FORT STEWART, Ga. — In a profession defined by standards, discipline, and leading from the front, Sgt. Maj. Russell Hull of the 3rd Infantry Division has raised the bar — becoming the first sergeant major since 2010 to graduate the U.S. Army’s demanding Sapper Leader Course. The achievement is more than a personal milestone. It sends a clear message across the formation: leadership in today’s Army requires not only experience, but a willingness to step back into the crucible and prove it. Sapper School, widely regarded as one of the Army’s most physically and mentally challenging courses, is designed to train elite combat engineers and leaders in demolitions, mountaineering, and small-unit tactics under extreme conditions. Attrition rates are high, and success demands endurance, adaptability, and an unrelenting commitment to the mission. For Hull, already serving at the highest enlisted level within his formation, the decision to attend was rooted in credibility and purpose. “I definitely felt a sense of accomplishment when I graduated,” said Hull. “But more so than anything, at that moment, I felt like a leader that Soldiers could look up to. I could now tell Soldiers that I’ve been through it, and I did it at 43 years old. I wanted to set the example to my Soldiers that if I can do it, so can you.” Balancing the responsibilities of a sergeant major, while preparing for and completing Sapper School required deliberate discipline. Hull trained alongside junior Soldiers, focusing on the physical rigor and technical proficiency required to succeed in the course. His accomplishment underscores a broader cultural emphasis within the 3rd Infantry Division — known as the “Dogface Soldiers” — on readiness, lethality, and leader development at every level. “A lot of us sergeant majors have a lot of miles on us,” said Hull. “But we still have some gas in the tank. We still have what it takes to compete. Most of us are from the GWOT [Global War on Terrorisam] generation so we have that ‘I’m going to finish what I started mentality’. Beyond the prestige of earning the Sapper tab, Hull’s experience brings immediate value back to the formation. His firsthand knowledge of modern engineer operations and small-unit leadership under stress enhances training, mentorship, and overall combat readiness across the division. For junior Soldiers, the impact is tangible. “We just graduated, and I’ve already started using him as an example,” said Cpt. Cam Nichols, a classmate of Hull’s from the Sapper Leaders Course. “This guy was told ‘no’ every step of the way. They didn’t want to send him because they thought he was too old and they didn’t think his body could handle it. They didn’t want to send him because he was too high of a rank and they didn’t think he needed it. He was told ‘no’ over and over again but he just refused to take ‘no’ for an answer. How could I not use this guy as an example?” Hull’s graduation marks a rare and significant moment in the Army’s senior enlisted ranks, bridging the gap between strategic leadership and tactical execution. It reinforces a timeless principle: leaders who share hardship with their Soldiers build trust that cannot be replicated any other way. As the 3rd Infantry Division continues to modernize and prepare for future conflicts, Hull’s example stands as a reminder that the foundation of combat effectiveness remains unchanged — disciplined leaders, trained to the highest standard, who are willing to lead from the front. In earning his place among the Army’s Sapper-qualified leaders, Sgt. Maj. Russell Hull has not only achieved a historic first for his rank in over a decade — he has reaffirmed what it means to wear the uniform and lead from the front in America’s Army.