Photo By Mel Slater | Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond S. Harris, Training and Doctrine Command’s senior enlisted...... read more read more
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Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond S. Harris, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command senior enlisted leader, visited with religious affairs noncommissioned officers in the Zimmerman Auditorium at the Institute for Religious Leadership on Sept. 17.
Harris was at Fort Jackson for the Drill Sergeant of the Year competition and made time in his schedule to visit and speak with the NCOs. He didn’t have an agenda, but he spoke about leadership and influence. He also spoke about the importance of religious affairs specialists and their work alongside chaplains to provide religious support for Army Soldiers.
“When I talk leadership, I really like to talk influence and control. It’s easy to control something. I talk about influence a lot because you all are influential, and you have to be. Your control really probably from the inception of you being in the CMF is pretty low to begin with. Now I don’t mean that in a negative way by any stretch of the means. But we don’t need you to be in control,” said Harris. “We need you to influence culture, we need you to influence the command to take the appropriate action when you see something because you all are a sensor, and we need you all to be there to be a part of that sensor with the chaplain.”
He added.
“Not all of you are created equal. The ones who embrace your role as religious affairs specialists are going to be ten times more impactful to your organization. Just like any other person or any other Soldier, you have to make yourself value added, period.” Harris said.
Harris’ visit was well received.
“It was an honor and pleasure to host the TRADOC Command Sgt. Major and have him lead a professional development discussion with USA-IRL NCOs. CSM Harris reinforced the importance of TRADOCs role to acquire, train, and develop the Army while validating, educating, and training the force through professional military education,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Tom Roldan, USA-IRL Command Sergeant Major. “Additionally, he spoke on the criticality of the religious affairs specialist’s ability to influence and advise leaders at echelon and bring to light both successes and areas of improvement within the formation.”
Harris saw religious support to Soldiers firsthand. He served with Chap. (Col.) Nathan Kline, director or the Religious Leader Academy.
Harris and Kline served together at V Corps: The Army’s only forward deployed corps. From 2022-2024, 1st Infantry, 101st Airborne, 4th Infantry, 10th Mountain, 3rd Infantry, 82nd Airborne, and 1st Cavalry Divisions rotated into theater serving 9-month deployments across 9 different countries in Central Europe. The mission was to assure our NATO partners and allies and deter Russian aggression. In addition to providing religious support to Soldiers from all religious traditions across the Victory area of operation, Unit Ministry Teams also conducted moral leadership and cultural appreciation events that enhanced readiness and gave soldiers a deeper sense of our mission and connection to our various host nations.
“CSM Harris continues to demonstrate strong character and commitment; he’s all in. His candid conversation with our NCO cadre provided them with the latest insights of where the Army is headed and how these Religious Affairs Specialist NCOs can most effectively advise the command teams taking us there,” said Kline.
Harris shared a lot of his thoughts on leadership and training as part of Army operations. He spent almost an hour on his visit. Many of the religious affairs NCOs in attendance agreed it was value added.
“Command Sgt. Maj. Harris’s visit to USA-IRL was value added to all in attendance. This stellar leader spoke on the value of influence and the impact one can have as a Soldier no matter their grade plate,” said Sgt. 1st Class Angelica Caraballo. “The road map to success is measured by how well we develop Soldiers today, so that they are readily prepared for tomorrow’s mission.”
Another added.
“CSM Harris shared with us the value of influence over control. As a leader it is important to understand that you may not always have the control that you want, but you will always have the opportunity to positively influence those you serve with,” said Sgt. 1st Class William Rogers.
And still another.
“I loved it. I wrote down some of the things Command Sgt. Maj. Harris shared that really made an impression. It’s not about rank, it’s about the impact you have as a leader because impact matters, understand why you serve, don’t settle, wake up ready to be the best version of yourself every single day, the sooner you commit to the Army the easier it gets, and work is not about you. Commitment versus compliance,” said HHC, USA-IRL 1st Sgt. Marie Peto.
| Date Taken: | 09.17.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2024 09:45 |
| Story ID: | 481264 |
| Location: | FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 8 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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