BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Transatlantic Afghanistan District (TAA) welcomed a new top NCO, Command Sgt. Maj. John Hankins, during a change of responsibility ceremony Friday, Dec. 4, on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
"In the few days I've been here, I'm amazed to see the operational strategic reach that you achieve by virtue of your skills, your talents and your expertise," Hankins said to TAA employees in attendance at the ceremony. "As top professionals you bring a distinct and impactive ability to the table that promotes stability, enables governance, sets the conditions for the rule of law, and changes the daily lives for how the Afghan people live.
"Your efforts do more than promote industry, you've built a capacity that lays and strengthens the foundation of the Afghan national infrastructure that supports the growth and development of a stronger economy for generations to come," he said.
Hankins comes to USACE-TAA from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as the command sergeant major for the 27th Engineer Battalion. This is Hankin's first deployment to Afghanistan. He previously deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy, and to Iraq three times, the most recent in 2008 -- 2009.
Col. Paul Owens, commander, TAA, said Hankins will play a crucial role as USACE-TAA continues building projects throughout Afghanistan that will help promote the future of Afghanistan.
"He's a proven leader. He knows how to get things done under the most extreme circumstances," Owen said. "I'll need your help, I'll need your wisdom and I'll need your instincts. We'll need that to maintain the direction and swift pace that we have. You'll play a crucial role in the district"
Hankins replaces Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Lococo, who will be the command sergeant major for the 3rd Battalion, 315th Brigade Engineering Battalion. Lococo looked backed at his time at TAA as one of the most challenging and biggest learning opportunities during his 25-year Army career.
"My biggest challenge was trying to understand how our civilian dominated workforce fit into the big deployed Army picture, and how to convey our needs to the military senior leaders," he said. "I worked hard to get to know our employees, their jobs, and their needs. This enabled me to translate our requirements in to Army language for the military leaders to understand."
Hankins said he is honored to take the helm as the top NCO for USACE in Afghanistan and that he's committed to his top three priorities, "one, supporting professional and personal growth; two, supporting our families back at home who sacrifice just as much as we do; three, enabling each of you to meet your maximum potential in accomplishing TAA's mission and the commander's vision."
USACE-TAA executes construction and engineering operations throughout Afghanistan in support of Resolute Support; provides sustainable development projects for the Afghan people that employ the populace, build skilled human capital and promote the future stability of Afghanistan through construction projects for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, the Afghan Infrastructure Fund, military construction and the Commander's Emergency Response Program.
Hankins' military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Sapper Tab, and Bronze German Parachutist Badge. CSM Hankins also achieved Commandant's list at Reserve Component and Active Component Primary Leadership Development Course, the Sapper Spirit Award at Combat Engineer Basic Non Commissioned Officer Course, and the Army Combat Engineer Sergeant's Squad Leader of the Year for the 37th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne).
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