ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. –
Command Sergeants Major from across the country participated in the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command’s 2022 Command Sergeants Major Training Summit, September 9-11, 2022.
The summit provided an opportunity for senior enlisted leaders to ask questions and receive answers directly from representatives of key staff sections, including G-1 personnel and the Staff Judge Advocate Office.
“It’s a great vehicle to spread information down to all of the 85th units,” said Maj. Christian Nafziger, Deputy Command Judge Advocate, 85th USARSC. “The most important thing I passed on at the summit is it’s important to involve your legal assets at the beginning of any issue because the legal professionals are trained to spot and identify potential problems. They will help you avoid headaches down the road by making sure you make correct decisions.”
Another highlight was the opportunity to speak with key leaders, such as Sgt. Maj. Scott Holzerland, from the Senior Leader Development Office.
“We’re getting information straight from the Senior Leader Development Office. They control our destiny,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Broussard, 3 - 349th Training Support Battalion, 177th Armored Brigade, Camp Shelby, Mississippi. “They pick and determine which battalion we will go to. To be able to directly interact with the source is unprecedented.”
The training summit also encompassed a presentation from the SLDO to build value for the CSMs.
“I cannot imagine holding a CSM summit without the SLDO being here. They are the talent manager of our sergeant major force,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Slee, 85th USARC.
The summit also provided an opportunity for new command sergeants major to interact with fellow colleagues.
“It’s good to see everybody here and know who my colleagues are. This has been great.” said Command Sgt. Maj. James Hoskins, Battalion Command Sergeant Major, 2-337th Training Support Battalion, Southfield, Michigan. “The SLDO has been great.”
Break times during the summit allowed the senior leaders to visit and connect with each other.
“You get the Esprit de Corps. You get the networking, and everything is directed to the command sergeant majors and the E-9’s,” said Sgt. Maj. Dennis Koski, G-3 Operations, 85th USARC. “They are the ones who will produce the change if anything needs to be changed, along with the team building because you have (First Army’s) Division East and Division West all together.”
Adaptability was a common theme across the three-day summit.
“There was one word that stuck out. Evolution. As systems change, processes change, and people change. Change is going to happen. We have to learn how to adapt to it,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Terrance Green, Command Sergeant Major, 1-309th Training Support Battalion, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. “You have to keep a positive mindset. What new innovations will help me develop as a leader.”