Senior enlisted quartermaster's career marked by challenge

Photo By Terrance Bell | Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Sellers, Quartermaster Corps command sergeant major, is a 25-year Soldier whose career has been marked by challenge. (Photo by Terrance Bell/Released)  

FORT LEE, VA, UNITED STATES

02.04.2016

Story by Terrance Bell  

Fort Gregg-Adams

FORT LEE, Va. - While reading Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Seller’s bio, one can quickly surmise he is an ambitious Soldier, who spent the bulk of his career on the operational side of the Army.

The write-up omits, however, the episodes of his life and career that form a more complete picture of the 25-year Soldier, who now serves as the Corps’ senior noncommissioned officer. Sellers is quick to point out how much that picture is a reflection of average Soldiers.

“I am a guy from Columbus, Georgia, who had goals and ambitions just like they did when they started in the Army; who didn’t know how long this tour of duty was going to last and who knew he had to do a couple of things differently if he was going to be successful,” said the son of a retired U.S. Army infantryman.

Having spent time between Germany and Fort Benning, Georgia, as a youngster, Sellers said Benning and its airborne infantry culture figured prominently in his formative years. Regardless, his first sergeant father encouraged him to consider a career field with civilian-sector appeal. He chose the unit supply specialist military occupational specialty and has been one since.

Sellers, the married father of two adult daughters, said his career has been marked by mentorship, his ability to listen, receive and absorb information, and finding ways he could be “of value to the Army and the organization.” He also said he is not afraid to challenge himself to advance his career.

“No one wants to fail, but I’ll be the first on record to admit I wasn’t always successful on the first attempt at doing those things that were hard,” said the airborne and jumpmaster-qualified Soldier, who is also fearful of heights. Recounting he received a “no-go” in his first attempt at the jumpmaster course, Sellers said such a duty is sufficiently weighted to deter many from even attempting it.

“A lot of Soldiers don’t want the responsibility of pre-inspecting troops, looking out the door of an aircraft and knowing lives are in their hands,” he said. “What I tell them, however, is that taking those challenges will definitely enhance your career because it’s a tough job and awesome responsibility.”

Another of his challenging assignments was that of a commandant of an NCO academy in Grafenwoehr, Germany. He said the job is the closest an enlisted Soldier will ever come to being a commander.

“It opened my eyes to a different side of the Army,” he said, noting it was his best assignment. “It was a part of the institutional Army and kind of set the stage for my current position.”

Sellers said many of his career aspirations were built upon being a member of a unit supply specialist class called the War Dogs, who underwent basic, airborne and advanced individual training together. He will be the last remaining War Dog on active duty (one other is scheduled to retire soon) and said he is often asked what separated him from the others. His answer is simple:

“The difference, I think, was I never wanted to accept defeat, and I never quit on a challenge,” he said. “If it’s worth having, it’s going to be difficult.”

Needless to say, his current position is fraught with difficulty but also full of opportunity. Sellers said he hopes to continue the work of those before him and influence what happens next. He said his commander, Brig. Gen. Ronald Kirklin, has been more than supportive as well as others throughout the sustainment community. He made special mention of QM Hall of Fame member and retired QM Corps Command Sgt. Maj. Milton B. Hazzard, who was an early role model when Sellers attended courses at the old QM NCO Academy and who still serves as a mentor.

“I kind of looked at his body of work every day I came to class,” he said, “and I thought, 'Man, this individual is truly a great noncommissioned officer.’”

As an NCO, Sellers said it has been reiterated throughout his career how one’s responsibility, whether large or small, has a bearing on the mission. That was manifested in Afghanistan a few years ago when four of his 173rd Brigade Support Battalion Soldiers were lost as a result of hostile actions during a convoy, giving the notion renewed life and vigor in Sellers’ eyes.

“The day that happened – watching those four Soldiers get flipped upside down in their vehicle – just kind of put a different perspective on life and being a Soldier overall,” he said, noting the incident was painstakingly reviewed to mitigate a recurrence.

Pictures of the four Soldiers still hang upon a wall in the battalion conference room, said Sellers. It is a way to honor them and serve as a reminder to leaders “to make good conscious decisions.”

Undoubtedly, Sellers said the event drives him to give Soldiers his wholehearted focus and attention, and he will forever carry that commitment throughout the remainder of his career, including his current position that influences decisions affecting 36,000 Soldiers.

“I have to do well,” he said, "... so that the next person who comes behind me has an opportunity to succeed and build upon what this great quartermaster team has done during my tenure here.”

• Date Taken: 02.04.2016
• Date Posted: 02.04.2016 13:41
• Story ID: 187909
• Location: FORT LEE, VA, US
• Hometown: COLUMBUS, GA, US