Q&A: Meet the Big Red One's new DCSM Raymond Harris

Photo By Ann Olamiju | 1st Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major Raymond S. Harris  

FORT RILEY , KS, UNITED STATES

01.24.2020

Story by Ann Olamiju 

1st Infantry Division

Command Sergeant Major Raymond S. Harris is the new senior enlisted leader at the Big Red One. It was announced in the latter half of 2019 that CSM Harris was selected to replace CSM Craig Bishop as the 1st Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major. CSM Harris previously served as the Brigade CSM with Headquarters 3rd Security Forces Assistant Brigade, Fort Hood, TX. Harris describes himself as loyal, trustworthy, and open, his smile, jovial and contagious. Although, the walls of his office were bare, as he begins to move in, the room was warm and inviting. Harris made time out of his busy schedule to reflect on his career as he embarks on this new position.

Why did you join the Army back in 1996?

“So I’ve always had a sense to want to serve. My father and my grandfather always instilled in me to give back and to be better than what we are. To have a purpose in life and I found a calling with the Army to be my purpose. To be able to protect and help those that can’t help themselves. That’s what we do in the Army for our county.”

Why the Infantry?

“The infantryman is the frontline defender. In order to keep threats out of the homeland you’ve got to have somebody there in order to keep the enemy at bay and to keep our land safe.”

Is there a history of military service in your family?

“My grandfather was in the military, my father was not. My grandfather on my mother’s side was also in the military. I always saw how strong they were and their credo to want to do better and to be the best that they could always be. They always told me that the structure that the military gave them provided them that way forward to have that mentality.”

If you could describe yourself in three words what would those words be?

“Loyal, trustworthy, and open. I’m an open book, that’s 100%.”

This isn’t your first rodeo with the 1st Infantry Division. How do you feel about returning to the Historic First Division?

“It’s really (come) full circle. I started here in 1996 as a Private, got promoted to Sergeant and then I PCS’d to third brigade 1st ID in Germany. I’ve been with the 1st ID really from private through Staff Sergeant, different duty locations but, it’s full circle to be able to come back and now be the senior enlisted leader, the Division Command Sergeant Major 1st ID, it’s awe-inspiring! The 1st Infantry Division left such a lasting impact on me as a young private that I wanted to come back and do this job. The stars aligned and everything made it possible for me to come back and now be the 1st Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major.”

What are some the things you are most proud of, as you look back over your 20-plus year career?

“One of the things I am very proud of, I have to say my family. They’ve been very resilient over the years. This is my 15th duty station. My son who is 14, this is his 8th (duty station) my daughter who is 11 this is her 6th or 7th. So we move a lot. Generally, every 18-20 months we are consistently moving. For them to continue to have the will to continue to want to do it, the drive to want to do it, and the pride they have in what I do, it’s very fulfilling, knowing that I have their support.

What are some of your hobbies?

“I love to shoot. Whether its rifle, pistol, three-gun, hunting, I love to do those things. Love to play golf. I do a lot of wood working. My wife gets on me about it because I have a tons and tons of tools in my garage. I love to build furniture and those kinds of things. Kind of relieves the calm. I like to go to the gym. I like to work out. I believe in fitness. It’s something I do every day. It’s the best way to start your day. Keeps your mind clear and energizes your body.”

How are you preparing for the ACFT?

“I build the exercises into all my daily routines. I try to touch the exercises for the ACFT almost daily, within the routine that I do. Leg tucks, the ones that have historically given everyone problems. Leg tucks are a total body, total core exercise that you have to practice you just can’t expect to get up there and do that. It’s important. I think the ACFT is a phenomenal change for the Army. It gets after the functional fitness, endurance, stamina, I truly believe it’s going to give us a measure of the Soldiers physical fitness as a holistic picture.”

What advice or words of encouragement do you have for Soldiers preparing for the ACFT?

“My advice is, you can do it! Anything that you set your mind to, you can do. Set an incremental goal and once you meet that set another goal. Have a battle buddy or somebody where you push each other every day to make it a healthy competition.”

What inspires you to keep moving forward in your Army career, despite all the changes from 1996 to present?

“For me that’s an easy one. It’s the Soldiers. As cliché as that may sound, I just love being around Soldiers. Just seeing how their mind works and how I can help them better themselves, see things through different lenses instead of the lens of where they came, and the societal norms that they’ve known. The Army is a phenomenal place to grow and learn and become a productive member of society eventually, whenever you leave. My Soldiers have always been my driving factor to want to stay in the military. It’s inspirational.”

What kind of change or impact do you plan to bring to the Big Red One?

“I definitely want to continue on with the things that Sergeants Major Bishop spearheaded and continue to build upon that, much better and to see his initiatives and projects to the end because there was a vision for it so, I want to make sure we honor him too. As time progresses and as I get to learn the environment here, re-learn it again, I have no doubt that I will develop some other initiative to make this installation, make the organization, and the surrounding community that much better.”


What would you like Soldiers to know about you?

“I want Soldiers to know that I’m their Sergeant Major too. I know I work for MG Kolasheski but, I’m their Sergeant Major too. When they see me out there, just come up and say, hi. Let’s just have a conversation and talk. That’s what I love to do, that’s my passion, to talk to Soldiers. I don’t want them to be afraid of me. I want them to come up and have a discussion whether personal or professional."

• Date Taken: 01.24.2020
• Date Posted: 03.04.2020 17:35
• Story ID: 362011
• Location: FORT RILEY , KS, US