Though he is set to become a Soldier for Life after passing responsibility of the post and the Army Training Center, Command Sgt. Maj. Lamont Christian vows he's "not actually leaving Fort Jackson."
"Victory Starts Here," said Brig. Gen. Milford "Beags" Beagle Jr., post commander, while pointing to Christian during the a change of responsibility ceremony July 20. Christian is a "professional beyond belief" whose character is "impeccable."
Command Sgt. Maj. Jerimiah E. Gan took over as Post Command Sergeant Major during the ceremony.
Christian recently reminisced about his time as post command sergeant major and fondly remembered the installation's teamwork in the face of adversity.
"What I am really proud of is when we were at our worst -- the storms and the flood -- we came together and worked together as a team" in a unified response, he said
The Fort Jackson team didn't just come together during troubles, but also when upgrades to the way Basic Combat Training was taught were being discussed.
"As we made these significant changes to how we conduct basic training, again we came together to work as a team," said the Brooklyn, New York native. "Of course, once we got into those areas we wanted to affect change in a way that was positive."
Christian could see the word team everywhere he looked on Fort Jackson, he added.
"It is a very good installation and the assignment is challenging," he said. "Here at Fort Jackson getting up in the morning means you are going to be fired up because in about 20 minutes you will be surrounded by individuals who want to be an American Soldier."
"You feel the motivation and desire."
Christian attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, and served as the senior enlisted leader for 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment and commandant of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy during his multiple tours on the Army's largest basic training post.
The father of four will stay in the Columbia area partly because of the weather, he said, "even though it can be 'famously hot.'"
"I will tell you that I would be OK with a place that is warmer most of the year," he said. "You can't go without talking about the positive influence of the community. It has a tendency, even when there is tension around, this community rallies around" the military. "I've said it before that when we talk about the local community … the community is Fort Jackson and Fort Jackson is the local community. You can't separate the two like you can" at other installations.
Beagle called Christian a "Soldier's Soldier and leader's leader" noting he will be affecting "the installation for years to come."
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