RIA Soldiers recognized for earning college degrees

By Kevin Fleming, ASC Public AffairsSeptember 15, 2016

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1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Bryant, command sergeant major, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, shakes hands with Col. Kenneth J. Tauke, commander, RIA garrison, during the Rock Island Arsenal's Fiscal Year 2016 Commencement Recognition Ceremony at the RIA ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Bryant, command sergeant major, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, encouraged his 12 fellow college graduates to do something meaningful with their degrees during his commencement speech at Rock Island Arsenal's Fiscal Year 2016 Commencement Recognition Ceremony at the RIA Golf Clubhouse, Sept. 14.

Since many Soldiers complete their education online, they do not always have the opportunity to attend a graduation ceremony. That is why the RIA Education Center holds a local ceremony every year.

According to the event flier, RIA Education Center held the annual ceremony in order, "to provide an occasion for RIA service members to express pride in their academic accomplishments and for the Department of the Army to acknowledge the same."

College degrees are not easy to obtain for most Soldiers while on active duty in the Army, but, for many, working towards a degree is necessary for advancement, according to Bryant. Soldiers on active duty cannot usually take extended amounts of time off for their civilian education. Officers already have a degree before they are commissioned, but many decide to continue their civilian education while serving.

Soldiers have to move frequently as a part of the Army's rotational practice, which also makes attending school in person difficult.

"Enlisted Soldiers aren't afforded the opportunity to take a year off to pursue a degree, so they really have to be disciplined to achieve a degree," said Bryant.

Originally from Princeton, North Carolina, Bryant said he joined the Army to serve his country and for the opportunity to use the G.I. Bill for a college education.

"My plan was to serve three years; now I have been in the Army 30 years," he said.

Bryant, whose parents were not college educated, recently completed his master's degree in business administration in strategic leadership. He said he earned his master's degree to better himself and encourage his kids.

Like many of his peers, Bryant said he chose to earn his degree from an online program that provided him the flexibility he needed.

"I pursued my degree while doing some demanding jobs like serving as a platoon sergeant, a first sergeant and now a command sergeant [major]," he said. "I didn't have the option of getting off work at 1600 [4 p.m.] to go to class, so online was the best solution."

Bryant said he did his schoolwork mostly over the weekends.

"The challenge is still time management and discipline," he said. "It is easy to fall behind in a course if you aren't following the syllabus."

Bryant said his wife, Angelika, was very supportive of him while he was in school. Angelika, who lives in North Carolina and who was unable to attend the ceremony, said that she does not think her husband needed much help.

"I am extremely proud of him," she said via email. "It takes a lot of time and dedication to go to school. He sacrificed many weekends in order to pursue his MBA, and I hope he is an inspiration to other Soldiers."

Bryant said he was inspired to go back to school when a fellow sergeant major told him about earning his doctoral degree.

"I thought to myself, 'Why not me?'" he said.

Bryant said he is relieved to be done with his masters, which he said took him four years to complete. He said he hopes he set a good example for his kids.

"I have no plans of pursuing a doctoral degree," he said. "But, I only hope I placed the bar high enough so my kids will either get a master's degree or a PhD."

Chaplain [Lt. Col.] Jeffrey Botsford, ASC, provided an invocation, and Hope Burgess sang the national anthem.

Col. Kenneth J. Tauke, commander, RIA garrison, provided opening and closing remarks.

The RIA USO of Illinois sponsored a small reception following the event.

The 13 Soldiers who were recognized at the ceremony for completing a post-secondary degree are listed below and organized by their command:

U.S. Army Sustainment Command:

Major Keyante Bradshaw, University of Phoenix, Masters of Business Administration

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chester Morris, Excelsior College, Master of Science in Management

Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Bryant, Trident University, Masters of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership

Master Sgt. James Sennet, Excelsior College, Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business and Management

Staff Sgt. Andrew Jensen, Upper Iowa University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

First U.S. Army:

Sgt. First Class Nadia Johnson, Ashford University, Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science

Sgt. First Class Travino Porter, Excelsior College, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Staff Sgt. Nazly Confesor, University of South California, Master of Science in Communication Management

Joint Munitions Command:

Command Sgt. Maj. Walton Jones, Christian Institute & Seminary, Masters in Divinity

U.S. Army Contracting Command-Rock Island:

Capt. Joshua Weisman, Webster University, Master of Arts in Human Resources Management

Staff Sgt. Michael McCollum, Excelsior College, Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business Management

1st Brigade, Great Lakes Division, 75th Training Command:

Sgt. First Class Catherine Monpas, American Military University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Related Links:

Army Sustainment Command homepage

Army Sustainment Command Facebook page

Army Sustainment Command Flickr page

Rock Island Arsenal Homepage

Army Sustainment Command YouTube page