2nd CAB Soldiers thankful for SMA visit

Photo By Sgt. Jesse Smith | Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler talks with Soldiers from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division about the AH-64 Apache helicopters capabilities. Chandler came to the Super Hangar as part of a tour of Camp Humphreys Nov. 26 in South Korea.  

PYEONGTAEK, 41, SOUTH KOREA

11.26.2014

Story by Sgt. Jesse Smith 

2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea –The highest-ranking enlisted Soldier in the Army, visited Soldiers from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Nov. 26.

Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler flew from Yongsan to Camp Humphreys to tour 2nd CAB and conduct a Town Hall at the post theater. Upon his arrival, he was driven to the Super Hangar, the largest hangar that 2nd CAB uses, and briefed by Soldiers on the aviation platforms the unit flies.

Designated Soldiers stood by the helicopter they worked with on a day-to-day basis and waited patiently and eagerly for Chandler’s arrival. Each stood their tallest, waiting to explain the specifics of their aircraft and why it was integral to accomplishing the various missions the Army is required to execute.

Chandler walked into the hangar and straight to the Soldiers standing in front of a CH-47F Chinook. The Soldiers greeted him and each shook his hand. One of the Soldiers started to explain the capabilities and functions of every part of the aircraft. The Soldier’s voice was shaky and he stuttered a little in explaining specifics about the aircraft.

“Are you nervous?” Chandler said.

“Yes, sergeant major,” a Soldier said.

Initially, the Soldier was uneasy and anxious since he was speaking to the sergeant major of the Army, but he gained confidence as the tour proceeded and answered the numerous questions with competence and knowledge.

Chandler then received briefings on the AH-64 Apache, OH-58 Kiowa, and UH-60 Black Hawk. He awarded coins to each of the Soldiers that demonstrated their knowledge of their aircraft.

At the completion of the Super Hangar tour, Chandler then held a small meeting in the hangar and answered Soldiers' questions. The questions ranged from the Army’s down-sizing to the new Army tattoo policy. Chandler answered all the questions and then thanked them for their service and departed the hangar on a bus for the post movie theater to conduct a town hall.

The theater overflowed with Soldiers and a few family members looking to meet, and hear from the sergeant major of the Army.

Once inside the theater, Chandler discussed the Army Profession and Ethic. To illustrate his points, he identified a Soldier from the audience and brought him to the front of the room. He asked the Soldier a number of questions, in a one-on-one format.

Through the questions asked by the SMA, the noncommissioned officer explained things he had learned in Basic Training, such as the ‘Warrior Ethos’ and Army Values. Chandler summarized what the NCO said in response to each question, and asked if his summary was correct. Each time the NCO affirmed the summary. The SMA led this into the fact that the Army needs to do better on the part of preventing sexual assault by being professional and knowing your battle buddies.

After these discussions, Chandler opened up the floor for questions. The Soldiers were asked to go to microphone and state their name and unit before asking their question. The sergeant major of the Army answered each question as to why the Army enacted certain policies and changed others. He explained how some of these decisions are made and how Soldiers can impact those decisions.

At the end of the meeting, Chandler called up 20 Soldiers to receive sergeant major of the Army coins. The Soldiers received these coins due to being elected by their leadership for reasons to include APFT score and earning honor graduate at the Warrior Leader Course.

Chandler said he wants Soldiers to go out and discuss what they talked about to include professionalism and sexual assault prevention in an effort to make the Army even better than it is now.

“Thank you for what you do,” Chandler said. “Each and every day, we ask you to do something more, and you do it. You continue to demonstrate here and around the world what makes this Army excellent, and it is the American Soldier.”

• Date Taken: 11.26.2014
• Date Posted: 12.01.2014 19:30
• Story ID: 149137
• Location: PYEONGTAEK, 41, KR