Photo By Patrick Buffett | Command Sgt. Maj. Nathaniel J. Bartee Sr. takes the command flag from Maj. Gen....... read more read more
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FORT LEE, Va. -- Command Sgt. Maj. Nathaniel J. Bartee, Sr., became the top enlisted leader of the Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee at a Dec. 18 ceremony in Wylie Hall auditorium. He replaced Command Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham, Sr., who retired with just under 33 years of active duty service.
Hailing from Quitman, Ga., Bartee is a 30-year Army veteran who last served as the CSM for the 1st Theater Sustainment Command at Fort Bragg, N.C. He started his Army career as a wheeled vehicle driver and, over the past decade, has served in a variety of senior enlisted positions including 13th Sustainment Command G-3 sergeant major, Fort Hood, Texas; CSM of the 15th Sustainment Brigade, Fort Bliss, Texas; and CSM of the 402nd Army Field Support Brigade, a position he assumed while deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Bartee’s wide range of operational experience is among the primary reasons he was selected to become the Sustainment Center of Excellence CSM, according to Maj. Gen. Darrell K. Williams, CASCOM and Fort Lee commanding general, who presided over the change of responsibility ceremony.
“Many of you may not be aware of just how rigorous the selection process is for a general officer, or what we call a nominative command sergeant major position,” Williams noted in his remarks. “In brief, here’s exactly what I submitted to the sergeant major management branch.
“First and foremost, the CSM for this organization must be a dynamic leader with impeccable character. Along with the commanding general, he or she is the standard bearer for this organization. Next, he or she must possess a robust multi-functional sustainment background.
Preferably, the CSM will have served at least at the one-star level prior to being considered for the CASCOM position.
“Next,” Williams continued, “the CSM should have deployment experience within the past five years. This is important in understanding the environment into which many of our Soldiers will head upon graduation or where they have recently returned from. A CSM with an understanding and appreciation of what joint logistics and that entire enterprise and what our (allied) partners do and what our other services bring to the table also is invaluable.
“(In summary), I said this position demands a CSM with great character, a broad multifunctional sustainment background, one who takes care of Soldiers and families and civilians, is a role model for our NCOs, is physically fit and will represent CASCOM well with TRADOC and the operational Army. Folks, CSM Nathaniel Bartee fits this description to the letter, and we are exceptionally fortunate to have another incredibly talented professional joining and leading our team. He is the right person at the right time to be the CASCOM Sustainment Center of Excellence and Fort Lee command sergeant major.”
Bartee – who served with Williams when he commanded the 1st TSC at Bragg prior to becoming the CASCOM CG – said he clearly recognized the significance of being selected for his current position. Thanking the commander, he remarked, “You are a class act gentleman. I’m proud to be a part of Team Lee, to be your battle buddy and to serve and work with you again. Thank you for this opportunity and the faith and confidence you have put into me to be here today.”
Expressing his appreciation for everything the Fort Lee team does to support the training and development of sustainment Soldiers, Bartee acknowledged the things Army Civilians do “as the continuity and glue of this installation,” and he made a vow to the military workforce. “You have my commitment to be the standard bearer each and every day. I will lead from the front and not the rear. You will get 110 percent of CSM Bartee each and every day.”
In farewell remarks to Parham, the CASCOM commanding general said his career accomplishments “spoke for themselves” and the many distinguished individuals in the audience – including Lt. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum, deputy CG for U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command – served as a testament to the respect and influence of the long-time Soldier.
“Some of you may have heard the saying: if the crows weren’t so loud, bringing so much attention to themselves, they could eat all the corn. Ladies and gentlemen, this quiet professional … has never sought the limelight,” Williams said. “He built his career on taking care of Soldiers and their families, and just flat out getting it done.”
Offering a quick recap of his career, Williams mentioned Parham’s early success as a 92-Golf food service specialist. He earned two gold medals at the Military Culinary Arts Competition in 1992 and was named an Armed Forces World Champion.
“Not long after that, he became the first sergeant for the 37th Transportation Company in Germany with 12 years, 8 months of service when the average time (for selection to similar leadership positions) is 15 or 16 years,” Williams touted. “He became a command sergeant major in 18 years, when the average time is 21 years. In all, he served as a sergeant major or CSM for 14 of his 33 years in the Army and a CSM 12 of (those) 14 years.”
Parham, a Dinwiddie native and 1983 graduate of Petersburg high school, also completed two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan for a total of 36 months of deployment time.
“Ladies and gentlemen, what a remarkable career,” Williams said. “(CSM Parham) is the epitome of the noncommissioned officer creed and a sterling example of the backbone of the Unites States Army. Folks, this crow didn’t stand around beating his chest to gain attention and he indeed ate every bit of the corn.”
Offering his “profound thanks” to the many Soldiers and supportive family members in attendance, Parham said he meant no disrespect by his joyful demeanor during the ceremony.
“My career has been one great ride, and this is not a sad day,” he explained. “It is the culminating event of something awesome … the opportunity to serve my country and do what I loved while taking care of my family. This is a happy day. I’ve given the Army as many years as I can, and I look back with nothing but pride and admiration for the many individuals I served with and learned from along the way.”
| Date Taken: | 01.06.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 01.06.2016 17:05 |
| Story ID: | 185709 |
| Location: | US |
| Hometown: | QUITMAN, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 634 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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