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FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. (April 3, 2009) - In 1979,
the movie Rocky II had just been released. Michael Jackson's song
"Don't Stop 'Till you Get Enough" and Donna Summer's song "Bad
Girls" were at the top of the music charts. Margaret Thatcher had
just been elected the first woman prime minister of the United
Kingdom, and gas cost 89 cents a gallon.
It was also the same year that Sgt. Maj. Arthur Adkins, U.S.
Army Central, G-6 Sergeant Major of the Operational Command Post,
visited a recruiter in Laurel, Miss. and made the decision to join
the Army. "Back then, I was trying to decide whether or not to join
the military or go to college," Adkins said.
The Army offered money for school and the opportunity to travel
the world. They also offered him a job in communications.
"I wanted to go to school for electronics," Adkins said. "So I
figured I could join up for this, do my three years and come back
home and go to the junior college and get the degree I wanted."
During those first three years in the Army, Adkins says he was
ready to get out.
However, three decades later, Adkins retires during a year in
which the Army has designated as the Year of the Noncommissioned
Officer and is honoring their impact on the force.
"I am really proud to be going out during the year of the NCO,"
he said. "I am happy they [NCOs] are getting the recognition they
deserve. The NCO Corps is the strongest backbone of the system, the
strongest backbone of the Army. I'm a firm believer in it. I've
seen the NCO corps do things that are unbelievable."
Over his 30-year career, he has not only seen the Army uniform
change from the Army Green, to the Battle Dress Uniform, the Desert
Combat Uniform and finally to the current Army Combat Uniform, he
has been a part of the Army's transformation.
"Over a period of time our education level has stepped up almost
75 percent or better," he said. "The average NCO today is a reader
writer. During my time in 1979 that was almost unheard of. I think
they have better educated us. We have a stronger NCO education
system than before which produces top notch people who engage in
officer's duties and NCO's duties."
One example of this is NCOs participation in the Battle Staff
Course. A course previously offered only to officers.
Throughout his career, Adkins has exemplified this commitment to
learning. As a young E-5 he became a drill sergeant for Basic
Trainees at Ft. Sill, Okla. He then went on to teach at the Drill
Sergeant School and the First Sergeants' course.
"Being Drill Sergeant opened me up to people," Adkins said. "You
are faced with a group of 40-50 personnel from different countries
and different walks of life, and it is your responsibility to mold
them. They take on your ways and your behaviors, so you have to
sharpen your own lifestyle."
Going outside of his career field to be an instructor and drill
sergeant molded Adkins into the NCO he is today.
"I think all NCOs need to go outside of their arena," he said.
"Whether they are involved in drill sergeant duty, recruiting duty,
or ROTC at some local college, I think that will give you the
biggest impact on what the force will look like from your
standpoint."
As he winds down his career, Adkins encourages young Soldiers
and NCOs to remember the importance of customs and courtesies. He
also encourages them to take an active role in their careers
whether it is through the Army promotion system online or an
increased awareness of technology.
"In order to equip yourself in today's Army you have to be
computer savvy and computer literate to be able to move," he said.
"We put stuff at the Soldiers' fingertips in a matter of minutes.
So you have to be able to keep up with the fast pace. The Army
promotion system is still a strong system. You have to compete with
all of the things that they have on the career map for your field.
I think it sets you up for success."
Adkins' own success is evident through his accomplishments and
experience. He personifies a Soldier who has taken advantage of the
opportunities the Army has laid before him. Whether it was
graduating from Airborne and Air Assault School or being
installation sergeant major and senior instructor and writer for
the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course in his career field, he
retires with a career that epitomizes a love and passion for the
Army.
"It's been great," Adkins said. "If I had to do it all over
again I would wear the same set of shoes, the only thing I would do
differently is tighten up a few laces here and there but I would
not change the size of them."
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