Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell is the 3rd senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or SEAC.
Nicknames: John Wayne, The Duke, Trox, The Bull
Hometown: Davenport, Iowa
Favorite thing about hometown: "Small-town atmosphere"
Least favorite thing about hometown: "Small-town atmosphere"
Childhood hobbies: wrestling, football, tabletop sports games
"When I was 10, I wanted to be a pro football player when I grew up."
Current hobbies: Physical Training, watching football and mix martial arts, spending time with my wife
Q: What motivated you to join the Army?
A: "I understood that I wasn't talented enough academically or athletically to earn a college scholarship, but I still wanted to do something with my life. It was when I saw my friends return home from their military training, two from Ranger school and one from Marine Corps Boot Camp, that I made the decision to join the military. I saw that they were physically fit, disciplined, motivated, and carried themselves with pride, and said to myself, 'I want to be on that team.'"
Favorite line from favorite movie: "Any lines from Gunnery Sgt. Hartman from Full Metal Jacket."
Favorite Song: "If you caught me singing in the car, I'd probably be singing Blink-182 "All the small things."
Personal strength: "I think my personal strength is the ability to motivate people through humor, charisma, and by example. I would never ask anyone to do something that I wouldn't do myself. I feel this tangible, genuine approach is something people recognize immediately and respond to positively."
Challenges faced in military: "From a leader's perspective, the most challenging thing I faced during my career was the inherent danger of leading a unit in combat, dealing with the loss of Soldiers as a result of that combat, and finally helping families as they cope with the loss of their loved one."
Q: What do you consider your most significant achievements in the Army?
A: "Two achievements come to mind. First, graduating Ranger school. The second came from when I served as a Striker Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. For 15-months during the Surge in Iraq. Because of 4-2 SBCT's actions during that deployment, I witnessed our area of operation turn from being one of the most dangerous areas in Iraq to one of the safest, with brighter future for the Iraqi people there."
Q: What are the keys to leadership?
A: "Leaders need to find a way to combine the six enlisted desired leader attributes with a positive attitude under the worst conditions. This will allow men and women in your charge to believe that they can win despite the odds."
Q: What do you consider the most important Army value?
A: "Selfless Service. Being successful isn't because of one individual, it's because of a cohesive team bound by a common goal. Selfless Service says, "I don't do it for me. I do it for the team because I want to give back what's been given to me."
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