Fort Bliss Monitor

Former SMAs visit class
Conference brings sergeants major of the Army to USASMA

Spc. Steve Baack
Monitor Staff

William O. Wooldridge, the first sergeant major of the Army, shakes hands with Soldiers of Class 55 at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy auditorium Monday.

As part of the Sergeant Major of the Army’s Nominative Command Sergeants Major Conference held from Jan. 10-13, four former sergeants major of the Army sat down with Class 55 for a question-and-answer session.

William O. Wooldridge, the 1st SMA, joined Julius W. Gates, the 8th SMA, Richard A. Kidd, 9th SMA, and Jack Tilley, 12th SMA, to give them their own perspectives on the noncommissioned officer education system, important duties of a sergeant major, the state of the Army during the war on terrorism, their own accomplishments, Soldier morale and the course itself.

All four former SMAs answered each question in a positive light, even though not every question warranted a positive response. One of those questions was about whether the course should be shortened. Kidd, who oversaw the first nine-month course, described how originally the plan was to have the students lead a unit – everything from activation, supervision, and administration, to finally deactivation. Tilley, however, added that he likes the way it is now even if the idea behind the nine-month course has changed. “I think there should be a time for a non-commissioned officer to take a little more time with your peers to really improve,” said Tilley.

Gates said he is also in favor of the nine-month course. “If you don’t maximize what you’ve learned in this school, take it back and utilize it to improve your unit, then why did we send you here?” he asked. Gates added that the nine-month course is another issue students can be critical of, but that ultimately the school belongs to the students. Similarly, when Gates addressed a question about the NCOES, he asked, “Who can change the NCOES?” The answer was a resounding, “Us.”

Another question was what areas the former SMAs think are particularly important to focus on as a sergeant major, and what areas are not so important.

“I don’t think you have to focus on one thing,” said Wooldridge. “You know what you have to do, you know what your duties are as an NCO, you just get a little better through repetition.”

“I am often asked what I did to get this position, but I can tell you what I didn’t do,” said Kidd. “I didn’t check the blocks. I didn’t spend my time in a position worrying about the next position. I did the job I was in to the best of my ability.” Tilley seconded that, also saying that he never worried about getting promoted.

Other questions dealt with Operation Iraqi Freedom – a sergeant major’s role during OIF, keeping troop morale high and rumors of making a change from the all-volunteer force.

Wooldridge stressed that regardless of how rare it is for a sergeant major to be deployed to Iraq, the NCO Corps has always been the driving force of the Army. “No matter how it’s structured or how it’s organized, you will still see the noncommissioned officer making things work,” he said.

While Tilley didn’t say whether he thinks the Army should reinstitute the draft, he said the bottom line is that the force needs to increase its numbers. “Recruiting is getting tougher and tougher, draft or not – I don’t know – but it’s getting down to crunch time,” said Tilley. “In my 30 plus years I have had three one-year tours,” added Tilley. “Now you have guys with eight years with three one-year tours,” Tilley said.

“The quality of the force today is unbelievable, so I hope we don’t have to change it,” said Kidd.

“This is just what you get paid for,” said Tilley in response to the issue of morale during OIF, but added that he understands how people can be frustrated especially with the current size of the force.

“We have an easier job now because there is nothing more devastating or demoralizing to a Soldier than having someone tell you what you just did was terrible or wrong,” said Kidd, contrasting OIF with Vietnam.

But the Q & A ended on a high note, when a student asked about sources of pride after their retirements. “You never stop being a Soldier,” said Gates. “When you see these young Soldiers marching off to go to war, it does something to you – but when they come back, it also does something to you,” said Gates. Gates recounted a story about meeting a Soldier who had lost his leg in OIF, but who asked Gates how he could stay in.

