Photo By Spc. Ry Norris | Sgt. Jarrod Tippens, with 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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DIYALA, Iraq — Staff Sgt. Darius Burwell, Command Post South's battle desk and communication non-commissioned officer in charge, is on his fourth deployment to Iraq. The country is on its way to establishing a national identity after a sectarian division that has existed since 2003. Now, after national elections, the people of Iraq are hopeful that the nation has found a way to balance politics and religion.
Balancing politics and religion has become second nature to Staff Sgt. Burwell.
"He [God] deems that his people should be more politically involved in the affairs of their nation," said Burwell with 3rd Infantry Division. "Who better to look out for the welfare of 'the people' than someone who walks close with the lord who oversees the nation?"
This understanding led Staff Sgt. Burwell to join the Army at the age of 17. The Army showed the Greensboro, N.C., native the world. Since his enlistment, he has been stationed in Kansas, Germany, Texas, Korea, and now Georgia. He also deployed during Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor, Operation Iraqi Freedom 1, OIF 3, OIF 5, and OIF 9-10.
Each duty station and deployment brought Burwell in contact with a different demographic. He gained a greater appreciation of people, their culture and the camaraderie it brings. "We can bring people from Nevada and put them with someone from New Hampshire," said Staff Sgt. Burwell. "Worlds apart from each other, but you would swear they were brothers and sisters just by being around them for a few minutes."
This appreciation helped Burwell to grow as a Christian. He took steps to become an ordained minister in 1996. He began with an internship with the Church of God. He trained and preached during deployments and at his different duty stations. In 2006, he received his ordination as an Elder for the Temple of Praise in Hinesville, Ga. Elders have the privilege of performing church functions and official ceremonies.
"I do firmly believe that regardless of how deep we are in our faith, our faith should not govern the laws of the land," said Burwell. "My convictions are not always God's commandments. What convicts my heart and keeps me strong in my faith cannot become the governing principle of the land simply because it is my faith and my belief. That doesn't mean I'm going to compromise my Christian standards, but it also means I won't force my Christian standards.
Burwell became a better Soldier through his Christian beliefs and the Army values. He rose through the ranks as steady as his faith. "He is very competent in all his tasks," said Maj. Oliver Hasse, the CP South OIC. On many occasions, he has been able to anticipate Maj. Hasse's orders. "During the upgraded power improvement, he was critical in figuring out how to minimize the amount of time the TOC was down," said Maj. Hasse.
After faithfully serving the nation for 20 years, Burwell hopes to pass the knowledge and experience he's gained onto his junior Soldiers. An NCO once told him, 'Good leaders don't teach lessons, they instill lessons.' He remembered this lesson poignantly.
"Teach men and women to be men and women, and they will be outstanding Soldiers," said Burwell. "If you just teach people to be good in their profession, it is my belief you are setting them up to fail in life. Because one day, when they can't do their profession anymore, they still have to be good men and women."
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2010 02:56 |
| Story ID: | 48116 |
| Location: | DIYALA PROVINCE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 291 |
| Downloads: | 234 |
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