Posted: Monday, December 03, 2012 2:52:44 PM

USASMA’s first enlisted HC
commander hands over reins

By Michael L. Lewis

NCO Journal

Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Battle, the new commander of Headquarters Company, United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, addresses the staff and faculty during a change of command ceremony Oct. 12 at USASMA’s Kenneth Cooper Lecture Center. Photo by Pfc. David M. Gafford/NCO Journal

FORT BLISS, Texas - In a rare change of command ceremony between two noncommissioned officers, Command Sgt. Maj. William Dove, the first enlisted commander of Headquarters Company at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, transferred command to Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Battle at a ceremony Oct. 12 in USASMA’s Kenneth W. Cooper Lecture Center.

“It’s pretty unique to see the transfer of authority between two noncommissioned officers,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Chandler, USASMA’s commandant, himself the first NCO to hold the post. “But, in this academy, there are [enlisted] team leaders who, in reality, are in command.”

Praising his work in a position that initially came as a surprise, Chandler was grateful for Dove’s hard work supporting the academy’s transition to an all-NCO leadership team. Until last year, the Army’s senior-most school for enlisted Soldiers was led by a colonel and other officers. Today, USASMA is led by a command sergeant major and is a direct reporting unit to U.S. Training and Doctrine Command.

“You did not come here to be a company commander; you came here to be an instructor in the Sergeants Major Course,” Chandler said to Dove during the ceremony. “I asked you to do something that, frankly, we didn’t give you any preparation to do. But, you did an outstanding job. To the best of your ability, you managed many changes within our organization, and I thank you for that.”

A native of Greenville, N.C., Battle comes to USASMA from Fort Riley, Kan., where he served as the command sergeant major of the 2nd “Dagger” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. During his Army career, he has served in numerous leadership positions - from tank commander to task force master gunner to garrison command sergeant major at Hohenfels, Germany. He holds a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Thomas Edison State College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in human relations from the University of Oklahoma.

That Battle, his predecessor and the commandant have armor experience was a coincidence Chandler was proud to point out. “Both of these warriors are from an armor background, which has absolutely nothing to do with my own armor background,” he said to laughter. “However, there is something to be said about an armor Soldier - their panache, their style, their willingness to accomplish the mission.”

With characteristic self-effacing humor, Dove later responded, “I’m not quite sure what ‘panache’ means, but I’ll take it as a compliment,” before thanking the academy’s leadership and acclaiming his successor.

“You guys are going to love Don,” Dove said. “I’ve known him for about five or six years, and he has a wealth of experience. He’s a little bit smarter than I am, and I think you guys are ready for a break - to get somebody with an IQ above that of a houseplant,” Dove added to more laughter and applause.

In accepting command, Battle was gracious, thanking his staff in advance.

“As any commander would say, the opportunity to command is a privilege, and I will cherish this privilege every day. To the Soldiers and civilians of Headquarters Company, I look forward to being your commander. I will be the first to tell you that you have my utmost support,” he said before turning to address Dove.

“Sgt. Maj. Dove, you have been a true professional. I want to thank you personally for a smooth transition, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in the coming months.”

The U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy’s mission is to develop agile and adaptive noncommissioned officers and enlisted Soldiers through professional military educational opportunities that meet the challenges of full-spectrum operations in an era of persistent conflict. Located at Fort Bliss, Texas, the Academy provides courses that have an Armywide focus; every NCO in the Army is educated by USASMA or its products. It is home to the Sergeants Major Course, the Battle Staff NCO Course, Advanced Leader Course Common Core instruction and Structured Self-Development. With SSD, the academy will touch every enlisted Soldier in the Army. The academy is also sought out by other armies throughout the world as the leader in enlisted education - an institution that is moving from a military organization that trains, to an academic institute that educates Soldiers.