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MARSEILLES, Illinois – Fair weather and a slight breeze ushered in a change in senior enlisted leadership in the Illinois Army National Guard, as Command Sgt. Maj. Mark W. Bowman of Plainfield, Illinois, transferred responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Sean P. Carney of Oak Park, Illinois, during a ceremony at Marseilles, Illinois, April 8.
Bowman began his career in 1979 as a tank driver and only expected to serve one enlistment.
“I was sure I was only going to do four years,” said Bowman. “But I had senior noncommissioned officers who believed in me and saw potential in me and here I stand today.”
Bowman has served on multiple deployments, including two to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2008 he served as the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team brigade command sergeant major in support of Task Force Phoenix.
Bowman is succeeded by Carney who says he was mentored by Bowman his entire career.
“Going up the ranks, I’ve always looked at Bowman as someone who has mentored me and someone I look up to when it comes to how to care for Soldiers,” said Carney
Carney says he will work to continue and improve conditions of Soldiers under his care.
“It’s an honor to take over for Sergeant Major Bowman. He has a lot of programs in place and I look forward to continue improving those programs and make it better than it was when I got here.”
Carney enlisted in 1987 and has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II in 2004, and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009. Most recently he served as the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade command sergeant major.
“I have all the trust and confidence in the world that we picked the right guy for the job at the right time to accomplish the task set before us,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Chatham, Illinois, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Illinois National Guard.
Carney serves as the senior enlisted leader to 10,000 citizen-Soldiers.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.11.2017 13:20 |
| Story ID: | 229985 |
| Location: | MARSEILLES, IL, US |
| Hometown: | CHATHAM, IL, US |
| Hometown: | OAK PARK, IL, US |
| Hometown: | PLAINFIELD, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Illinois Welcomes New Senior Enlisted Leader, by 2LT Christopher Garibay, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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