AMCOM welcomes new senior enlisted Soldier

By Ms. Ann Jensisdale (AMCOM)November 20, 2014

Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Vela
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

"It is awesome to be here." Those are the words you first hear when you ask AMCOM's new Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Vela how he feels about his new assignment at the Aviation and Missile Command. Vela assumed responsibility Oct. 24 from retiring Command Sgt. Maj. Tod Glidewell during a ceremony in front of a large audience that included several retired and active duty officers, local dignitaries and employees in Bob Jones Auditorium.

Vela is no stranger to hitting the ground running and running hard. His previous assignment includes multiple deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last 10 years. One memorable assignment was as a door gunner and crew member in Afghanistan and Iraq. "As a brigade command sergeant major, I was assigned as a crew member and door gunner on a Black Hawk, back with the Soldiers in the field and working side by side with them 24/7. This keeps you grounded and in touch with the Soldier. A constant reminder why we serve every single day," Vela said.

His previous assignment was with 1st Army, Fort Hood, Texas, responsible for all Army Reserve and National Guard aviation assets which encompass 48 percent of total Army aviation assets. "I deployed a lot from Fort Hood, Texas, and am sorry to leave my last assignment with the 1st Army," Vela said.

When asked about his first weeks with AMCOM, Vela is impressed with the mission and AMCOM employees. "I have learned so much in the last two weeks. I never realized how large the AMCOM mission is and everything AMCOM is responsible for," he said. Vela is also impressed with the AMCOM workforce. "A-game professionals! Every person I meet and talk to loves their job and takes a huge amount of pride in the mission and their service," he said. He is looking forward to continuing to work with civilians and helping them to develop into tomorrow's leaders.

Final question for this Texas native: Alabama or Auburn? "Go Army," Vela replied with a smile.