WEST FORT HOOD - U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, visited the Operational Test Command on Tuesday and received a briefing on the critical role the command plays in the war on terror.

It was the first time a U.S. senator has come to visit OTC since the command was officially designated in October 1999, Senior Executive Service member Robert W. Hall said.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Tucker, commanding general of the Operational Test Command, presented Cornyn with a plaque that commemorates the service of its soldiers - a collage depicting the headquarters for Multi-National Corps-Iraq and some of the soldiers from OTC who have run tests in-theater.

Cornyn said he recognized one of Saddam Hussein’s old palaces in that collage. It is now Multi-National Corps-Iraq headquarters.

Cornyn said as a member of the Armed Services Committee he is interested in everything being done, particularly in Texas, to support the war effort.

“This is an important effort to test equipment and weapons systems and the like in a realistic setting,” Cornyn said.

Tucker said he gave Cornyn an overview of how OTC is organized, how the command mission supports the Army and soldiers at war and the work teams in Iraq and Afghanistan are doing in combat zones to assess Army equipment.

Cornyn said the U.S. Congress is doing all it can to make sure soldiers, sailors, Marines and airman have all they need to do their jobs. He complimented the families and their readiness groups for their support of the troops and the support received from local communities.

Cornyn said he is concerned about the consequence of a U.S. pullout in Iraq. He said Gen. George Abizaid, chief of U.S. Central Command, was asked by Congress “why we can’t just bring our troops home.” He said Abizaid told them there are consequences of doing that before Iraqi’s security forces can stabilize the country.

He said when questioned directly, Abizaid said: “Sure, we can bring our troops home, but the enemy will follow us here.”