SEATTLE ARMY RECRUITING BATTALION, Wash. -- The Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion recognized its new senior enlisted advisor, Command Sgt. Maj. Tony Conyers, during a ceremony at the Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District headquarters, December 17. He took responsibility of the battalion from Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Castellano who had spent the past 20 months taking care of the soldiers throughout the command.
Conyers came to the battalion from Fort Knox, Ky., where he was the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Recruiting and Retention School's recruiting department director.
"I felt proud and humbled to be selected as the Seattle Recruiting Battalion CSM," said Conyers about taking over as the new battalion command sergeant major. "This is one of the few times that a senior NCO can make a supporting difference at the organizational level with civilians, soldiers and families as well as accomplishing the Army mission," he said. "All noncommissioned officers dream of one day fulfilling that pinnacle place in the NCO chain of support as a command sergeant major."
During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Vylius Leskys, Seattle Battalion commander, passed an enlisted saber from the outgoing and incoming command sergeants major to signify the change of responsibility from one to the other, an Army tradition.
"When you look at the battalion's accomplishments over the last 20 months under the watchful eye of Command Sergeant Major Castellano, it's apparent that he has contributed greatly to the success of the Seattle Recruiting Battalion and the 6th Brigade mission," said Leskys. "He has fostered a command climate of dignity and respect, inspiring confidence and loyalty, and he will be missed," he said. "Our battalion, however, will be gaining a truly great leader in Command Sergeant Major Tony Conyers."
The battalion exceeded its recruiting mission on both the Regular Army and Army Reserve sides during fiscal year 2016's first quarter for the first time in six years under Castellano's tenure.
"I know that any success I have experienced is a direct result of the hours of hard work that you dedicate to this mission day in and day out," said Castellano about the soldiers of the battalion. "I am humbled to have been able to help guide," he said. "Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another," he said in closing, quoting John C. Maxwell, an American author.
Castellano's next assignment is to the 5th Medical Recruiting Battalion, located in San Antonio, Texas.
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