150 Sledgehammer Soldiers stay Army

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Knowles | Col. Michael J. Simmering, the brigade commander of the 3rd BCT, 3rd ID, awards the retention team of the Sledgehammer Brigade on Kelley Hill, here, Oct. 16. The team was vital in coordinating the event that led to 150 Soldiers of the 3rd BCT to re-enlist in a single mass ceremony.  

FORT BENNING, GA, UNITED STATES

10.16.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Aaron Knowles 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORT BENNING, Ga. - One-hundred-and-fifty Sledgehammer Soldiers recited the oath of enlistment during a mass re-enlistment ceremony on Sledgehammer Field, on Kelley Hill, here, Oct 16.

Re-enlistment ceremonies are held for Soldiers who have sworn to continue their Army service by signing a contract which adds additional time onto their current term of service.

“The Brigade re-enlisted over 150 Soldiers today for a combined total of 558 years of service and over $80,000 in bonuses,” said Master Sgt. Thomas Olsen, the retention noncommissioned officer for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

“A lot of planning and coordination,” said Olsen. “All of the career counselors, within the brigade, were the ones that really did all of the work. It was a lot of late night with coordinating everyone to be here.”

Staff Sgt. Tlessie Hollis, a unit supply specialist with headquarters and headquarters company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd BCT, 3rd ID, was one of the Soldiers re-enlisting in the ceremony.

“This is something that I have never seen in my eight years of military service, a mass re-enlistment of more than 150 Soldiers,” said Hollis.

Col. Simmering, the brigade commander for the 3rd BCT, was the main speaker for the event gave presented the Oath of Re-enlistment to the group of Soldiers.

Following the Oath, the commanders from each of the 3rd BCT battalions were invited onto the field to hand out each individual certificates.

“I am taking a lot of pride in this,” said Hollis. “It is amazing to see the support. I am honored to be in this ceremony.”
“These Soldiers stepped up and made the commitment quicker, in order to make this event happen,” said Olsen. “It’s really amazing.”

The ceremony ended with the singing of the 3rd ID song, the Dog Faced Soldiers Song, and then the singing of The Army Song.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2015
• Date Posted: 10.16.2015 15:14
• Story ID: 179122
• Location: FORT BENNING, GA, US