FORT BENNING, Ga. - U.S. Army Garrison Fort Benning installed a new top enlisted Soldier on Friday.
Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Moore took over the position during a change of responsibility ceremony in the Benning Conference Center's Regimental Room. He replaces Command Sgt. Maj. James Foreman, who's retiring after more than 30 years on active duty.
Moore didn't have to travel far. He had been command sergeant major of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team's 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, at Kelley Hill and recently returned with the unit following his third Iraq deployment.
"We are pleased that he has answered the call to fill the big shoes (Foreman) leaves behind. And I can tell you, we have the right Soldier for the job," said Col. Thomas Macdonald, the garrison commander. "Command Sergeant Major Moore will be a great fit ... for the garrison. He's a battle-proven leader who brings relevant, timely perspective to his new role as he understands the requirements to support an Army at war and the needs of Army families."
After joining the Infantry in 1990, Moore supported Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm while serving with 4th Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment in Germany. His 20-year career includes stops in South Korea, Fort Irwin, Calif.; and Fort Stewart, Ga. He also was a senior drill sergeant at Fort Benning's 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade.
"We welcome another great leader who has fresh ideas and is eager to make a difference in the lives of those who work with him on this great installation," Macdonald said.
Moore said he's thankful for the opportunity to continue serving "Team Benning."
"You have my pledged loyalty and word to give 100 percent daily to maintain the standards and do everything I can to improve upon this," he said. "I will not forget what it always comes down to, and that is the Soldier - taking care of the Soldier and his or her family. ... Hopefully, I can build upon this great foundation that (Foreman has) set for me."
Foreman had been the garrison's command sergeant major since 2008.
"He has exceeded my expectations at every turn. His dedication, professionalism and service have been top notch," Macdonald said. "Command Sergeant Major Foreman is not one to sit behind a desk. He is certainly a man of action with endless energy. ... He gets out to see firsthand the effectiveness of services on the installation and the welfare of the community."
Among many successes, Foreman recently helped secure funding for a separate Veterans Affairs facility to provide services to active-duty Soldiers at Fort Benning, the colonel said. VA reps now have their own building across from Airborne School.
Macdonald said the command sergeant major provided input and guidance on post operations and quality-of-life support for more than 25,000 active-duty Soldiers, 29,000 family members and 37,000 retirees.
"That only scratches the surface of his accomplishments and achievements," he told the audience. "That's the encapsulated version. ... Simply said, (he) improved the quality of life for all Fort Benning Soldiers, their families and employees, and his legacy is one of respect."
Over the course of his three-decade career, Foreman served around the world in various leadership roles within the Engineer Corps. He deployed to Iraq from February 2007 to April 2008 and also served in Bosnia-Herzegovina on three separate occasions.
"This is the best installation on the planet, bar none," he said of Fort Benning.
Foreman praised the selection of Moore, saying his successor is the "right person at the right time at the right place for this job."
"We've been talking over the past couple of weeks, and (he) used the term 'drinking from a fire hose (to describe the position),'" Foreman said. "That's absolutely correct. But you have the best team in the Army to help you."
An Atlanta native, Foreman plans to remain in the Columbus area with his wife, Carletta, and son, James.
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