Senior NCO says passion, discipline leads Soldiers to top

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Banzhaf | Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Peare (left), former command sergeant major of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, passes the brigade colors to Col. Matthew Van Wagenen, commander of the 3rd ABCT, relinquishing his responsibilities during a change of responsibility ceremony Aug. 14 at Fort Hood, Texas.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

08.21.2015

Story by Sgt. Brandon Banzhaf 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORT HOOD, Texas – The pinnacle of success is exemplified in many different ways across different professions.

For some, the measure of success in the enlisted Army profession comes at the achievement of earning the rank of command sergeant major.

Senior noncommissioned officers across the Army take different paths to reach the same destination, but for Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Peare, the former senior enlisted advisor of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, success was built out of some simple, yet timeless Army mantras.

“Be at the right place at the right time, in the prescribed uniform with a disciplined motivated attitude; those are the four basic things I’ve always said will make you successful,” said Peare, a native of Franklin, Massachusetts.

While the face of the Army is changing, policies are being revamped, and promotions are getting increasingly more competitive, holding firm to a good work ethic and some core ideals could make all the difference, he said.

“I think with the Army downsizing, Soldiers these days need to be a little more competitive than they were a few years ago,” Peare said. “You have to step out of your comfort zone, and you have to go do drill sergeant duty and recruiting duty,” said Peare. “You have to take the tough assignments, because those are the assignments that will set you above the rest, and you need to do them well.”

To become command sergeants major, today’s Soldiers will need to seek self-improvement and display the drive, discipline and motivation that is needed in the NCO Corps, he said.

“When I led promotion boards, I didn’t need all of the answers; nobody has all of the answers,” said Peare. “I look for the heart and passion for the profession. In order to be competitive, you have to be the best at what you do.”

Spc. Joshua Billeci, a human resources clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd ABCT, initially joined the Army as a means to take care of his Family. No longer just a job, he said his career has become his passion.

“I definitely would love to be an educated noncommissioned officer,” said Bellici, from Vallejo, California. “I would like to stay enlisted, because [NCOs] are the backbone of the Army. Maybe in 20 years I will be a sergeant major.”

Peare set an example for a brigade’s worth of Soldiers and NCOs. For example, at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, he made it his responsibility to travel to all of the remote locations every day to check on Soldiers.

After two years as the senior enlisted advisor of the Greywolf brigade, Peare handed responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Trevor Walker in a ceremony on Cooper Field Aug. 14.

He bid the NCOs and Soldiers farewell during his speech at the brigade’s change of responsibility ceremony. With emotion etched on his face, he addressed his Soldiers one last time.

“To the Soldiers in the ranks, thanks for your commitment to our nation and dedication to our Army,” said Peare. “You can be as proud of your service as I am to have served with you.”

Having served with many Greywolf Soldiers and others throughout his six-year stint at the “Great Place,” Peare said the passion Soldiers have overwhelmingly makes a difference in their future success and can greatly influence promotion potential.

“I need a genuine Soldier who is driven and motivated to be the best at what they do,” said Peare. “You have to make this your life choice to make this your profession. You have to make a commitment for self-development; be the best at your craft.”

• Date Taken: 08.21.2015
• Date Posted: 08.21.2015 18:44
• Story ID: 173953
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
• Hometown: FORT LEAVENWORTH, KS, US
• Hometown: FRANKLIN, MA, US
• Hometown: VALLEJO, CA, US