FORT STEWART, Ga. - The thwop-thwop-thowp sound of Black Hawk helicopters signaled the arrival of Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, Aug. 25, to the new combined brigade and battalion headquarters building of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, for a tour of the brigade's contemporary facilities and to dine with junior enlisted Soldiers from throughout the division.
"The purpose of my visit and my wife's Jean's visit is to see Soldiers and Families and to see how Army programs are being instituted here and to talk about what's going on in the Department of the Army," Sgt. Maj. of the Army Chandler said. He added, "We wanted to hear what Soldiers and Families have to say and bring that back to Senior Level decision makers. We're excited to be here."
Command Sergeant Major Joe Altman, the senior noncommissioned officer for 4th IBCT, greeted Sgt. Maj. of the Army Chandler and Third Infantry Division Command Sgt. Maj. Edd Watson, after the birds touched down.
The tour of the 4th IBCT brigade combat team complex began with a stop at one of the brigade's 20 modern barracks buildings, which each house 1,438 bedrooms that are arranged in two-bedroom suites and include common kitchens, bathrooms and laundry areas.
Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler interacted with several Soldiers as he toured their barracks rooms to ensure that the Army's move to provide a better standard of living for Soldiers is being met.
Later, at the 4th IBCT dining facility, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Chandler addressed questions from Soldiers on subjects ranging from retirement benefits to leadership.
Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler began the question and answer session by thanking the Soldiers for their service. He said his reasons for joining the Army when he did were very different from the reasons Soldiers join today.
"You're my heroes," Sgt. Maj. of the Army Chandler said. "I cannot truthfully sit here and say that if I was in your shoes now I would choose to serve. There wasn't any 9/11 or any sense of patriotism that may have motivated you to come. It's an honor to be here with you today."
Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler added that any subject was on the table, and he invited the Soldiers to speak their minds while they dined.
After a Soldier asked what motivated Sgt. Maj. of the Army Chandler to join--and stay in the Army for more than 20 years--another Soldier asked the senior leader to discuss the government's proposal to change or reduce Soldiers' retirement benefits.
Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler said that he, the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army are committed to maintaining the current benefits for Soldiers that are serving today, but that the decision is in the hands of the nation's elected officials. And, because the country is in financial crisis, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Chandler said, Soldiers need to accept that sacrifices might have to be made.
"We are part of [the] country, and we have a responsibility for our nation," Sgt. Maj. of the Army Chandler said. "I think we all have to take a hard look at what we currently receive from the people we serve--the American people."
A question about future changes to the Army's combat and physical training uniforms, as well as a question about the efficacy of the Army's new physical training regimen, Physical Readiness Training, followed the discussion on retirement benefits.
One Soldier then asked a question about why some noncommissioned officers seem to take all the credit for the work that junior enlisted Soldiers perform. Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler allowed Command Sgt. Maj. Altman to field the question.
Command Sergeant Major Altman said that some leaders need to change their ways, but that junior enlisted Soldiers also need to understand that junior noncommissioned officers are in a constant state of learning.
"There [are] three things in life that are incredibly important that no one teaches you how to do," Command Sgt. Maj. Altman said. "No one teaches you how to be a good father or mother--you learn it from your parents and [from] those around you, and you learn it by trial and error."
Nobody teaches you how to be a good husband or wife--you learn it from people around you, your parents ... and you learn by trial and error," Altman continued. "And nobody really teaches you to be a good noncommissioned officer."
Command Sergeant Major Altman said that young noncommissioned officers also learn by trial and error through leading Soldiers.
The command sergeant major said that junior enlisted Soldiers won't always get the "pat on the back" they feel they deserve, but to never discount the fact that they matter to him and to the Army.
"Every one of you is more important than I am," Altman said. "I'm at 28 years [of service and] pretty soon the Army's going to tell me to go home. You all are the future."
Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler addressed a few more questions before presenting coins to the Soldiers for their service in the Army.
The senior leader encouraged the Soldiers to look him up on Facebook because he posts one question per week that he wants Soldier feedback on.
"If you're satisfied with the pace of change, something similar to how quickly we made the change on the beret, it's in part because people communicated back to me so I could deliver that to senior leaders," Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler said. "I'm looking for you to tell me what's on your mind."
Social Sharing