On June 8 the Sergeants Major Academy held the commencement ceremony for its 75th class at the University of Texas at El Paso Don Haskins Center. In total, 614 from the United States Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and over 60 partner nations walked across the stage. Thirty-four students simultaneously earned a bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Work Force Development from the Sergeants Major Academy, which became accredited in 2017.

During their year at the academy, the class whose motto is “Be the Change” took those words and applied them to volunteer opportunities, dedicating over 2,200 hours of their time to different organizations within Fort Bliss and the El Paso community. Those included Flags for our Heroes with the Rotary Club, placing wreaths for Wreaths Across America, creating altars for our fallen, judging high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps competition, marching in the Veterans Day Parade, cleaning up Scenic Drive in El Paso and supporting the annual science fair at Milliam Elementary, just to name a few.

This year’s ceremony included a unique aspect to the event, the opening of a time capsule that was left behind by Sergeant Major Academy Class 50 in 1999. The piece of history was opened by retired Sergeant Major Jesse McKinney, along with the help of the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence Commandant, Command Sgt. Maj. Tammy Everette and Command Sgt. Maj. Cesar Llanez, director of the Sergeants Major Academy.

The 17th Sergeant Major of the Army, Michael R. Weimer was the guest speaker and delivered remarks to the eager students. He also presented some of the most accomplished students with his coveted military coin. During his address to the class, Weimer emphasized the importance of graduates being intentionally involved in their next units and training the younger versions of themselves, the sergeants and staff sergeants that would eventually become the next generation of leaders in the Army.

“An organization’s culture is not built by accident. It is created and tended to by NCOs – formed on a foundation of their actions and attitudes,” said Weimer. “You will model and uphold the standards, creating a culture that strives for excellence. Your organization will succeed or fail based on your performance. Welcome to leadership with serious consequences. It will be the most rewarding challenge you have had to date.”

Other guests included Sergeants Majors from international partner nations supporting the graduates from their home nation and representatives from the Association of the United States Army to present awards to some of the students.

Master Sgt. Pablo Colon, a medic, and class 75 graduate joined the Army in 2003 and spoke about his experience over the last 10 months. “I learned that the role of a Command Sergeant Major is one of influence,” said Colon about his time spent at the academy. “In order for me to be effective I must not only learn my job and be competent. I also need to learn and employ other skills like effective communication and negotiation as well as the art of showing people their potential and place in the organization as a whole. I am fully confident in my abilities to influence others.”

Colon will be reporting to Horsham, Pennsylvania as an operations Sergeant Major with the 338th Medical Brigade and hopes to set an example for all Soldiers by making sure he gives 100% to both the unit and his Family.

Another graduate of the class was Master Sgt. Jason Smith who also joined the Army in 2003. While at the academy Smith went the extra mile and was one of 34 students who simultaneously earned a bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Workforce Development. “I had been chipping away at a degree for years and was fortunate that I had met most of my required credits before even starting at the academy.”

Smith said “No matter how many years you have spent in your career or how much experience you have gained, there is always room for growth and improvement. Every experience and interaction offer an opportunity to learn something new. Adopting a mindset of continuous learning helps develop skills, adapt to challenges, and improve performance. Growth is a life-long journey.”

As the students of Class 75 pack up and report to their next duty station they carry their motto, “Be the Change” as a reminder that transformation begins with the choices they make and the leadership they provide.