FORT McPHERSON, Ga. (July 12, 2010) - "The steel mill closed...I was tending bar, working for a plumber, and I saw a John Wayne movie...," said Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis M. Carey, U.S. Army Forces Command, when asked why a young man from Phoenixville, Pa. joined the Army in 1977.
When Carey passes responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald T. Riling July 12, 2010, he will have spent more than four years as the senior enlisted Soldier of FORSCOM and more than 33 years in uniform.
With dozens of commendations during the last three decades, Carey served in every leadership position from team leader to command sergeant major.
"Over the years, this Soldier has done the tough jobs...(he's) made a living training, mentoring and leading soldiers," said Gen. James D. Thurman, FORSCOM commander.
Carey's career has been all about taking care of Soldiers. "The most effect I ever had (directly) on Soldiers was as a squad leader," said Carey.
During his tenure as the FORSCOM Command Sergeant Major, Carey said he tried to visit as many FORSCOM Soldiers as possible. He has taken every opportunity to visit Soldiers at training and mobilization sites such as Camp Shelby in Mississippi, Fort Dix in New Jersey and Fort Hunter Liggett in California.
Carey's message to the Noncommissioned Officers of the Army's largest command is simple; "take care of your Soldiers, (and remember) that it's harder not deployed than it is deployed sometimes." Carey also said, "we have the most tactically proficient (NCO Corps) we've probably had since World War II."
To the enlisted Soldiers, he said he wants to reminds them to "look out for each other; don't forget those bonds you developed while you were deployed...it may be a rough time for the Army in the next couple years...so be prepared, train hard, and take care of each other."
His last official trip as the FORSCOM Command Sergeant Major was to Walter Reed Army Medical Center Friday where he visited wounded warriors who he first encountered during a recent trip to Afghanistan. Cary had visited the wounded Soldiers as they first arrived at the hospital in theater, then again in Germany, and his visit at Walter Reed was to check on their progress.
Carey said he plans to retire with his wife Kim to the Fort Bragg, N.C. area, where he plans to continue working with Soldiers.
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