Barbados, Chiliean leaders inducted into International Hall of Fame

(Sarah Hauck/ArmyU Public Affairs) The Army University’s Command and General Staff College inducted two new military members to the CGSC International Hall of Fame – Commodore Errington R. Shurland, Chief of Staff, Barbados Defence Force, and General Javier Iturriaga Del Campo, Commander in Chief of the Chilean Army – Oct. 31, 2023, at the Lewis and Clark Center on Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

CGSC Commandant Lt. Gen. Milford Beagle, Jr., hosted the ceremony.

Since its establishment in 1973, the CGSC IHOF has inducted nearly 300 military officers representing 80 nations. Nominees are selected based on their distinguished service that has helped them achieve the highest level of leadership within their respective militaries.

CGSC Commandant Lt. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr., and Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen H. Helton present Commodore Errington R. Shurland, chief of staff, Barbados Defence Force, with a certificate on behalf of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars signifying his status as an inductee into the International Hall of Fame.

Commodore Errington R. Shurland, Chief of Staff, Barbados Defence Force, addresses the audience during his induction ceremony to the CGSC International Hall of Fame Oct. 31, 2023, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

General Javier Iturriaga Del Campo, Commander in Chief of the Chilean Army, addresses the audience during his induction ceremony to the CGSC International Hall of Fame Oct. 31, 2023, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

CGSC Foundation Chair Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Chris Hughes presents General Javier Iturriaga Del Campo, commander in chief of the Chilean Army, with a gift of a miniature Fort Leavenworth Lamp designating him as an honorary life constituent of the CGSC Foundation during the International Hall of Fame induction ceremony Oct. 31, 2023, at the Lewis and Clark Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

“The inductions of Commodore Shurland and Gen. Inturriaga today represent the fulfillment of the potential that resides in each student in the military education institution as a direct return on the investment made jointly by our respective militaries and the professional military education of our officers,” said Beagle. “Today we celebrate alliance capability and credibility and commitment. Something as necessary now, as any other time in our history.”

Shurland, a graduate of the Class of 2002 and classmate of Beagle’s, is the first inductee from the nation of Barbados. He has served since 1984 and was appointed to Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defense Force in September 2021, the first naval officer to serve in this position.

Throughout his career, Shurland has represented Barbados at every level of military service and his leadership is and will remain important as the U.S. and Barbados relationship moves forward, Beagle explained.

Shurland joked that while most claim CGSC is the best year of a young officer’s life, his time can’t be labeled as such wholeheartedly due to a missed first wedding anniversary, tragic events of 9/11, and a historic ice storm.

He continued that the lessons learned while at CGSC 21 years ago have made lasting impressions personally and professionally.

“It was impactful and a significant professional development program that I’ve ever undertaken on my military career,” Shurland said.

He mentioned lifelong lessons in diplomacy and experience in joint, interagency collaboration. The two lessons he’s taken with him for the entirety of his career include not to seek perfection, and dispute remediation and diplomacy.

“Perfect is the enemy of good enough, is a phrase he [then CGSC Commandant Gen. James C. Riley] used during an introductory speech to us back in 2002,” Shurland said. “That phrase provided me and I’m sure some of my classmates with some critical guidance.”

Shurland explained seeking perfection often ties up progress to completing tasks.

The second lesson was the impact of the events of 9/11 on the class which included 91 international students representing more than 70 students.

“The deputy commandant was Brig. Gen. David Huntoon and he had the responsibility for managing that situation. He did so with a calm reassurance,” Shurland said, as he described the effects of the events of 9/11 on the students in the CGSC Class of 2002. “He managed to resolve concerns and disagreement and conflict in a very constructive way. He encouraged what I call ‘creative tension’ and for differences of opinions to be shared.”

The creation of a space to share conflicting ideas and opinions in a professional, constructive environment was recognized by the international student population who would later address the leadership’s actions in a letter of reflection and condemnation of the actions against the U.S.

Beginning his military career four years before Shurland, Inturriaga’s would take him to positions at every level of the Chilean Army to include his current as Commander in Chief of the Chilean Army.

In 2017, he gained notoriety as he commanded military forces during a national state of emergency during the devastating wildfires of Santa Auga.

Since returning to Fort Leavenworth after 17 years, Inturriaga has also reflected on his time at CGSC and its impact on his career.

“My time as an international student of the class of 2006 afforded me the opportunity to complement and enhance my character and knowledge as a field grade officer and throughout my career,” he said.

Inturriaga said the CGSC experience was one of the “key factors” that has allowed him to reach the highest rank in his country’s military.

“I remember the professionalism of the teachers and professors for their lessons, advice, and their commitment and understanding of our cultural and professional differences,” he said.

He also thanked his classmates and expressed gratitude to the U.S. Army for the honor of being inducted into the International Hall of Fame. He closed his remarks thanking his sponsors and with a parting thought for those in attendance.

“Success is never the objective. Sometimes it is the result of hard work, loyalty and friendship between partners, even in the Army,” he said.

After each inductee unveiled their portrait, Lt. Gen. Beagle presented them with a certificate on behalf of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars signifying their status as inductees into the International Hall of Fame. CGSC Foundation Chair Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Chris Hughes presented each inductee with a gift of a miniature Fort Leavenworth Lamp designating them as honorary life constituents of the CGSC Foundation.

View the video of the full ceremony on the CGSC Facebook page

For more photos see the CGSC Flickr album