"The steel mill closed ... I was tending bar, working for a plumber, and I saw a John Wayne movie," said Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis M. Carey, outgoing U.S. Army Forces Command command sergeant major, when asked why he joined the Army in 1977.
By passing responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald T. Riling Monday, Carey ended his more than four years as the senior enlisted Soldier of FORSCOM and more than 33 years in uniform.
With dozens of commendations during the last three decades, Carey served in every enlisted leadership position from team leader to command sergeant major.
"Over the years, this Soldier has done the tough jobs ... (he's) made a living training, mentoring and leading Soldiers," said Gen. James D. Thurman, FORSCOM commander. Carey said his career has been all about taking care of Soldiers.
"The most effect I ever had (directly) on Soldiers was as a squad leader," said Carey.
During his tenure as FORSCOM command sergeant major, Carey said he tried to visit as many FORSCOM Soldiers as possible, adding he took every opportunity to visit Soldiers at training and mobilization sites such as Camp Shelby, Miss., Fort Dix, N.J. and Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.
Carey said he had a simple message to the NCOs of the Army's largest command: "Take care of your Soldiers (and remember) that it's harder (when) not deployed than it is (when) deployed sometimes."
Carey also said, "We have the most tactically proficient (NCO Corps) we've probably had since World War II."
Carey said he wants to remind enlisted Soldiers to "look out for each other; don't forget those bonds you developed while you were deployed. It may be a rough time for the Army in the next couple years so be prepared, train hard and take care of each other."
Carey's last official trip as FORSCOM command sergeant major was to Walter Reed Army Medical Center Friday, where he visited some wounded warriors he first encountered during a recent trip to Afghanistan.
Cary had visited the wounded Soldiers when they first arrived at the hospital in theater, and again when they were transferred to medical facilities in Germany.
Carey said he plans to retire with his wife, Kim, to the Fort Bragg, N.C. area, where he plans to continue working with Soldiers.
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