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FORT DRUM, New York (Sept. 25, 2025) – Command Sgt. Maj. John Folger, 10th Mountain Division Artillery senior enlisted advisor, grew up just hours south of Fort Drum, never imagining his Army journey would lead him back to the North Country. Now, after more than 20 years of service, he finds purpose not only in the mission but also in watching the next generation of Soldiers rise through the ranks.
Folger applied to the United States Military Academy in high school but was unable to attend due to a medical disqualification from earlier years. He considered it the wrong time and place. After completing a few years of college he still felt the need to serve in the military as his father and brother had.
“I always had a desire to serve. My father spent a few years in the Navy and my brother made a career out of it, retiring after 20 years,” Folger stated. “So there was always a strong connection to the military. I just chose the Army instead of the Navy.”
Folger was often Soldier of the Month, Quarter and even Brigade Soldier of the Month. He always stated his long-term goal was to become the Sgt. Maj. of the Army.
However, after completing his initial four-year contract, he made the difficult decision to transition to the National Guard to prioritize stability for his growing family.
“At that time, we decided to grow our roots and not be forced as Soldiers to move every few years. This was before 9/11, so we weren’t a country at war.”
Just two months after joining the National Guard, the world changed. In response to 9/11, Folger’s former unit deployed. He watched from the sidelines wrestling with a deep sense of conflict and loss.
“I felt like the reason I had joined the Army was to serve my country, and I missed out on doing that,” Folger recalled. “However, looking back now, after gaining some wisdom, I have no regrets.”
That wisdom didn’t come easily. Over the years Folger carried the memory of fellow Soldiers from his early days in uniform—friends who never made it home.
“I have friends from my first contract in the Army who are no longer with us. So maybe the plan all along was for me to get out and come back in, so I could end up in this position where I can take care of Soldiers at a higher level.”
Sgt. Folger returned to active duty after his five-year National Guard contract was up. As he rose through the ranks, he came to understand that leadership isn’t a fixed formula. It’s built from experience, trial and error and the examples—both good and bad—of those who led before him.
“You take a little bit from everybody, whether it’s good or not so good, and you try to mold yourself into the leader you want to be.”
This way of thinking became the foundation of Folger’s leadership journey. It allowed him to learn from a wide range of influences, shaping his approach to service and strengthening his commitment to those he leads.
“I don’t know if I’ve just been lucky or if it’s a result of my leadership, but the subordinate leaders I’ve had—whether as a platoon sergeant, first sergeant or battalion sergeant major—have always shared the same mindset: take care of Soldiers and accomplish the mission. And I think, in the end, that’s what has taken care of me.”
Behind his words is the humility of a leader who understands that success doesn’t happen alone; it’s built alongside others through teamwork, shared goals and a constant focus on taking care of people in and out of uniform.
After many years of dedicated service, Folger had the opportunity to return to the North Country, this time as part of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) at Fort Drum, New York.
“I love Fort Drum. Being from New York, I love this place. I really do. I don't think there is a relationship in the Army between a military installation and the community like there is here.”
That deep connection to Fort Drum and its community would soon be tested as Folger found himself navigating one of the most challenging moments of his career.
During a nine-month deployment to the Middle East with Second Brigade, Folger faced a difficult decision when Al Asad Air Base (AAAB), where his unit was headquartered, came under the first wave of one-way UAS attacks. At the time, he had just left for the Sergeant Major Assessment Program—a critical step for those seeking brigade-level leadership roles.
Upon learning of the attack his immediate instinct was to return. He contacted his battalion commander, ready to head back, but was advised to wait and consider the broader mission. Still intent on returning to his troops, a fellow leader brought him to a realization.
“I received a call from one of my first sergeants, who didn’t know I was planning to return or that I had spoken with the battalion commander,” Folger recalled. “He took the initiative to reach out and told me simply, ‘We’ve got it.’ The leaders at Al Asad were taking care of the mission and the Soldiers. He knew how important it was for me to attend the Sergeant Major Assessment because the next generation of Soldiers needed me to become a brigade CSM.”
The call reflected the strength of the unit’s leadership and their commitment to mission success despite ongoing threats. Across more than 16 outstations, not a single Soldier from Second Brigade was lost—a remarkable outcome given the more than 60 attacks they faced during the deployment.
Success like that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because leaders at every level take care of their people while never losing sight of the mission. Those are the kinds of leaders Soldiers respect and follow through the toughest days, hardest missions and greatest uncertainties.
For Folger, reaching this point in his career is a testament to that leadership—shaped by experience, grounded in purpose and fueled by gratitude.
“I've gotten to a level that I didn’t know if I would get to after leaving and coming back,” said Folger. “So every day is a blessing. Every opportunity to interact with Soldiers and leaders across the Army is a blessing, and I’ll take each day as a blessing until my last day in uniform.”
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2025 16:43 |
| Story ID: | 552845 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 335 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A Life of Leadership: One Soldier’s Journey Back to Fort Drum, by PFC Abigail Stewart, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
