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www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin 3High Desert Warrior
December 4, 2015

Leadership

Thirty-one Army years of commitment,

leadership, fulfillment

By Gustavo Bahena to the Army to become a Field Artillery Soldier ment to leadership roles has a lot to do with char- Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Esmurria
through the delayed entry program, he said. He acter, Esmurria stated as advise to junior Soldiers.
Public Affairs Office wanted to be part of something much larger than Operating Concept doctrine states the Army
him. He wanted to be a part of an organization “You have to live the Army Values and you must win in a complex world. However, first and
“It’s been an immeasurable experience being which had lineage and history. have to truly understand this profession that foremost, leaders have to believe in the concept,
in the Army this long, but it’s been a fulfilling you’re in, because it is a unique profession if you believe in the profession and live the Army Values.
time – the entire time.” “I wanted to be part of something, part of a have decided to stay in for the long haul.” By internalizing those principles, you create com-
team. Esmurria goes on to say, “I had discipline mitment and loyalty and devotion to the Army
Those are the words of Command Sgt. Maj. in my life but I wanted structure in my life as well, Esmurria adds that career Soldiers must be and its mission.
Carlos Esmurria, the senior enlisted advisor for and the Army was the vehicle for me to become life-long learners. The only way to grow is to
United States Army Garrison at Fort Irwin. By a better person. In essence, to become whole.” learn and seek out education. Expecting others That commitment and devotion must extend
Dec. 16, he will have been in that position for to provide answers is not the correct approach. to individual organizations within the Army to
two years and two months. After just a few years as a junior Soldier and ensure growth and success for the organization
while stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., Esmurria “You have to be responsible enough and ac-
That day, the garrison organization will bid recognized what great leadership looked like and countable enough to read, to educate yourself, See ESMURRIA, page 17
farewell and formally acknowledge Esmurria at decided that was what he wanted to emulate. He to see where the Army is going and to maneuver
a change of responsibility ceremony. In April of vividly remembers the persona and professional- yourself to make the right decisions to further
next year he will have served 32 years in defense ism of Staff Sgt. Cornelius Young, a Vietnam promote yourself in whatever goals you have to
of the nation and plans to retire then. Veteran and Esmurria’s first true mentor. Young someday become a senior leader in the Army,”
was the catalyst for Esmurria’s desire to be a leader Esmurria said.
Esmurria has been a Sergeant Major since of Soldiers and at the highest levels as well – as a
August 2005, serving in that capacity with sergeant major. Simply being in a leadership role does not au-
brigades – which has been the Army’s unit for tomatically ensure success, according to Esmurria.
combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan – Young never wasted time, always trained
and finally in a garrison command team. While Soldiers, studied field manuals, and engaged his “You have to be a very dynamic leader,”
he acknowledges there is no specific Army school Soldiers in a way that kept them intrigued and Esmurria stated, almost as a challenge to today’s
for garrison leadership assignments, after three wanting to learn more, said Esmurria. NCOs.
decades in non-commissioned officer roles, the
Patterson, N.J., native understands that engaged “He was my first, most influential person in Leaders must always push themselves, be in-
leadership and understanding organizational my career that made me who I am today and really novative, and agile – all the while being able to
structure and culture are the keys to leading ef- the motivator for me to say, ‘You know what, I’m motivate Soldiers, said Esmurria. Leaders must
fectively in garrison. going to make a career out of this, and that was continue their education and read doctrine.
fantastic’,” Esmurria said.
Esmurria understood early on he had a re- “If you’re not reading, you’re not develop-
spect for authority and the military. Even before A successful career in the Army and advance- ing – if you don’t understand, how can you lead
graduating high school, he made a commitment change?” Esmurria asked.

Esmurria reminds leaders the new Army

Army Infantry School command sergeant

major visits NTC

By Public Affairs Office opportunity to showcase the sig- United States Army Infantry School Command Sgt. Maj. Wilbert Engram (center, right) met with National
nificance and incentive of serving Training Center and Fort Irwin Command Sgt. Maj. Edison Rebuck (center, left) and other command sergeants
The senior enlisted advisor for here – and specifically for NCOs major of this post during a visit here in November.
the United States Army Infantry in the infantry branch.
School at Fort Benning, Ga., vis-
ited the National Training Center The NTC hosts distinguish visi-
and Fort Irwin for several days tors, many during the 14 training
during training rotation 16-02 days of each rotation, and Rebuck
in November. would like to host more command
sergeants major from various Army
Command Sgt. Maj. Wilbert career branches. They have an open
Engram met with National Train- invitation, he said.
ing Center and Fort Irwin Com-
mand Sgt. Maj. Edison Rebuck, It’s important to exhibit, not
and other command sergeants just the results of experienced
major of this post, and went to NCOs coaching and training
the training area while 4th Bri- the rotational training unit,
gade Combat Team, 4th Infantry but to also reveal the value of
Division was on its second week the development acquired while
of training. serving here – whether as an
observer, coach, trainer or with
Rebuck, as the senior enlisted other units here who impact
advisor to the NTC commander, the RTUs, 10 times per year,
explained the visit offered an Rebuck stated.

For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil