HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. - He is a familiar face in the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team and the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; but Command Sgt. Maj. Stanley Hood is lesser known to those at Hunter Army Airfield, where he assumed responsibility as garrison command sergeant major, Jan. 5.
The native of Hampton, Va., knew from a very young age that he wanted to join the military.
After spending some time at Norfolk State University, where he was part of ROTC, he decided he wanted to "get going on his military career." In 1988 he enlisted in the Army as a combat engineer -- an occupational series he still holds today.
He has deployed four times, in Operations Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. Two of his deployments were with the Third Infantry Division and he is now, for the first time, serving a role outside of Army Forces Command.
"In the little time I've been [garrison command sergeant major], it's very exciting to be to know I'm serving the military and the community in a different manner," he said. "After a certain point in your career, there are certain things you'd like to do, and this was one of them. I've found out it's a lot of work, but yet it's exciting."
The father of three is a true Family man -- gushing over his children, Erica, 18, Stanley Jr., 16, and Danielle, 12, and his wife, Eleecia, without hesitation.
He says Danielle, who is a freshman at East Georgia College, has "a heart of gold," and that she is always the first to help others; Stanley, a musician and golfer, "is extremely talented and very gifted; and his "baby girl," Danielle, is "very loving and an open-hearted person. You can feel the love she carries, just by being in her presence."
"My wife and I have definitely been blessed with the children we have," Command Sgt. Maj. Hood said. "Everything I said about my kids, it seems like it came from her. My wife is a dedicated mom; she's poured herself into our children, which is why I think I'm able to speak the way I do (about them) and why my children are the way they are -- because of her and the hard work she's put into the Family."
Command Sgt. Maj. Hood and Eleecia were "just friends" in high school but came together once he returned home to the United State from his first duty station in Germany, where he served with the 10th Engineers of the 3rd ID. Since then, they've been to Fort Bragg, Fort Riley, Fort Hood and, most recently, five years at Fort Stewart and his military career has also become hers.
"She is committed," he said of his decision to make the military a career. "I was already a Soldier when we got married, so she was in for the long haul and she demonstrated that in plenty of ways."
The Hood Family lives in Pembroke, but is looking forward to being active members of the Hunter and local community. For Command Sgt. Maj. Hood, he is excited to continue serving Soldiers and their Families, just as his mentor, Command Sgt. Maj. Roy L. Burns, taught him as a young specialist.
"He was always speaking of taking care of Soldiers and how to take care of Soldiers; it almost seems like it was just second nature to him, to (care for Soldiers)," he said. "You always want your Soldiers and Family Members to be taken care of. He set that example and instilled that in me as an NCO coming up and still now as a sergeant major, that's our responsibility and that's my responsibility."
With his new responsibilities at Hunter Army Airfield, Command Sgt. Maj. Hood looks forward to working with Soldiers and Families, and continuing to build the Army's relationship with the community surrounding Hunter -- the only way he knows how to do it.
"I plan to do it by just being me -- a person who cares about the Soldiers and Family Members," he said. "I will work alongside the command and the Soldiers and the Family Members to make things better for them here on the installation and to build an even stronger relationship with the community."
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