Posted By Bouhammer on November 9, 2009

Well today is the it, my very last day in the Army. I can’t believe this day is here. Over 22 1/2 years in the Army ends today. In reality it is really 40+ years in the Army. I was born at Ft. Bragg, NC and have been holding either a dependent or active duty ID card ever since. I mean I will have a retired ID card later this week, which looks like the dependent ones today, but the time of serving as a soldier is ending.

My time of being a leader of men, a caregiver to the soul of the young and confused, a motivator to those that are un-motivated is ending. It probably ended back in July when I turned over my last company and took off the diamond for the first time since getting it put on me over seven years ago. That was a painful day to remove the one rank that I always sought, but I can’t be greedy. I mean I was a diamond-wearing First Sergeant for over seven years and was a Detachment First Sergeant for 3 years prior to that as an E7 (Sergeant First Class). Most guys get 2-3 years as a First Sergeant and then move on. I was lucky, had the right timing and of course it helped to turn down Sergeant Major in the spring of 2008 to be able to hold on the rank so long.

I have no regrets, none at all for my career. I mean all I ever wanted to do was be a First Sergeant, and I got that wish. Thank to CSM Dave Piwowarski, COL (ret) Kevin Forney and my good buddy CPT Michael Batt I was afforded the opportunity to share in the command of the most high-speed and kick ass company in the entire 27th Brigade Combat Team. Back in the day, the 1st Battalion of the 108th Infantry Regiment (before they were disbanded due to the politics of the NYNG) was the lead element for the Brigade and they were always given the hardest and first missions. Well out of that Battalion, Bravo Company led the way. Bravo was always the first called on and the first to be the point element. This was long before I came to the Company, as it was as a result of the hard work of then-CPT Bob Williams, then-1SG Dave Piwowarski, and all of the soldiers and NCOs of Bravo Company.

Mike Batt and I were just lucky enough to fall in on a company that had their crap together, was lead by great leaders from the team leaders to the platoon sergeants, and were tighter than a seal’s butt in the winter time. Stepping into a great company was awesome, but it was also daunting. How do you take a great company and make it greater? I mean when you are at what you think is the top, the only place to move is down. To take it higher and make the unit greater is not easy. But the men, the leaders, and the spirit of the company did just that.

I was truly blessed to have been part of the leadership of that company for over four years. Four years that took us through some of the best of times and through the absolute worst. Bravo Company 1/108th Infantry was the only 1/108th Infantry unit to deploy as part of the Global War on Terror and they executed their duties with the professionalism and honor that I knew they would. However that did not come without a cost, as one brave soldier was lost on that deployment and several were wounded.

So as I look back at my time in over the last 22+ years and even though there were high points and low points I am proud of my service. When I told my State Command Sergeant Major back in February 2008 that I was turning down the Sergeant Major Academy and essentially the promotion, I knew my time was done. I knew I sealed my fate as much then as I did when I signed the declination statement in 1995 to go to Ft. Bragg. When I did that, I knew my time in the Active Army was over, but I was ready for it to be at that point in my life. This is where I am now too. After getting back from Afghanistan and doing all that I did there, I knew that it was time to go. Besides my body had taken enough of a beating after almost 9 years of jumping out of aircraft, two combat tours and many many field problems that the National Guard would probably categorize me as un-deployable in the future anyway. So what kind of leader can I be if I can’t deploy right along side of the men that I lead?

For reasons like that and because getting promoted and going to the academy would mean a commitment to 2012, I felt it was time to step aside. Of course, born into the soldier’s life, serving as a soldier my entire adult life, and being the father of a soldier means I will never stop being one.

I know the Marines always say “Once a Marine, always a Marine” and like with many things they are right there too. Because once a soldier, always a soldier (whether you went 20 years or not). We are a different Army across the board, since 9/11/01 and all of those who are serving today have signed up or re-enlisted since 9/11/01 and they knew exactly what they were getting into. The days of “I came in for the college money” are over and have been for some time.

I look back to my days as a young troop getting PFC pinned on me and then Specialist in HHC 2/5 Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division; going to B Company 1/506th Air Assault Infantry Camp Greaves, South Korea as a young E4, but doing the job of Sergeants because I could run a Mortar FDC like nobody’s business; getting my Expert Infantryman’s Badge pinned on me in Korea along with the highest SQT score in the company; heading back to Ft. Hood Texas to be part of the 1/8 Cavalry Mustangs and wearing the mighty First Team patch again and this time into combat as a Sergeant in Desert Shield/Storm; Driving from Florida to Alaska with my new family in 13 days; being part of the only Airborne Battalion in the Pacific theater, the might 1st Battalion 501st Geronimos and working with great guys like Ron Sneed, Doug Mullen and Louis Legier (RIP brother); Graduating the toughest school I ever attended as the Honor Graduate, Jumpmaster School; getting out of the Army and joining one of the few Airborne units in the National Guard, the 207th Group LRSD of the Alaska National Guard; participating in Leapfest 1998 and coming in 8th place out of 300 on my first and only visit there; getting to know men like Rick Morlock (may he rest in peace) and at the time fellow Platoon Sergeant but now Alaska State Command Sergeant Major Gordon Choate; moving to New York and leading many mighty men and warriors in both HHC and B Company of the 1/108th Infantry through multiple stateside deployments in the days after 9/11 and then going with some of the best damn soldiers I know to combat in Afghanistan and back….I look at all of that and I wonder how I could be so lucky to be so blessed.

How lucky I am to have so many friends in so many places. Friends, mentors, leaders who all helped shape me as a soldier. There are so many that I can’t name them here, but I hope they know who they are. They were not always those that I worked for or reported to. Many were my peers, and many times they were my soldiers that worked for me. I know some may not understand, but by working with them on issues, by hearing different ideas and leading them, it all made me that much better of a person and a soldier.

So today is it. Today I can look back and reflect and know that even though I made many mistakes along the way, I learned from them. As I watch the TV show of my life in the military inside my head I know that I have a smile on my face during the entire broadcast.

Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier….

Categories: Bouhammer Ranting, Life in the Military, Patriotism, Wall of Honor
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