Past leaders visit post, future leaders

By Marie Berberea, Fort SillSeptember 19, 2013

SMA
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla. -- Twenty-two veterans in the Fort Sill Command Sergeant Major/Sergeant Major Association visited Fort Sill Sept. 10 to see how things have changed since their time in the Army.

They stopped at several locations on post including the Staff Sgt. Juan Garcia Dining Facility, the Army Field Artillery Museum, and 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Advanced Individual Training. They also watched Soldiers in their second week of Basic Combat Training.

"All noncommissioned officers have experienced the sting of the gas chamber. It's a significant event that happens to an enlisted Soldier," said Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Batts Jr., 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery CSM.

Before Soldiers in D Battery, 1-79th FA went into the chamber, the sergeants major watched as they marched through the wood line. In formation, they stopped as soon as the drill sergeant called "gas, gas, gas," and took out their prone mask. They put it on, and cleared and sealed it in the prescribed nine seconds. Some of the sergeants major even counted along and nodded approvingly.

"I was excited about having those sergeant majors come through, but I also knew everything had to be dress right dress and straight because you're having sergeant majors who are very critical in standards," said Batts.

Shortly after the drill sergeants challenged the trainees knowledge, it was the cadre's turn to be challenged by the veterans. They fired off questions about the M40 prone mask the trainees used and the difference between the previous M17 model.

"I heard from a sergeant major who was a drill sergeant in 1950, and he was talking about the NBC mask tube going all the way down," said Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Jaime Soto, D/1-79th FA. "Hearing that knowledge from them and how it was back in the day and how it's changed to now, it was pretty awesome."

The veterans also talked about the change in the level of CS gas used in training. Although the Army lowered the amount, they seemed satisfied with the end result as the Soldiers filed out gasping for air.

"The key learning aspect of this training is to trust your equipment. And, understand that we can still [fight] in a chemical environment. It is not about the amount of CS gas in the chamber. It is the training that we focus on," said Batts.

In the SMA group was retired Comand Sgt. Maj. Guy Williamson, who used to be Batts CSM.

"He always said to me make sure you use the right equipment for the right [job]."

Batts said his former CSM's visit to watch him lead NBC training was very ironic because as Williamson reprimanded him for using his NBC gloves to paint his vehicle.

"He corrected me on that and it was a significant event in my life; I understood you have to use the proper equipment," said Batts.

The drill sergeant said Williamson was a hard, but fair leader and that is one of the traits he uses today to grow future sergeants major and command sergeants major.

"It's always an honor when sergeant majors from the past are in your presence. Whenever you see those guys you just want to ask them questions. Thirty years experience is 30 years experience. It may be a different timeframe, different mission set, but the experience of a sergeant major you cannot take away."