JANUARY 8, 2018, San Antonio, TX – The senior enlisted advisor to the Army Chief of Staff, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Dan Dailey, took part in a panel on matters affecting the Army enlisted force at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, as part of the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl week Jan. 6, 2018. Sgts. Maj. (ret) Jack Tilley and Kenneth Preston, the 12th and 13th sergeants major of the army respectively, joined Dailey on the panel.
The discussion, moderated by Command Sgt. Maj. David Davenport, senior enlisted advisor at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, focused on how the Army is changing to meet the future needs of the nation, and sought to communicate to the audience of service members, Army advocates, and support organizations how versatile the modern Soldier can be.
Panelists discussed what it takes to be a U.S. Army Soldier, where the Army is headed today to meet the future needs of the Nation, and what remains the same about the Army, like the Army values and Warrior Ethos. After the moderator-led question and answer session, the floor was opened to audience questions for the SMAs.
“We have the best NCO corps in the world,” Dailey said. “We asked them for recommendations for change,” and according to Dailey, the Army is getting after the changes Soldiers have asked for.
Other focal points within the panel were the Soldier for Life concept and Dailey’s plan to incorporate it into the civilian sector, as well as the Army education system — a system led entirely by the enlisted Corps, according to Dailey. This tested system instills the values of discipline, hard work, and competence; values the Army hopes will foster improved success for transitioning Soldiers after they leave the service.
“I don’t want to just tell organizations to hire our veterans, I want them to see the benefit of hiring veterans,” Dailey said.
At the end of the discussion, the sergeants major reinforced the importance of the strength of our Army corps.
Dailey reminded the leaders in the room, the point is not to “try to be the best, but to do your best and the rest will follow.”
Story by Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez
345th Public Affairs Detachment