When Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Gilmer takes the reins of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy from Command Sgt. Maj. Lamont Christian this morning, the move will be the continuation of a career spanning 23 years.
Gilmer is set to become academy commandant during a change of command ceremony today at the NCO Club.
The USADSA, which until recently was called the Drill Sergeant School, is unique in that non-commissioned officers take command of the organization. Command normally is reserved for commissioned officers.
The former senior enlisted leader of 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment at Fort Drum, New York, Gilmer began his career at Fort Benning, Georgia, during Infantry One Station Unit Training. OSUT is unique because all trainees go through basic training and Advanced Individual Training as a unit before going to their first permanent-duty stations.
At Fort Benning again later in his career, he gathered Soldiers in training to inform them of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"Back then, we were training (in preparation) for war," he said. Now training prepares Soldiers to deploy during wartime.
Among other places Gilmer has served are Alaska; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and as a drill sergeant at Fort Benning. A combat veteran, Gilmer, served two tours in Afghanistan and three in Iraq.
The positions he held during his career have helped him learn that the "small things" - such as doing what is right and setting standards and discipline - are important factors in training.
Gilmer is Air Assault, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified, and has graduated from the Army's Ranger School, Equal-Opportunity Course, basic and advanced Military Mountaineering courses, Joint Professional Senior Military Education course and Master Resilience Trainer course. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Troy University.
Gilmer and Christian never served together, Christian said the new commandant was perfect for the position.
"Without a doubt, I know he is the right leader for the position at the right time," Christian said.
For Christian, leaving the academy will be difficult - though he said he always would be part of it.
"I know we have created irreversible momentum into the future," he said, "so I am not leaving the Drill Sergeant Academy in spirit, but I am separating from it physically."
Christian is set to become the next Fort Jackson command sergeant major.
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