ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND (March 13, 2015) -- The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command honored Command Sgt. Maj. Lebert O. Beharie during his retirement ceremony March 12.
A change of responsibility ceremony immediately preceded Beharie's retirement as Command Sgt. Maj. James P. Snyder took over as RDECOM's senior noncommissioned officer.
"I've been honored to be part of this band of brothers and sisters," Beharie said. "There is no greater feeing of pride and honor than that of service to a noble cause greater than the desires of oneself. To unselfishly serve your fellow man, this is the life of a Soldier."
Beharie's family -- wife, Sabrina; son, Raphael; and daughter, Isabella -- joined about 250 Soldiers, Army civilians and friends at APG Myer Auditorium.
Maj. Gen. John F. Wharton, RDECOM commanding general, said that Beharie's legacy of honor and commitment will live on through the lives he has affected during his three decades of service.
"Command Sergeant Major Beharie has a record of accomplishments that speak for themselves. He has always been there when his nation has called. He has led from the front, and he has always gone to places of danger," Wharton said. "He never asked anything of his Soldiers that he didn't ask of himself. He took care of our most precious resource -- our sons and daughters.
"He has passion for taking care of his Soldiers and his family. Your legacy will remain for all those thousands of Soldiers you have trained over the years."
Beharie enlisted in 1986 and has five deployments to Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He had served as RDCOM command sergeant major since March 16, 2012.
Beharie was raised in Jamaica by his grandparents and moved to Florida during his high school years to live with his aunt and uncle. He fell in love with aviation during time at airports while traveling between Jamaica and the United States. His dream of working in aviation was realized as he enlisted in the Army and spent 30 years fulfilling his passion.
Service to country, however, comes with sacrifice and hardship, especially during times of war, he said.
"No one knows that better than our Soldiers and their families," Beharie said. "My wife and kids know all too well what I'm talking about. They, like other Army families, have had to deal with many year-long deployments as well as other separation because of duties and responsibilities to the Army.
"For that reason, I want to thank my wife for her unwavering support to me, our kids as well as our Soldiers and their families. You are my hero."
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RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness--technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection and sustainment--to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
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