Thunderbird Brigade welcomes new senior leader

Photo By Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones | Col. Chris Chomosh, commander of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, passes the 45th's colors to Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Jolly, of Edmond, Oklahoma, signifying Jolly becoming the senior enlisted leader of the brigade during a change of responsibility ceremony in Norman, Oklahoma, on Dec. 8. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Jones)  

NORMAN, OK, UNITED STATES

12.08.2018

Story by Sgt. Anthony Jones 

45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

NORMAN, Okla. – The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team honored two top enlisted leaders during a change of responsibility ceremony at the Brigade’s Headquarters in Norman, Oklahoma, on Dec. 8.

The Thunderbird Brigade said farewell to Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Miller, who is leaving the unit and taking on a new role as the Oklahoma National Guard’s 14th State Command Sergeant Major, and welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Jolly as the unit’s new senior enlisted leader.

“There is a small privileged few who get to command at this level,” said Col. Chris Chomosh, the 45th’s commander. “We spend a lot of time grooming leaders and an incredible amount of time choosing a senior leader because at this level the stakes are high.”

Miller, a resident of Skiatook, Oklahoma, had served as the Infantry Brigade Combat Team's senior enlisted leader since 2015 and had been a member of the Brigade since 1995 when he left active duty after serving four years with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Since becoming a Guardsman, Miller has served in roles ranging from platoon sergeant to command sergeant major of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and has led Soldiers both at home and overseas. He has been activated to assist with tornado recovery in Oklahoma and deployed to New Orleans to aid in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Miller deployed twice to Afghanistan, once to Iraq and most recently deployed to Ukraine, where he served as the command sergeant major of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.

“Throughout the years, you could always find Ranger Chris Miller at the front with Soldiers in the field – at the decisive point of friction,” Chomosh said. “I’d like to say he’s going to an easier job, but that would be a lie. Those who do the hard jobs are often rewarded with more hard jobs and he has assumed the busiest job in the state for a noncommissioned officer.”

Miller’s final words to the 45th IBCT’s Soldiers focused on remaining disciplined.

“The Oklahoma National Guard has deployed a unit every year for the past 18 years and this could not be done without disciplined Soldiers,” Miller said.

“Discipline is the glue that holds an organization together and allows a unit to succeed. It provides the foundation for a Soldier to achieve confidence and work with one another as a cohesive team.

“Discipline, proficiency and teamwork allowed the Oklahoma National Guard to successfully train and mobilize units for past 18 years and it will provide the framework for our continued success in the future.”

Jolly, of Edmond, Oklahoma, joined the National Guard in 1991 and has served in several positions in the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team including first sergeant, readiness NCO for the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, operations NCO for the 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion and as the Infantry Brigade Combat Team's operations sergeant major.

“He has that special something about him - discipline, command presence, expertise, technically and tactically proficient, highly intelligent, PT hero, respected by all and a model NCO,” Chomosh said of Jolly. “He is one of the best NCOs I’ve ever served with. He is going to be the tip of the spear in getting our junior NCOs back into leading Soldiers.”

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• Date Taken: 12.08.2018
• Date Posted: 01.17.2019 13:19
• Story ID: 302753
• Location: NORMAN, OK, US
• Hometown: EDMOND, OK, US
• Hometown: NORMAN, OK, US
• Hometown: SKIATOOK, OK, US