.
The general also spent time speaking with the POM Garrison Commander Col. Verman Chhoeung during which he had the opportunity to present Sgt. 1st Class Stephanie Lessmeister with a coin to thank her for her work as a Victim Advocate and for re-establishing the SHARP Student Council that had gone dormant during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
