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September 26, 2019
Belvoir Warrior Transition Brigade Be present. Live Soldier today. leader delivers message of hope flourishes at DoD Soldier, Warrior Games during Suicide Prevention program
cause your arms are not your legs By Mary Therese Griffin e-mails, we communicate by sitting down By Margaret Steele Army Warrior Care and Transition –it’s all arms and upper body. I’m with someone for a limited conversation. Belvoir Eagle pretty much from the chest “It’s not just about words, commuetired Col. gt. Greg Gadson, a former up. It’s hard, but once I but got fitted in 1st Class Jay Martin, a nication on so many levels. A real converFort Belvoir garrison commander, the bike, I realized I have to get in trumpet player in the Army’s sation gives you a chance to put your arms returned toOld his former station, Guardduty Fife and Drum there and keep going, because pracaroundtice someone, their hands and faces makes see perfect,” said Martin. last week, toCorps, talk about being present and never openly admits he was and hearHe their voices and inflection,” he won a bronze medal for his resilient, in really honor athletic. of Suicide Prevention “I was not athletic said. “We thrive on communication. We classification in hand cycling for Month. until my mid-forties and I started to nourish ourselves as we connect Gadson, racing garrison commander from itneed BMX bicycles, believe or Team Army at this year’s Departand deal with challenges that all of ment of the Defense Warrior Games 2012-2014, said occasion was a chance not,”the said Martin. us have. Gadson added that one person’s in Tampa. Martin knew about the to reconnect with familiar which he unBiking wasfaces, his new hobby games before his accident but now kind gesture or interest in someone’s wellcalled honoring and very humbling. He at an til an accident Jan. 6, 2018, could participate. being realized can be a he turning point in theHe lifeexof said everyone has to be park. on guard for suiindoor bike Martin knew im- plains why he believes the Warrior someone in despair. cide prevention 365 days year, because mediately onaimpact that his legs Games are important. it’s a problem, year were notround. going to be the same. After “Just like sports are important “Suicide is the 10th surgery leading cause of Presence immediate he learned he for kids with developing personality death in ourwould nation, which very conGadson urged audience tofor be never walkisagain. and growth, sports atmembers this point U.S Army photo by PFC Dominique Dixon cerning, because it doesn’t need hap- present. “You or cannot drag theindividuinvisible As he transitionedtothrough the injured handicapped Sgt. 1st Class Jay Martin participates in the cycling event June 23 in pen,” said. “AsTransition a society, we have anchor through your. .life, Battalion at alsofisyesterday the same kind of thing . it Tampa, during the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games, an GadsonWarrior to look at ourselves and ask: why are peolamenting and complaining about you adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill and injured Service mem- Fort Belvoir, he decided not to give shapes development and helpswhat ple giving up, is there a used lack it of in hope happened to you, because nobody here can upwhy on biking and his adapbers and veterans. Approximately 300 athletes representing teams and support, and, quite honestly, why, change that,” he said. “And, we can’t live tive reconditioning. from U.S. and Allied military forces compete in a variety of athletic See Warrior Games, page A5 amongst us, are we allowing to our competitions. “Hand cyclingsomeone is different, be- lives looking over the horizon, thinkslip through,” he asked. ing about some day. “Put all of your energy into today,” he Labeled as people said. “That’s what resiliency is about. It’s “We like to put labels on everybody, like about being your best and living up to be Generation X, Millennials, baby boomers. the best you can be, every day. You cannot But, why not resist labels? At the end of do that, if you are not present.” NCOs working with each of the military Credentialing, along with bachelor’s degrees to senior the day, we’re all people,” he said. who attended the Sergeants Ma- centers of excellence to provide “We’re all human beings. We all need The Profession of Arms changes to promotion jor Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. technical skill training equitable to love. We all have tough times. It doesn’t Gadson then detailed the day in May provide academic skills. boards, helps ensure the Dailey said the Army willmatter the label society puts on ourselves, 2007, when he was wounded by an IED, as Soldiers with some college credit or “We thought we need to build on we are fundamentally human beings, with he was returning from a memorial service best are promoted and Photocredentialing by Paul Lara professional for each that more, because 60 percent of the a need for connection, to be needed, loved for two Soldiers. level of NCO training. Army is combat arms, so what tanRetired Col. Greg Gadsen speaks to a full house at Thurman retained and depended on,” Gadson said. “The expectation is we give some- gible technical skills do they leave“Those mens’ lives really stung and Auditorium on Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day. Gadsen, He suggested that, instead of texts and stuck with me. I honestly couldn’t shake a former Fort Belvoir Garrison commander, shared thing back his for struggles that service,” Dailey with?” he said. By Joe Lacdan after legs to an IED in Iraq, and it’s Association vital to ac- of the U.S. saidsaid at an Armylosing Newsboth Service See A4, Suicide Prevention knowledge people around us and ask how they’re doing. in Washington, Skilled labor required Army breakfast Photo by Luc Dunn, AUSA Dailey cited that 80 percent of he Army could add to its D.C. “Not just be able to say that Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel record retention numbers by you served and sacrificed, but (get- American jobs require skilled labor, Dailey speaks about retention providing more incentive for ting) tangible results. That’s what and that Soldiers can become pro- and academic credentialing at the Soldiers to stay on duty, the ser- we owe to the American people–is a ductive members of the work force AUSA Institute of Land Warfare better product, to be more produc- after leaving the Army. vice’s top enlisted leader said. breakfast in Arlington, June 26. “There is a great opportunity The Army has been testing a pilot tive in their hometowns.” Dailey said the Army has been for many of our Soldiers to fulfill late those to civilian-sector skills, program for academic credentialing at Fort Hood, Texas, and plans to working out the finer points of the the ranks of those skilled labor re- which we had not done.” extend the program to several ma- program to ensure higher quality quirements in our hometowns of Last year, with the help of Conjor installations by the end of 2019, training for Service members and America, and they have the tangible gress and the Army Continuing said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel deciding how agencies will get pay- skills,” Dailey said. “We just need to Education System, the Army creDailey. The Army plans to spread ment. The program will also be make it official. ated the credentialing assistance “We saw the opportunity to be the program to all installations in available to National Guard and Army Reserve members. able to capitalize on the great skills fiscal year 2020. See Credentialing, page A8 Dailey said the Army has been our Soldiers have now, and transRecently, the Army provided 110
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