By Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Breakfast Optimist Club
The new Military Affairs Director (MAC), CSM (Ret.) Rob Wilson was the guest speaker at the September 11 JC Breakfast Optimist Club meeting at Jim Clark’s Chevrolet showroom. He retired after 29 years in the Army having concluded his career in the 1/5 Field Artillery at Fort Riley. Rob grew up in a military family in California. He told the Optimists that “I needed discipline, but didn’t want to be on a ship and so I chose the Army”. He and his wife have two adult children. Both children went through the Junction City High School JROTC program and now one serves in the Army and the other in the Navy.
Rob stated that as the MAC Director he serves as a liaison between the community and Fort Riley. Some of those duties include scheduling, coordinating and leading the Military Affairs Council Breakfasts once per month at the Courtyard by Marriott in Junction City; attending ceremonies at Fort Riley and scheduling static military displays and working with retired or retiring soldiers and their families to encourage them to stay in Junction City and become a part of the community, and other appropriate duties required in his position. “There are 2,000 soldiers that leave the Army every year and we want as many as possible who retire from Fort Riley to stay here,” he said.
Having served in locations other than Fort Riley during his 29 years of active duty, CSM (Ret.) Wilson shared that “there are often small towns around military installations and this is one of the most welcoming communities near of all the Army Posts” where he has served.
One of Rob’s goals is to get to know the community better. Club’s or organizations who want to learn more about the Military Affairs Council may contact Rob Wilson at 785-530-5590.