Chief Warrant Officer makes Georgia National Guard History

Courtesy Photo | Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jimmy Polk is congratulated by family members following his Oct. 18, 2019 promotion ceremony at Fort Lee, Va. in which Polk became the first African American chief warrant officer 5 in the history of the Georgia Army National Guard. Photo courtesy of Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jimmy Polk  

FORT LEE, VA, UNITED STATES

10.18.2019

Story by Maj. William Carraway 

Georgia National Guard

On October 18, 2019, Jimmy Polk was pinned with the rank of chief warrant officer 5 during a ceremony at Fort Lee, Va. The ceremony marked a milestone in Polk’s 35 year military career and also for the Georgia Army National Guard as Polk became the first African American Soldier of the Ga. ARNG to reach the rank of chief warrant officer 5.

“This is a great and historic day for the Georgia Department of Defense, said Major General Tom Carden, Georgia’s Adjutant General. “Polk's career has been exemplary and he is very deserving of this promotion.”

Polk observed that he was “hippopotamus happy” to be the first African American in the Ga. ARNG to reach the rank of chief warrant officer 5.

“This milestone in my career represents to me what happens when you stay the course,” said Polk.

When asked to comment on his 35 years of military service, Polk noted that tenacity is his watch word.

“Key words like persistence, determination, perseverance just to name a few, are what kept me going,” said Polk. “Secondly, relentless determination against all odds caused me to rise to the pinnacle of my career, and I truly believe my achievements will serve as an example to many that quitting is not an option. Hard work, sacrifice, knowledge and keeping your eyes on your goals are paramount.”

Polk’s entire life has been associated with military history. Born in Springfield Massachusetts, home of the armory that produced the Springfield Musket, Polk enlisted in the United States Army in 1984 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. He was initially assigned to Fort Clayton in Panama but by 1987 had been transferred to the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. In his time with the 24th ID, Polk participated in Bright Star exercises in Egypt and was deployed during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Leaving the active Army in 1992, Polk joined the Army Reserve and served as a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson. In 1998, Polk became a warrant officer candidate with his Augusta, Ga. Army Reserve unit. After successfully completing Warrant Officer Candidate School. Polk joined the Georgia Army National Guard and was assigned as the battalion maintenance technician for the Macon-based 148th Forward Support Battalion, 48th Infantry Brigade. He deployed to Bosnia with the 148th in 2001. It was during this assignment that Polk acquired a mentor who shaped his career.

“CW5 Retired Robert Tadlock (The first ARNG warrant officer inductee in the Ordnance Hall of Fame) has been my mentor since (Security Force 9) Bosnia 2001,” said Polk. “His ability to mentor and encourage everyone around him was phenomenal. He knew how to build relationships, talent manage, assess and advise on any level in the Ga. ARNG.”

Polk would deploy to Iraq in 2005 with the 648th Engineer Battalion, 48th Infantry Brigade in the largest deployment of Ga. ARNG forces since World War II. Polk subsequently served as commander of the 1214th Forward Support Company and senior ground maintenance warrant officer for the Columbus-based 82nd Maintenance Company. In January 2014, The Adjutant General of Georgia endorsed Polk’s opportunity to serve at Fort Lee as the Senior Warrant Officer Advisor for the Chief of Ordnance. He served in that capacity until 2016 when he was assigned as the Senior Maintenance Course Manager at the National Guard Professional Education Center in Little Rock, Ark. In 2019, Polk was assigned to his current assignment as the ARNG Logistics Awards Team Chief.

When asked to consider the many lessons learned over his 35 year career, Polk had advice for Soldiers considering a career in the Warrant Officer Corps.

“Make sure you clearly understand your skill-set,” advised Polk. “This organization is relying on your subject matter expertise to make decisions that could affect your unit, battalion or brigade as a whole. I saw what it took to reach this goal, it was not easy, but when you love what you do, it comes naturally to be the quiet professional warrant officers are.”
Major General Carden echoed the sentiment of Polk’s words of advice.

“The Georgia Department of Defense offers an unlimited pathway to success based on individual achievement and effort. Very few officers reach the rank of chief warrant officer 5, and Polk's career is one that any Soldier or Airman in our formation can and should emulate.”

• Date Taken: 10.18.2019
• Date Posted: 10.28.2019 15:07
• Story ID: 349554
• Location: FORT LEE, VA, US
• Hometown: AUGUSTA, GA, US
• Hometown: COLUMBUS, GA, US
• Hometown: FORT GREGG-ADAMS, VA, US
• Hometown: LITTLE ROCK, AR, US
• Hometown: MACON, GA, US
• Hometown: STATESBORO, GA, US