1st Brigade Combat Team senior NCO commits to childhood dream

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (June 18, 2015) -- Few children can accurately predict what they want to do as a career when they grow up, but at the age of 5, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark D. Belda was spot-on when he said that he wanted to become a Soldier.

"At 5 years old I decided I was going to join the Army, and that's what I told my parents," said Belda, senior enlisted adviser for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI). "They played along with the game all the way up until I was 18 years old and they got a call from Staff Sgt. Justice at the enlistment office asking to talk to me.

"They asked why I had a Staff Sgt. Justice calling me, and I said 'because I enlisted in the Army' and he was calling to ask me when I was going to the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) to figure out what I was going to be," he added.

Born in Wichita, Kan., and raised in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Belda was accustomed to the military life because his dad served in the Air Force.

"People didn't want to believe I was joining the Army," he said.

Not only did Belda take the infantry route, he decided to broaden his skill set by going to Ranger School, which he successfully completed.

"I knew what I wanted to be when I enlisted," he said. "I had read a magazine article in Gung-Ho Magazine about Ranger School, and so I decided I wanted to be a Ranger."

Belda joined the Army as an infantry Soldier in August 1988. He has a total of six deployments under his belt, including Somalia and multiple Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom campaigns.

"This is the only thing I've ever wanted to do," he said. "I've never wanted to be anything else, so I figured if this is going to be it I might as well be as good at it as I can. I just like the thought of really being able to defend my country and take care of those who can't take care of themselves."

On top of all of the deployments, he served as a drill sergeant at Fort Benning, Ga., from 1999-2002.

Some of the most memorable experiences Belda has had in the Army include fighting in Somalia, which was his first combat situation, and seeing a constant evolution of civilians to Soldiers while serving as a drill sergeant.

"Just being a leader in general in combat is such a memorable experience," he said. "I've been everything from a squad leader on up. Squad leader, first sergeant, ops sergeant major, battalion (command sergeant major) -- I've done all of those jobs in combat."

Since Belda has been command sergeant major of the brigade, there have been many battalion- and brigade-level training events including Mountain Peak, eXportable Combat Training Capability and a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La.

"At JRTC, even as the brigade sergeant major, he would get out and walk the wire every single night to make sure Soldiers were staying vigilant by talking to them and seeing what was going on with them," said Sgt. Maj. Randell L. Moody, 1st BCT operations sergeant major. "It's pretty nice that he still gets out when given the opportunity to and sees all the Soldiers. It was one of his nightly routines if he wasn't out doing battlefield circulation."

Moody continued to talk about Belda's selflessness in mentoring and taking care of Soldiers.

"It's the same thing around here. If there are any changes to anything, he walks around and talks to people to see how the change is affecting them," he said. "He really cares about Soldiers."

There are many different leadership approaches one can take in the Army. Moody explained how Belda's style of leadership is refreshing in the fact that he hasn't lost his touch being a command sergeant major.

"He's a very patient, supportive man," Moody added. "He's got a really good drive. He was hurt a few years back, but he still does PT (physical training) every morning and he's still pushing forward and advancing in his career and helping out Soldiers at the next level and doing all he can for them."

Belda will relinquish responsibility of 1st BCT at the end of the month, and he is slated to take the next step in his career by becoming part of the 10th Mountain Division staff.

"I think a lot of people around here are happy that he is staying at Fort Drum," said Moody. "He's the type of guy who will never pass up the opportunity to help somebody. Since he's been command sergeant major of the brigade, I don't think there has been a single change of command or change of responsibility ceremony that he wasn't at, unless he was TDY (temporary duty) or off post. He always takes the time to be there."

During his Army career, Belda has achieved a number of milestones, having completed the following military courses: U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Ranger School, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Jumpmaster School, Drill Sergeant School, Pathfinder School, U.S. Navy Scuba Divers Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course and Combat Lifesavers Course.

He also has completed an associate degree in social science with Troy University and a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Excelsior College (magna cum laude), and he has been accepted to the master's program at the American Military University for Military History.

Belda's goal in the Army was to be a command sergeant major, but there is also a legacy that he wants Soldiers to take away from his time in command.

"Something I'd like to leave behind is having Soldiers know that they can do more than they think they can," he said. "They can always push a little harder. Just about anything is achievable if you put your mind to it."

Related Links:

Army.mil: Human Interest

10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum

Fort Drum on Facebook