FORT BENNING, Ga., (May 20, 2015) -- The Fort Benning community held a farewell ceremony for Maneuver Center of Excellence Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Guden May 18 in the Regimental Room at the Benning Club.
"Aside from his tremendous set of skills and experience acquired throughout his military career, (Guden is) a leader who is rock solid in his beliefs and values," said MCoE Commanding General Maj. Gen. Scott Miller in a letter read by Brig. Gen. James Rainey, Infantry School commandant. "He is a man of character, and it shows in everything he does and it's on display for every Soldier, not only here at Fort Benning, but throughout the U.S. Army."
During the ceremony, Guden received the Legion of Merit, was thanked and awarded by the Infantry School, received an Armor Leadership Award, a commemorative sledgehammer from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team and was inducted into the Order of Saint George.
Guden's three years at Fort Benning were split between being the 30th Infantry School command sergeant major and the fourth MCoE command sergeant major.
"I've had a unique opportunity being here at Fort Benning," Guden said. "A lot of things I did, I wanted to see through (at the Infantry School) and some of those things have gone through fruition," he said, as he was able to observe them while in his position as MCoE sergeant major.
Guden is taking his career to the Washington, D.C., to serve as the command sergeant major for the Joint Forces Headquarters Command of the National Capital Region and the Military District of Washington.
Rainey highlighted Guden's quiet professionalism and commended him on living the NCO Creed, the Ranger Creed and the Soldier Creed.
For every Soldier inspired by Guden, there was a Soldier who impressed him. He said throughout his time at the MCoE, the leaders at the various schools and courses' desire to better the Army is something that has caught his attention.
"Our instructors, our cadre, our drill sergeants, our Black hats, our Ranger instructors, our Cavalry instructors - all of those folks impress me every single day with their abilities to continually get after it," Guden said. "It is part of the lifelong learning - understanding how they can continue to not just better their organization, but better themselves."
Guden said he had no intention of leaving behind a legacy at Fort Benning, other than helping the junior noncommissioned officers in their careers as Soldiers in the U.S. Army, but through the support and appreciation shown to him at his farewell ceremony, though, it would seem Guden had left his legacy.
"If there was one thing that I was going to leave, I truly hope it is that - those junior NCOs, those young NCOs that I've had a chance to talk to - I have helped them out in some way, some form, some fashion that they're going to get some information that they're going to be able to use and apply in their careers and maybe in their lives," Guden said. "That's one thing I would say (I want to leave behind)."
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