After 30-years of honorable service, the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin McKeller, is hanging up his boots and getting ready to move onto life 2.0. While he is a transparent leader who speaks his mind, he is still a private man with a remarkable story that extends beyond the pages of an official biography.
When you step into McKeller's office, you immediately get a sense of what he is passionate about. Every available inch of space screams either "HOOAH," his signature "Airborne" chant, or "Go Redskins." You are surrounded by plaques, coins, shadow boxes, lithographs, portraits, signed jerseys, and the ever constant presence of the American Flag, U.S. Army Flag, and SDDC flag. Together, each of these items paint a picture of a man who is beloved, trusted, and respected by all who have crossed his path.
McKeller is a gregarious man with a loud voice, a welcome smile, and a tenacious love for the Army and its people. This interview is one he has wanted to do for months, and he is prepared, although he showed up with only a single piece of paper without any notes on the page. Normally this would indicate a lack of preparation, but McKeller's blank page signified that his interview was not going to be scripted; he intended to talk from the heart.
His posture is relaxed and a warm smile stretches ear-to-ear as he awaits the first question -- it also appears as though he is mentally preparing for just how difficult answering some of the questions may be. (Authors note: some of the questions he answered were emotional for him to answer. During times of pause, difficulty or to relay the current sense of the room and his demeanor, the words will be denoted with parentheses.)
1. Why did you join the Army? Well, I tell you…when we were very young, my great-grandmother lost her son in the Korean War. She never did get the answers she was looking for when she was alive, so she always told us, "hey, ya'll guys don't ever join the military, don't EVER join the military." Well, me being me -- a little kid whose curiosity was now struck -- I disobeyed her…(he paused and grinned) okay, I didn't disobey her, but I joined the Army because I wanted to see what it was about. Knowing her son was lost in the Korean War, in the Army, I took it upon myself to join the Army. The good news is my uncle's remains were found, and believe it or not in August I will bring his remains back to be buried in Arlington Cemetery.
So would you say your service is almost a tribute to your uncle? It's not just a tribute to my uncle, but my entire family. I was proud to be able to show my great-grandmother that the Army is a great place to be. His case was just unfortunate.
2. What did you want to be when you were a kid? I wanted to be a surgeon. I thought it was very interesting, the body was very interesting, trying to understand how the muscles and the body worked made me want to be a surgeon. But of course it did lead me in that direction, so I decided to be a Solider.
What do you think changed that? Was it that you weren't afforded the opportunity? No. Opportunities were there. My parents were very supportive in whatever I wanted to do -- whether it was go to college immediately after high school, or join the military, or just go to work. It's just that the military was something I was focused on going into.
3. At the time you joined, did you consider the Army to be a job or a career? At first I thought it would be a job, just something for me to get in and get some experience, and to pay some respects back to my uncle for his ultimate sacrifice. But then after about two years I felt it was going to be a career. I had some great mentors along the line who encouraged me, who mentored me, and who told me that I could go forward in the Army if I stuck with it. They saw something I really didn't see, but they told me to "stick with it, you'll do very well at it."
Obviously you are a very patriotic person. Was the patriotism always there, or did it grow over your career? I felt it growing over my career -- I was always patriotic, but I could feel it to the point that every time I hear the National Anthem it brings chills to me. I am very patriotic, and it grew over time. That being said, as far as my career goes, well, I feel that when you come in the military you come in as an apprentice, in all aspects. Then you go on to be a professional, in all aspects. And it is around the 10 to 12-year mark that you realize this really is going to be your career.
So what would you say to a young Soldier with two to three years in, who feels they may have made a mistake? Be patient. And trust me, the military isn't for everyone, but what I tell people is that if they don't want to make a career of this, do your time…honorably, and then separate. But have a plan. And grab onto some mentors, because everyone who has achieved success has their ups and downs, and a mentor helps you along the way to be successful. That being said, it is okay to (separate) from the Army…it is okay. I do not encourage everyone to stay in the Army, because the Army model is not built for everyone.
4. Looking back, what was the feeling you had when you arrived at your first duty station? My first duty station was in Panama, and it was kind of a scary feeling. You're away from home, away from your family support, and afraid and alone. At the time, in Panama, there were rising tensions with Noriega, so that was also challenging, sitting there and knowing that combat operations could happen at any moment. But, I had some great leaders who took me under their wings, showed me what right looks like, and carried me through. We built our own family. We were full of camaraderie -- in fact I still stay in touch with a lot of the guys today that helped me through back then.
5. What was the greatest challenge facing you and other Soldiers when you first enlisted? The unknown. I didn't know what to expect. I had some very tough drill sergeants -- many of whom were trained by Vietnam Vets -- and it was tough love. But it wasn't fear. It was just that I had to work hard, because they expected you to work hard each and every day. There was no coddling there. They told you "it is what it is, and this is what you need to do to be successful, so go do things right." It was tough.
6. What was the worst thing to happen to you during your military career; how did it shape you; and how did you find the motivation to keep moving forward?
(When asked this question, McKeller sat for a moment and stared at the table in front of him. He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then answered the question.) When you lose Soldiers in combat. You play it back in your mind constantly. You find yourself asking impossible to answer questions. "What decisions did I make? Could I have made different decisions? Was this my fault? How could I have kept them alive?" (He paused again, staring at the table.) At the end of the day you hurt when you lose someone. It hurts everyone. But looking back I know the right decisions were made…it's just combat, and the enemy has a vote. (At this point, McKeller's normally relaxed posture has become more rigid as he continues to stare at the table.)
How many Soldiers have you lost? Over my career…I've lost five Soldiers -- and not all of them in combat. I have lost some to suicide as well -- and that hurts just as much. (Focusing now on his reference to suicide and mental health awareness, he continued…) You say to yourself, "what didn't I do?" I put a lot on me and what I didn't do to try and see the warning signs. Everyone has some signs. Those losses shaped me. Now I listen -- to everyone. Sometimes when someone brings you their issues they don't necessarily want you to fix them, they just want you to listen to them. So that's what I do. I need to break down the stigma. Yes, I have PTSD. Yes, I get help for my PTSD. And yes, there is a stigma about both of those things, but I am not ashamed. I want every Soldier, citizen, contractor, and family member…EVERYONE to know that it isn't your fault, and you need to help yourself by helping yourself to the needed treatments. I refuse to let anyone say that I didn't do everything in my power to show the importance of mental health counseling.
7. Do you have a motto or philosophy that you live your life by? (His signature grin returned.) That Golden Rule. Treat others as you want to be treated. If you treat people the way you want to be treated, I tell you what, nine times out of ten, they'll treat you with dignity and respect. Dignity and respect goes a long way. I am also a firm believer in addressing people every morning with a big, bold "Good Morning!" That means a lot to me. You don't know what people are going through, and if my greeting was enough to brighten up their day, then I feel like I have done my job as sergeant major, and as a human being.
8. What do you wish people understood more about you? I'm pretty transparent, I think. But… (He pauses, and the look in his eyes reveal that he is about to share some big news…) I don't like elevators. There I said it. I tell people that it's for the fitness piece, but to be fully honest, it's also that I am really terrified of elevators. (Busted.)
9. When you are gone from this Earth, what do you hope people will say your legacy was? I hope that my legacy will be that I was a caring person. I treated people with dignity and respect each and every day. I loved people. I loved my family. And that I was a great Soldier.
10. What's the plan for life part 2? I'm going to take just a little bit of time off to reflect on the last 30 years. But I won't take too much time; maybe 30 days for my 30 years. Then I'll get back into the workforce. But until then, I am going to spend time with my son (Kevin Jr.) -- who sacrificed so much time with dad due to my deployments.
Life part 2 is just around the corner for McKeller. His military requirements will come to an end June 29 when he officially transfers his duties to his replacement during a change of responsibility ceremony. His retirement ceremony takes place the following day and will be his last in uniform.
When members of McKeller's command were asked how they feel about their Command Sergeant Major, the answer was abundantly clear. He is very highly respected, he is extremely well-liked, and he will most definitely be missed.
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