Fort Knox Turret signing off

By COL. BRUCE JENKINS
Fort Knox Garrison Commander

When readers of this legendary newspaper pick up next week’s edition, they’ll probably do a double take. People may even think the carrier accidentally delivered the wrong newspaper.
Make no mistake, the newspaper will, in fact, be Fort Knox’s official newspaper, albeit with a different name and a new look.
So, what will be the newspaper’s new name? The Gold Standard.
In the fall, it was announced through the Turret, Turret.com, Fort Knox Facebook and KNOXINFO email announcements (internal to the Fort Knox workforce) that community feedback was sought on whether to change the name of the newspaper, and if someone believed a name change was in order, his or her recommendation for the new name. Great feedback on both sides were received, which, above all, told me that people value this product that the hardworking and talented newspaper staff puts together each week.
In the end, the majority recommended a name change. Name recommendations ranged from The Chronicle of Excellence to The Paper Clip to The Resource. Some names were comical, some names were serious contenders, but The Gold Standard won out.
The name was recommended by many readers, as it encompassed a loose tie to what Fort Knox is often associated with (the gold vault). While at the same time, it is an appropriate name for a newspaper that stands for excellence—which is what each organization on Fort Knox embodies. We believe our post paper is the best in the Army—the Gold Standard that all others strive to be.
Some have asked why we considered changing the newspaper name. Quite simply, the topic was often brought up and we owed it to the workforce, Soldiers, Families and community to address this issue.
The Turret had a great run—since 1948. What’s important to note, though, is that although the name will change, the quality that people have come to expect from this newspaper will endure.
I had the privilege to attend the August 2011 retirement luncheon of Larry Barnes, editor of the Turret for 29 years. It was amazing to learn of the impact he had on so many lives and how he established the Turret as the preeminent newspaper in the Army. His standards won’t soon be forgotten, and we will embark on this new tradition with his legacy serving as the foundation.
Coinciding with the name change, the newspaper staff and civilian enterprise publisher have collaborated over the past few months to redesign the newspaper and introduce different elements to ultimately make an already good newspaper great! Some changes will be pronounced, while others will be subtle. Regardless, we hope you enjoy The Gold Standard and that it continues to serve your information needs about Fort Knox and the Army.
Working to make our post a better place to live, train, serve and play one Soldier, one Civilian, and one Family member at a time. Defend and Serve!