504th re-enlistment in the 504th: Airborne regiment closes in on retention goals

Photo By Sgt. Mike MacLeod | Sgt. David Saxman, a combat medic with 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), reenlists March 23, at Camp Ramadi, Iraq. Re-enlisting Saxman is brigade commander, Col. Mark R. Stammer.  

CAMP RAMADI, IRAQ

03.23.2010

Story by Sgt. Mike MacLeod 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq — A twice-deployed combat medic became the 504th paratrooper to reenlist this year with the 82nd Airborne Division's 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment March 23, at Camp Ramadi, Iraq.

In fewer than six months, Sgt. David Saxman's unit, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), has nearly met their retention target of 608.

"It's important in this critical time in which we as a service and as a nation are stretched thin with our forces serving in a multitude of combat operations that we retain quality soldiers," said Command Sgt. Maj. LaMarquis Knowles, who is also the regimental sergeant major for the 504th PIR.

"Sgt. Saxman is a testament to the quality of soldiers that we have in our inventory," said Knowles. "It's important that we retain these guys by encouraging them to re-enlist."

The division is just 800 short of its goal of 3,309, but according to Master Sgt. Franklin Jacobs, brigade senior career counselor, numbers are not his focus.

"My goal is to retain the highest-quality soldiers in the U.S. Army like this young man here," said Jacobs of Saxman.

The biggest challenge is often convincing soldiers to stay in beyond multiple deployments, said Jacobs, but many still do.

Saxman deployed to Iraq for 15 months in 2006-07 with 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, during the time that troops were pushing out and integrating with urban areas daily.

His unit was an artillery battalion acting as infantry, and losses made the long deployment extra difficult, he said.

In spite of the deployments, he said that he is pleased with the course his life is taking.

"The Army made my life a complete 180 turn," said the medic, whose previous unit lost 84 soldiers during its last deployment north of Baghdad. "Before, I had no ambition or drive. All that's changed now," he said.

"I'm always amazed by the soldiers of today and the intestinal fortitude they continue to show," said Knowles.

"It means a lot to be able to keep qualified soldiers on active duty so we don't have to continue to retrain soldiers to take the place of soldiers who have already learned a skill," he said.

• Date Taken: 03.23.2010
• Date Posted: 03.28.2010 05:41
• Story ID: 47331
• Location: CAMP RAMADI, IQ