Senior Master Sergeant

SFC Juan Fontanez’s legacy was the impact he left on his Soldiers. He has been one of the most influential leaders in my military career. SFC Fontanez was my Platoon Sergeant during my third deployment to Iraq. During this deployment, I filled the role of Squad Leader in a Combat Engineer Platoon, performing route clearance operations in and out of Sadr City. SFC Fontanez taught me the importance of leading from the front, setting the example, and establishing a high level of trust within your…

This makes it very difficult for veterans when they come back home and attempt to return back to “living normal.” As Sergeant John Wesley Matthews state, “[t]hey just expect you to turn it off.” When experiencing so much blood shed and even contributing it, some veterans can be driven off the edge because they are unsure of what to do or who to turn to. Sergeant Matthews claims to having thought about suicide before and claiming, “[i]t will tear your life apart. And many a soldier has met…

1. In accordance with Army Regulation 600-37, I respectfully request consideration be given to my statement below and that the Administrative Reprimand be filed at the local level and not in my Official Military Personnel File. 2. On 20 February 2016, at or around 2300 I drove to downtown Savannah, GA and walked to a bar. My initial plan was to call a taxi, or a friend when I left. I consumed several mixed drinks containing liquor. The bar closed around 0230, at which point I left and called 3…

over, he noticed that they read they were out of Camp Parks in California, how was that possible he wondered. He handed the credentials back. The General eyeing the two men suspiciously, “What can I do for you?” “I’m Captain DeToya and this is Master Sergeant Teavana. Any place we can sit and talk, we’ve got quite a story for you General?” Captain DeToya said. MG General Boney looked both men over again, “I have to tell you two men that I feel very uncomfortable with both of you men, that I…

Being an AFJROTC cadet leader is challenging. As Wing Commander of our 250 member Cadet Wing, I had to address an ethical dilemma; leaders dating subordinates; that almost destroyed our drill team. In the US Military, unprofessional relationships are frowned upon as they adversely affect the chain of command due to favoritism. In our unit, unprofessional relationships are discouraged for the same reason. When cadets perceive a promotion given to someone based, not on merit, but on their…

Officer” meant nothing but paper and desk work. Later to find out that the words “Army Officer” has a much deeper passionate meaning than I thought. Over the years of training and talking to different Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, and Sergeants about becoming a Second Lieutenant, they all had the same thing in common with advice on becoming a Lieutenant. That advice was to take time and get to know…

The combat and garrison environments are each unique in their own aspects. The combat environment depends on the garrison for many things. ‘We train as we fight’ is one of the more specific examples. Leadership in these environments is no different. Although dependent on the garrison environment the combat environment is much more complex. The leadership that is honed while in garrison helps prepare Leaders for combat. There is less control over Soldiers in a garrison environment than in a…

Within the mountains of Northfield, Vermont; rumor has it that when you climb the 1,206 feet to the top, you can hear “Sir yes sir!”, "What the heck are you doing cadet?", "Left, left, left right left!" In certain times of the year, you can look down the top to see cadets flying off a dirt mound into icy cold water, “AAAAAHHHHH!” bouncing off the mountain side harder than a super bouncy ball. Maybe, even while hiking and climbing to the top, there was even a chance where you would have run into…

Upon completion of a training exercise in Iraq I was presented with the medallion as a token of appreciation for my hard work and efforts put forth. As a former Military Police Officer I trained and mentored the Iraqi Police allowing them to become an adaptive and mature force. The Iraqi police chief was not a wealthy man so upon completion of the training he gave me this medallion as it was all he could offer for his thankfulness. I respectfully accepted the medallion and am proud to still…

FOR Drill Sergeants Course 9574 Marion Ave, Fort Jackson, SC 29207 SUBJECT: Recommendation for Drill Sergeant 1. Sergeant (SGT) Hamtig, Jose is part of the 626th Brigade Support Battalion. He works as part of the Battalion operations shop (S3). Since his arrival training and Overall Unit Readiness has drastically increased. His tremendous interest and motivation in leading, training and mentoring soldiers is unparalleled. 2. Leading is a natural quality that is possessed by Sergeant…