PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - The 31-year career of Command Sgt. Maj. Sheila Royal came to a close during a change of responsibility ceremony here on Sept. 5.
Lt. Col. Samuel Morgan, Picatinny Arse?nal garrison commander, officiated the ceremony which welcomed incoming garrison command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Anneka Ford.
Morgan himself is relatively new to the Picatinny garrison, having only taken command in June, and thus did not get to work very long with Royal, his senior enlisted advisor. Morgan's predecessor, Lt. Col Jeffrey Ivey, worked side-by-side Royal for two full years before he relinquished command to Morgan this summer.
"Today is significant because it also marks the end of a remarkable 31 year career for Command Sgt. Maj. Royal, where she modeled the Army values and represented the Noncommissioned Officer Corps as the backbone of our service," Morgan said.
Throughout her more than three decades of service, Royal experienced a variety of different occupation fields to include aviation, medical, infantry, artillery, recruiting, equal opportunity, special activities, Human Resources Command, G-1 positions, inspector general, and in this final chapter, installation management as a garrison Command Sergeant Major.
The commander then listed some of the significant accomplishments in which Royal achieved during her tenure at Picatinny:
•Coaching the enlisted population on its career progression and promotion
• Helping struggling families
• Assisting with leader development
• Supporting Soldier events, morale wel?fare and recreation, religious support, and equal opportunity programs.
• Advising and coordinating ceremonies, balls, town halls, and all-hands events
• Planning and attending community events to increase partner relationships
• Supporting garrison directorates
• Chairing the Soldier Fund
• Responding to ICE Comments, awards, flags, and surveys
• Assisting with cultural observances
• Ensuring that youth were cared for in exceptionally safe facilities; by being a second set of eyes in the Child Development Centers
"I wouldn't be honest if l didn't say this is so bittersweet after 31 years, for God to have my last assignment here at Picatinny with you all," Royal said as she addressed friends, family, and co-workers in attendance.
''You are not only the workforce, but you are my family. 1his has been a wonderful experience for me and I truly am blessed," Royal added.
Ford, the incoming garrison command sergeant major, thanked Royal for making a smooth transition and coaching her in the recent months leading up to the change of responsibility.
Ford comes to Picatinny from Fort Hood, Texas. She enlisted in the Army in 1995 as a financial management technician.
She has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.
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