Photo By Staff Sgt. Timothy Jackson | Oregon Army National Guard Brig. Gen. William Edwards, Land Component Commander,...... read more read more
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CORVALLIS, Oregon – Oregon Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk W. Conley was honored in a retirement ceremony at the Corvallis Armory, September 22, 2017.
Conley was the first Oregonian to attain the highest enlisted Soldier position in the Army National Guard and served more than 35 years in uniform.
“As many of you know, Sergeant Major Conley has had a distinguished career serving as the Oregon State Command Sergeant Major, moving to serve as the 10th Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major,” said Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Maj. Vincent Jacques, senior enlisted advisor for Oregon’s Joint Domestic Operations Command.
The location of the ceremony was special to Conley because it was where he served as company first sergeant, with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, starting in March of 2001.
“That brings us full circle,” said Oregon Army National Guard Brig. Gen. William Edwards, Land Component Commander. “A simple Citizen-Soldier, a school teacher and infantryman, to progress to the highest levels of NCO leadership in the National Guard.”
Upon completion of Basic and Advanced Individual Training, he reported to Airborne School with a follow-on assignment at Ft. Lewis, Washington, to 3rd Platoon, A Company, 2-75 Ranger Battalion. He held positions as a rifleman, grenadier, automatic rifleman, senior rifleman and team leader. In 1986, his last year of active duty, he was placed on special duty orders at Huckleberry Creek Mountain Training Camp as a mountaineering instructor. Upon completion of his initial enlistment, he left active duty and joined the Oregon Army National Guard.
His first assignment was as a scout section leader with 1-249th Tow Light Anti-Tank (TLAT) in Silverton, Oregon. He then moved to a squad leader position with 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, based in Tigard, Oregon, and then moved to a new assignment with E Company, 1st Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, as a platoon sergeant. His next leadership assignment was in Corvallis, Oregon, as company first sergeant with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment.
In October of 2003, he was selected as command sergeant major of the 2-162 Infantry Battalion, headquartered in Cottage Grove, Oregon. In that same month, the battalion was activated into federal active duty and deployed with the 39th Brigade Combat Team of Little Rock, Arkansas, and attached to the 1st Cavalry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Bravo Company, of the 2-162 Infantry Battalion, received the Presidential Unit Citation – one of the highest awards given to a military unit – for their heroic actions in the Jolan District of Northwest Fallujah during some of the heaviest fighting of the Iraq war from, Nov. 3 to Nov. 24, 2004. The battalion returned to the U.S. in late March of 2005.
Upon completion of his tour in Baghdad, he was selected as command sergeant major of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Under Brig. Gen. Douglas Pritt, the 41st Brigade Headquarters deployed as the Headquarters (HQ) for Task Force Phoenix V in Kabul, Afghanistan. Conley was then appointed as the Oregon State Command Sergeant Major in July of 2008 before being appointed the Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard in 2012.
Conley has received the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with “4” device, Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Medal, Oregon Distinguished Service Medal, Oregon Meritorious Service Medal, Oregon Faithful Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device, Oregon Emergency Service Ribbon, and the Oregon Superior Soldier Ribbon. Conley has also been awarded the Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
Conley was awarded the Oregon Commendation Medal at the ceremony. He explained that out of all the medals he could be awarded, he wanted one from Oregon on the day of his retirement because that is where his heart lies.
Conley received letters of congratulations and gratitude from President Donald Trump, Governor Kate Brown, and Senator Ron Wyden.
“I want to take a few moments today to thank my friend, Brunk Conley, and to honor his long distinguished career as he retires from the Oregon National Guard and rides off into the sunset,” wrote Wyden in a prepared statement for the Congressional Record.
His wife Laura, his five sons, and other relatives were in attendance, as well as about 100 current or former members of the Oregon National Guard.
Conley addressed everyone personally in his farewell speech, telling everyone to circle around rather than stay seated.
He listed names that reoccurred throughout his career, many of whom were sitting in front of him as he pointed to them with a smile. He also remembered those in the Oregon National Guard who lost their lives while serving during his career.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my distinct honor and pleasure to present to you for the first time Command Sergeant Major Brunk Conley retired,” Jacques said to conclude the ceremony, amidst loud applause and tears from friends and family.
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2017 21:07 |
| Story ID: | 249752 |
| Location: | CORVALLIS, OR, US |
| Web Views: | 1,478 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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