Photo By Spc. Kahlil Dash | Serving the fourth overseas deployment of his military career, Sgt. Maj. Shareef Ali...... read more read more
U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Maj. Shareef Ali’s current overseas deployment is on track to produce two major career milestones. In May, the Buffalo, N.Y., native was promoted to his current rank, the highest enlisted rank in the Army. Next month, Ali will reach his 35-year mark of military service.
The son of Mechele Boling of Buffalo, Ali is currently a member of the Florida-based 641st Regional Support Group. The 641st deployed to Iraq earlier this year in support of Combined Joint Task Force—Operation Inherent Resolve, the global coalition of nations that joined together with local forces to ensure the defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. At Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq, Ali serves as the unit’s senior noncommissioned officer responsible for logistics operations.
A graduate of Erie Community College and Youngstown State University, Ali has seen enormous change in the Army throughout his career, from the birth of a more diversified Army to a more diversified wardrobe. “I’ve had five different types of uniforms come out during my career,” he said.
As a civilian, Ali has worked for the past 19 years for the social security administration, but he takes greater pride is in his volunteer work with Mentoring the 100 Way® Across A Lifetime. Mentorship continues to play a key role in his military career, as well.
“My proudest moments have always been when soldiers I have worked with reach out to me years later to share their personal accomplishments or promotions,” he said.
For Ali, three and a half decades in service was unimaginable when he first chose to don an Army uniform.
“I needed something that could offer me a fair and competitive wage, so I could one day have money for college,” he said. “I also wanted to travel and get away from my surroundings. So, I decided to join the Army.”
Although Ali came from a line of veterans – his father served in Vietnam, and his grandfather in WWII – his parents initially had reservations that their teenage son had the discipline to succeed in the Army. The travel and job security afforded by the Army appealed to him, and now – 35 years and four overseas deployments later – he wears the highest rank an enlisted soldier can achieve.
Following his current deployment, Ali says he plans to serve another two years in the reserves before hanging up his uniform for good.
“Every leader should know his or her limitations,” he said. “Two and a half more years will be enough for me. I’ll take off my rank and yield the floor to the next generation of soldiers.”
| Date Taken: | 07.24.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2019 08:51 |
| Story ID: | 332727 |
| Location: | ERBIL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, IQ |
| Hometown: | BUFFALO, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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