An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 20, 2014

Sergeant major of the Army Chandler stresses professionalism in National Guard visit

By Staff Sgt. Michelle Gonzalez National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. – Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler III emphasized professionalism during a visit with enlisted Soldiers assigned to the Army National Guard Readiness Center and surrounding installations Aug. 15.

During his visit – a first by a sitting sergeant major of the Army – Chandler spoke candidly to the noncommissioned officers about the Army profession.  

For Chandler, trust between Soldiers – which is enabled by having character, commitment and competence—is the bedrock of the Army profession. Chandler spoke briefly about having the ability to display and measure competence and asked Soldiers to consider character and commitment, citing the Army Values and the Warrior Ethos as measures of character.  

“You and I have a shared set of values,” Chandler said. “The Army Values are what binds us together. A Warrior Ethos is what binds us together. It doesn’t matter what component we’re in. What matters is we all have a common sense of beliefs and values.”

Chandler spoke about the commitment Soldiers have to the nation, noting the importance of upholding the force to a higher standard.

“We as noncommissioned officers cannot tolerate mediocrity in the force. … I believe as a noncommissioned officer, if we don’t know what we’re supposed to do, we should have the intestinal fortitude to ask somebody for help.”

Chandler answered questions where Soldiers covered topics from readiness to the changes in the Army’s regulation of grooming and appearance.

“I’m excited the National Guard was able to host the sergeant major of the Army,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk Conley, the sergeant major of the Army Guard. “Having Sgt. Maj. Chandler address Soldiers today was a great opportunity for Soldiers assigned here to discuss issues and concerns with him.”

In an interview after his town hall meeting with troops, Chandler recognized the challenges Guard members face serving as Citizen-Soldiers.  

“When we ask citizens to become Soldiers — and to be Soldiers not only for things that happen within the homeland but to leave their families, their businesses and their jobs — to go and fight and win our nation’s wars, or go and help a country with developing their own internal capacity, that takes a lot. It takes a tremendous amount of not only courage but sacrifice to do that.”

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air National Guard civilian firefighters, assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, pose in front of the fire truck that was the first on scene, South Burlington, VT, June 4, 2025. These firefighters provided the first fire truck on scene to a local fire.
Vermont Air Guard First on Scene of South Burlington Fire
By Airman Raymond LaChance, | June 4, 2025
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Doireann Chesbrough, a civilian firefighter for the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, was sitting next to the radio in the dayroom of the station as the sun began to set over the Green...

Paratroopers from the Colorado National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces stand together before the first joint Colorado-Jordan airborne Friendship Jump, Watkins, Colorado, April 23, 2025. Members parachuted from a CH-47 Chinook as part of an event to strengthen interoperability and deepen the partnership between the two forces.
Airborne Operation Strengthens Colorado Guard, Jordan Partnership
By Senior Airman Melissa Escobar-Pereira, | June 4, 2025
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – In a display of cooperation and capability, Soldiers from the Colorado Army National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces recently conducted a joint airborne operation in Watkins, Colorado.The April 23...

Army Guard Soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission, also known as KFOR, host a multinational non-commissioned officer academy, referred to as the Jungleer Academy, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, May 8, 2025. 11 Sergeants Major from seven countries shared their experience with the soldiers, and many nations showcased their weapons, gear, vehicles and took a flight or hoisted in the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
Army Guard Soldiers in Kosovo Host Inaugural Event for Non-Commissioned Officers
By Sgt. Cheryl Madolev, | June 4, 2025
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – National Guard Soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission recently hosted an inaugural multinational event for non-commissioned officers (NCOs), focusing on...