At the age of 17, a young Dave Bruner set out from Evansville, Ind., to make a difference in the U.S. Army. After 36 years of service, he retired Sept. 21 after his final assignment as the command sergeant major for the U.S. Army's Training and Doctrine Command.
Throughout his distinguished career, Command Sgt. Maj. David M. Bruner held numerous leadership positions, spanning various locations across the globe, including the 101st Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division and 2nd Infantry Division. His long list of awards and distinctions include two Legions of Merit, three Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, Ranger and Special Forces Tabs, and Foreign Parachutist's Badges from nine countries.
Perhaps one of his most notable achievements was how he reconstructed the noncommissioned officer education system. He created the Institute for Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development and implemented an all-enlisted staff at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, to include the first command sergeant major to serve as a commandant -- all during the Army's Year of the Noncommissioned Officer.
"Command Sgt. Maj. Bruner's legacy to our Army and to America is remarkable," said Gen. Robert W. Cone, commanding general of TRADOC. "Without question, he leaves behind the strongest, most capable noncommissioned officer corps we have ever met - the backbone of the Army."
Before his departure, Bruner sat down and shared some memories about his past and thoughts on the future of TRADOC and the Army.
"It was really an honor to serve this command for three-and-a-half years.
"You know, I avoided TRADOC my whole career because that was 'the teaching side of the house,' and I just wanted to move forward with the spear.
"But when I got here, I realized -- real quick -- that this is about rolling up your sleeve every day and giving blood. To share that experience with the young troopers that are moving forward and taking the fight to the enemy --that's pretty special. I'm real proud of our noncommissioned officers and officers that are out there, working and teaching and giving something back every single day.
And actually, victory does start here -- it really does."
Q: What made you decide to enlist?
A: My father. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. All throughout my family's history, we've had people who've served in defense of this country. So just patriotism -- I joined right after Vietnam, and I thought I could make a difference -- at the young age of 17.
Q: What made you continue to re-enlist?
A: It's all about giving something back, and I've just enjoyed it … and it went by just like that. Each and every day, you talk to those Soldiers and their families who are under your leadership 24/7, which is just important. Being a part of something bigger than yourself is why I continued to re-enlist.
Q: At what point did you decide to make the Army a career?
A: I never thought of this as being a career. And when I found out this was my career, I had 17 years in the Army, and I was down at the sergeant major academy -- as a promotable master sergeant. It was career day, and I looked at my friend and I said, "My goodness -- I think this is my career."
Q: How do you think the Army has changed?
A: The way we actually lead change is what has changed. It is how we have changed and adapted to meet emerging needs on the battlefield. The way we can interject information into our training and education systems right now -- and we don't have to wait -- I think that's truly a big difference.
Another is the trust our officers have placed in the NCO corps today. When I first came in, it really wasn't there; we just kind of stood back and waited. Today, the officers expect us to move forward and fill key positions -- without fail. The trust and authority the officers have given us has been truly incredible.
Q: How do you think the Army has stayed the same?
Values. I think our values are steadfast, and I think the belief of selfless service has never been greater. When I joined, it was engrained in me from the time I got off the bus and met my first drill sergeant down in Fort Polk, La., until today.
Q: What will you miss the most about TRADOC?
A: What I'll miss the most in TRADOC is that every week, I had the opportunity to talk to 1,000 to 3,000 different Soldiers with different levels of training -- our great instructors, AIT platoon sergeants and drill sergeants and talk to them about the changes that were going to happen in the Army and inside TRADOC.
And then to listen to their stories was just incredible. Stories about their journeys and how many times they deployed -- that's what I'll miss -- the people and the organization. I'm humbled every time I talk to them.
Q: What will you miss most about the Army?
A: I think it's the uniform and what it stands for. Every day, you get up and put the uniform on, and that means something.
Q: Best memory?
A: Yes -- I have three. The first was when I graduated from (one station unit training) as a young infantryman, and I knew that I was part of the team. It was tremendous. The second was when I graduated from Ranger school, which was very special. But then, when I graduated from Special Forces Qualification Course, donning the green beret … those are the three memories that I'll never forget.
Of course, I could say my first jump, but I had my eyes closed. And I was on jump status for 24 years.
Q: If you could do it over again, would you do anything differently?
A: Absolutely not. I talked to my wife the other night, and we wouldn't have changed a thing.
Q: During challenging times, what kept you going?
A: The guy and gal on my left and right. Because you could look at them, and whatever we were doing -- no matter how good or bad things were or how challenging, you could see it -- we all believed in what we were doing, and at the end of the day, we're a family, and that's what got me through.
And my family - my wife, who raised three daughters. I have two daughters who serve, and I have one who's a chemical engineer, but I never got to see them graduate high school or basic combat training; I was always deployed. So if you ask that, that's the thing that kept me going because I knew on the home front, my wife -- my [executive officer] -- would get it done.
Q: Do you have any advice for young Soldiers?
A: Yes -- don't worry about your career. You worry about the Soldier and their family and know your job. Never let the standard drop; live by the standards. If you do that every day, you'll be fine. If you worry about the next position or checking the box, you'll have problems.
At the end of the day, if you do meet a challenge, and it is bad, tell the truth. Never run away from it because it's not going to get any better. Don't hide anything. And you know what -- most of the time it'll work itself out.
Q: In addition to NCO professional development, what are you most proud of?
A: One thing that I've really stressed and pushed is civilian education for our enlisted. I had the opportunity not too long ago to go down to Atlanta and talk with just about every university and college in the United States. It was pretty encouraging to hear those universities say "We want to be part of the team -- how can we help you?"
My goal here is lifelong learning; I've always believed that he who has the smartest Army will be the winner -- bar none.
The command sergeant major said after he takes his wife on a well-deserved vacation, she has a long honey-do list of things for him accomplish, and after that, they plan to take things one day at a time.
When asked if he had any final words, favorite sayings or phrases, there was only one:
"Hooah."
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