FORT CARSON, Colo. – Master Sgt. Jillian M. Batista, operations sergeant, 4th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, has dedicated over 20 years to helping keep the U.S. Army moving forward. From managing supply lines to overseeing operations, she has built a career behind the scenes ensuring that all Soldiers and units she encountered had what they needed to win the fight.
Now, as Batista prepares to retire and her son begins his first year in uniform, their shared service inside the same division offers a rare glimpse into how military tradition and family ties intersect with the Army’s evolving mission—one career coming to a close as another begins.
Batista currently serves in the 4th IDSB at Fort Carson, where her assignments have included Headquarters and Headquarters Company first sergeant, brigade S4 noncommissioned officer in charge, and her current role as brigade operations sergeant.
Colleagues say her work has been critical to Soldiers across the 4th Infantry Division, from ensuring equipment accountability to coordinating sustainment operations that keep thousands of Soldiers and their equipment mission ready.
“Jillian leadership has played a major role in the backbone of our sustainment operations even as she prepares for retirement and navigates the transition to civilian life,” Sgt. 1st Class Kristen Grijalva, equal opportunity advisor, 4th IDSB, 4th ID Said. “She continues to mentor Soldiers and ensure mission readiness with the same dedication she has shown throughout her career. Her ability to balance personal life and drive the brigade forward speaks volumes about her character and commitment to the Army.
Her son, Pvt. Daniel Briggs enlisted in the Army in April 2025. After graduating from basic training and advance individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Briggs received assignment orders to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. He now serves as a 11C: Mortarman and operates the Mortar System, one of the Army’s cutting-edge equipment, providing crucial indirect fire support for infantry units.
“Serving in the Army at the same time as my mom is something I’m proud of,” Briggs said. “Wearing the Ivy patch together makes our service feel like the start of a family tradition that I want to carry forward, and I’m honored to continue what she started”.
Even though the two now wear the same Ivy division patch, their roles could not be more different. For Batista, seeing her son join the Army and being in the same division has added a heartfelt dimension to her final year in uniform.
“I have been honored to serve my country and mentor the next generation of Soldiers,” Batista said. “Now, I am even more humbled to witness my son take his own path in joining the Army.”
The pair represent what leaders often describe as the Army’s dual mission: sustaining the force and fighting at the front. Their service highlights two pivotal components of battle—a mother helping maintain the division’s operational backbone and a son contributing to its combat power.
As Batista nears retirement and Briggs settles into his new career, the two share more than a uniform. They share a bridge between generations, a family bond strengthened by service and a commitment to carrying forward the Army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
Together, they embody the past and future of the 4th Infantry Division as one career comes to an end and another begins.
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