Why We Serve: Command Sgt. Maj. Wylie Hutchison, Task Force 4-1, followed father’s footsteps to serve soldiers

Courtesy Photo | Command Sgt. Maj. Wylie Hutchison, the senior enlisted adviser of Task Force 4-1, poses for a picture against the tube of a M777 Howitzer, during an overnight visit with the soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, and 1st platoon, Battery B, 2nd Battle, 32nd Field Artillery, Task Force 4-1 in Paktika province, June 13. (Courtesy Photo)  

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

07.16.2012

Story by Sgt. Gene Arnold 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Wylie G. Hutchison, the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division’s senior enlisted advisor, joined the military right after graduating from Don Lugo High School at the age of 17 in 1989.

Growing up, Hutchison, a Chino, Calif., native, had firsthand experience of the discipline and pride of military service from his father. Wylie R. Hutchison, a former U.S. Marine, used the way of life he learned during his eight years of service to mold his son into the leader he is today.

“I think since my dad was prior service Marines, we always talked about being anairborne ranger, so that was just something I was raised thinking I was going do,” he said.

Due to his father’s influence, Hutchison attended basic at Fort Benning, Ga., learning the skills of the Infantry Corps, and continued on to the U.S. Army’s Ranger School.

“Back when I went through Ranger School it was in four phases, pending weeks of training at Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Bliss, Texas, Dahlonega, Ga., and Florida,” said Hutchison.

With more than 20 years in service, he earned and excelled at every enlisted duty position in the infantry world in both war and peace. He now uses the expertise he’s gained over time to coach, train and mentor soldiers through basic training, Ranger School, and the rigors of life as an infantryman in the ranks of today’s Army.

Command Sgt. Maj. Hutchison has more than six deployments under his belt: one in support of Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait, Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, Operation Enduring Freedom 02-03, as well as three deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom, one of which he was the command sergeant major of the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, during the final stages of combat from August 2009 to May 2010.

Now responsible for more than 2,000 soldiers in the final stages of Operation Enduring Freedom 12-13, his reason to serve has a slight twist.

“I continue to serve because I love being around the soldiers, I love leading soldiers,” he said. “It's a greater honor to lead soldiers into combat, because they don’t work for me – I work for them.”

• Date Taken: 07.16.2012
• Date Posted: 07.16.2012 08:58
• Story ID: 91601
• Location: PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF