Garrison CSM reflects on 25 year career

By Margaret Steele, Belvoir Eagle EditorOctober 5, 2017

CSM Billie Jo Boersma
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Outstanding leader. Consummate professional. Transparent. Genuine.

When a handful of Belvoir Garrison civilians were asked about Command Sgt. Maj. Billie Jo Boersma, that's how they described her.

Boersma reflected on her more than 25 years in the Army, 14 months of those as garrison command sergeant major, ahead of her recent retirement and change of responsibility.

"I'd like people to know that I cared every day and I came to work to serve," Boersma said. "My time here has been about family-building," she said. "Instead of individual accomplishments, I have always believed in team effort. Everybody is as important as everybody else, to me."

Spc. Nakia Ewing has worked for Boersma for the last few months. "She's all about the Soldiers and takes the time to stop and listen, any time you have a question," Ewing said. "Command Sgt. Maj. Boersma has been awesome and very honest."

If she'd had more time at Fort Belvoir, Boersma said she'd like to further improve the BOSS program; single-Soldier living conditions and relationships with mission partners and organizations.

"I'm very proud to have served our nation," she said, adding she chose to retire. "We made a choice based on the assignment the Army wanted me to take and we decided retirement was a better option. It's just what's best for us now, as a family."

In her 25 years and 8 months in the Army, she said she also takes pride in the fact that "Soldiers and others continue to serve and grow in their careers because of something I did or said."

She's also proud of serving in combat; becoming the Army's drill sergeant of the year and being the first female command sergeant major for an infantry brigade combat team in combat.

Boersma said she has no idea why she joined the Army.

"I was riding my bike and saw a recruiter and it just happened," she said. "At the time, I didn't know what I was going to do in life. The Army just found me. And, I fell in love with the Army in the first two weeks I was in it," she said.

Boersma plans to resume working, soon, as a civilian.

"I'm fortunate I'm married to a Soldier and I get to be part of this military life, through him, as he continues to serve. She said she considers herself blessed and fortunate, in that she plans to stay in the area and work as a program manager for a local company.

"I expect to lead people and manage facilities, a lot like what I do now as CSM," she said.

Boersma said she's truly thankful for every opportunity she was given over the past 25 years and takes none of it for granted.

"At any point in time, that could've come to a screeching halt. If I didn't have the people I've had in my life along the way, to save me from myself, I could've, at any point, gone from what I am today, successful, I think, to a total disaster."

"My entire journey has been about the people who believed in me, the people who gave me opportunities and the Soldiers who believed in what I was saying and doing in leading them, that they would follow me," Boersma said.

"If there's any true sign that you know you did well, it's when you see Soldiers and younger people continuing to be successful and strive, based on something you told them or showed them over a decade ago. That's the true glory of this whole profession."