As one of the last comments from the panel, Tilley gave the students these parting thoughts: “Don’t dwell on the negative. Think of the positive – wake up every day and think, ‘What can I do for my Army?’”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	January 13, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Former SMAs visit class Conference brings sergeants major of the Army to USASMA Spc. Steve Baack Monitor Staff William O. Wooldridge, the first sergeant major of the Army, shakes hands with Soldiers of Class 55 at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy auditorium Monday. As part of the Sergeant Major of the Army’s Nominative Command Sergeants Major Conference held from Jan. 10-13, four former sergeants major of the Army sat down with Class 55 for a question-and-answer session. William O. Wooldridge, the 1st SMA, joined Julius W. Gates, the 8th SMA, Richard A. Kidd, 9th SMA, and Jack Tilley, 12th SMA, to give them their own perspectives on the noncommissioned officer education system, important duties of a sergeant major, the state of the Army during the war on terrorism, their own accomplishments, Soldier morale and the course itself. All four former SMAs answered each question in a positive light, even though not every question warranted a positive response. One of those questions was about whether the course should be shortened. Kidd, who oversaw the first nine-month course, described how originally the plan was to have the students lead a unit – everything from activation, supervision, and administration, to finally deactivation. Tilley, however, added that he likes the way it is now even if the idea behind the nine-month course has changed. “I think there should be a time for a non-commissioned officer to take a little more time with your peers to really improve,” said Tilley. Gates said he is also in favor of the nine-month course. “If you don’t maximize what you’ve learned in this school, take it back and utilize it to improve your unit, then why did we send you here?” he asked. Gates added that the nine-month course is another issue students can be critical of, but that ultimately the school belongs to the students. Similarly, when Gates addressed a question about the NCOES, he asked, “Who can change the NCOES?” The answer was a resounding, “Us.” Another question was what areas the former SMAs think are particularly important to focus on as a sergeant major, and what areas are not so important. “I don’t think you have to focus on one thing,” said Wooldridge. “You know what you have to do, you know what your duties are as an NCO, you just get a little better through repetition.” “I am often asked what I did to get this position, but I can tell you what I didn’t do,” said Kidd. “I didn’t check the blocks. I didn’t spend my time in a position worrying about the next position. I did the job I was in to the best of my ability.” Tilley seconded that, also saying that he never worried about getting promoted. Other questions dealt with Operation Iraqi Freedom – a sergeant major’s role during OIF, keeping troop morale high and rumors of making a change from the all-volunteer force. Wooldridge stressed that regardless of how rare it is for a sergeant major to be deployed to Iraq, the NCO Corps has always been the driving force of the Army. “No matter how it’s structured or how it’s organized, you will still see the noncommissioned officer making things work,” he said. While Tilley didn’t say whether he thinks the Army should reinstitute the draft, he said the bottom line is that the force needs to increase its numbers. “Recruiting is getting tougher and tougher, draft or not – I don’t know – but it’s getting down to crunch time,” said Tilley. “In my 30 plus years I have had three one-year tours,” added Tilley. “Now you have guys with eight years with three one-year tours,” Tilley said. “The quality of the force today is unbelievable, so I hope we don’t have to change it,” said Kidd. “This is just what you get paid for,” said Tilley in response to the issue of morale during OIF, but added that he understands how people can be frustrated especially with the current size of the force. “We have an easier job now because there is nothing more devastating or demoralizing to a Soldier than having someone tell you what you just did was terrible or wrong,” said Kidd, contrasting OIF with Vietnam. But the Q & A ended on a high note, when a student asked about sources of pride after their retirements. “You never stop being a Soldier,” said Gates. “When you see these young Soldiers marching off to go to war, it does something to you – but when they come back, it also does something to you,” said Gates. Gates recounted a story about meeting a Soldier who had lost his leg in OIF, but who asked Gates how he could stay in. As one of the last comments from the panel, Tilley gave the students these parting thoughts: “Don’t dwell on the negative. Think of the positive – wake up every day and think, ‘What can I do for my Army?’”