Honoring a Soldier’s Soldier: 14th sergeant major of the Army retires after 34-year career

Photo By Damien Salas | From left, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno pins the Defense Superior Service Medal on retiring Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, as Chandler's wife, Jeanne, looks on during Chandler's full-honor retirement ceremony as the 14th sergeant major of the Army, Jan. 30, 2015, in Conmy Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Chandler served 34 years in the U.S. Army, including nearly five years as the sergeant major of the Army. (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO photo by Damien Salas)  

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, UNITED STATES

01.30.2015

Story by Julia LeDoux 

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III said goodbye Jan. 30 to the Soldiers and service branch he served for 34 years during his full honor retirement ceremony at Conmy Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

“This is a great country that we have the privilege to serve, and it’s a great Army that defends it each and every day,” said Chandler. “It will continue to be great because of the people who choose to serve and lead our Army each and every day.”

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno hosted the ceremony, which featured Soldiers from the U.S. Army Color Guard, The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

“You have made an incredible mark on our Army that will resonate for years and decades to come,” Odierno told Chandler.

Chandler joined the Army in 1981 and was sworn in as the 14th SMA on March 1, 2011. During his career, Chandler served in all tank crewman positions and had multiple tours as a troop, squadron and regimental master gunner.

“It’s been an honor to serve you and the American people, and I wish each and every one of you well,” he said.

Chandler recognized his wife, Jeanne, and highlighted her contributions to the Army, noting that when they married in 2002 she gave up her career, moved away from friends and family, and devoted herself to supporting Soldiers and their families.

“I love you for that and I love you for putting up with me,” he said. “At the end of the day, today, we’ll leave the Army with each other and our family intact, proud of our service to the nation, but also grateful for the opportunity.”

Chandler also noted that Soldiers continue to stand watch over the country so that “when we go to bed, we’ll sleep well knowing that our nation is secure against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that the Constitution is secure and the American way of life continues.”

Odierno said much has changed in the Army since Chandler became SMA nearly four years ago. A cyber branch was created and female Soldiers can now serve in six military occupational specialties that were previously closed to them. He praised Chandler for his steadfast support of the Ready and Resilient campaign and the Soldier for Life program. Odierno also said Chandler has been instrumental in changing the way the Army combats sexual harassment and sexual assault.

“In every change, in every initiative, in response to every challenge, the sergeant major of the Army has been out front, leading,” he said.

Also attending the ceremony were Secretary of the Army John McHugh; Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Eric Shinseki, former Veterans Affairs secretary and chief of staff of the Army; and Medal of Honor recipient Kyle White.

• Date Taken: 01.30.2015
• Date Posted: 02.05.2015 18:23
• Story ID: 153698
• Location: JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, US