4/3/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- They
took to the sky together for the last time on the first day of spring. A
sun-splashed sky lay ahead as the father and son ascended several
thousand feet into the air, taking in the vista of the untouched
wilderness and mountainous terrain of Alaska. They could see Mount
McKinley to the north as they made their way to the storied Geronimo
Drop Zone nestled high above in the undulating terrain of Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson.
They pushed off their side-seated perch on the UH-60 Black Hawk
helicopter they rode in on, their parachute canopies opened, and they
took in for the last time together the silence of descent.
The Army's MC-6 Maneuverable Troop Parachute System with the SF-10A main
canopy allowed the pair to steer themselves onto the tiny drop zone.
They landed without injury, quickly recovered their equipment, donned snowshoes, and met back up in the assembly area.
Timing is important in the Army, and this time, March 20, was the last time they would jump together as Army paratroopers.
The jump marked coming full circle for the senior enlisted adviser of
U.S. Army Alaska, Command Sgt. Maj. Bernie Knight, and his son, Sgt.
Charles Knight, a squad leader with Apache Company, 1st Battalion
(Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment.
Beginning their parachuting history together, Sergeant Major Knight
attended his son's first jump at Fort Benning, Ga., during the junior
Knight's Basic Airborne Course in 2009. At the time, Sergeant Major
Knight was the operations group command sergeant major for the National
Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. He was invited to be guest speaker
at his son's basic training and infantry graduation ceremonies. From
there, he stayed to participate in his son's first jump.
Sergeant Knight said the jump onto the Geronimo Drop Zone was significant because it brought back some good memories.
"This kind of brings me back to when he jumped with me on my first going
back a little over five years when I joined the Army, and him ending
his career with this," Sergeant Knight said. "It means a lot to me. I
know it means a lot to him, too. I'm glad I got to do his last jump with
him."
His dad gave him courage and motivation to join the airborne ranks and jump out for the first time.
"I was nervous; I'm not going to lie. Airborne wasn't something I wanted
to sign up for, but because he did, I felt I had some shoes to fill. So
definitely, having him there helped me have the courage to go up in the
bird and jump out."
For the sergeant major, his 109th and final jump was significant because
of his son, but also because of the 501st Infantry Regiment.
"I got to do it with the 501st. The first parachute infantry regiment in
the Army," Sergeant Major Knight said. "They tested the parachute. I
was a sergeant major of that unit, my son is in that unit. I'm doing
Geronimo Drop Zone with the Geronimos. I mean, how could you go wrong
with that?"
Sergeant Major Knight has been an influential figure in his son's life,
helping guide his way through the Army, mentoring him, and setting an
example to emulate. He said the Army and the airborne have been a great
way to bond with his son.
"It's awesome. This is a great way to do it. Heck, I tried to talk him
out of doing this kind of stuff, because, you know, I said, 'Hey, I did
this for the family, I got it'. But, he wanted to serve, so what better
way, and he wanted to be airborne, so I thought that was cool."
Sergeant Knight worked as a civilian videographer at the National
Training Center, and said he was inspired by Soldiers and wanted to do
what they did, so he talked to his dad about joining.
"It was during the war, and I had just come back from a pretty serious
Iraq deployment. You know, we lost 53 Soldiers in this [Spartan]
brigade, so I was a little bit apprehensive about what my son was going
to see," Sergeant Major Knight said. "I kind of tried to talk him out of
it, because I didn't want his mom mad at me forever, and I didn't want
to lose my son.
"I was like, 'Well, you know, you might want to get a skill that will
help you when you get out of the Army', and he was like, 'well, it was
good enough for you wasn't it?', and that's when I said 'OK ...
alright'."
Through his enlistment, Knight said his relationship with his dad has been enhanced.
"We were close before, but definitely, once I joined the Army, we could
bond over it. We had something to talk about. We had something in common
besides cars, Harleys and other stuff," Sergeant Knight said. "I
definitely use him as a mentor, and he helps me be a better Soldier.
"We talk shop a lot. Nothing bad, all good stuff, you know. I tell him
my gripes about the Army, and then he tells me, 'That's the Army, suck
it up.' I say, 'Roger that.' He tells me to drive on, and I drive on."
After graduating jump school, Sergeant Knight was assigned to the 82nd
Airborne Division. He deployed twice with the division, and on his
second deployment, he found himself stationed in the same sector of
Afghanistan as his dad, who was at the time assigned to the 1st Stryker
Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
"So, he goes to the 82nd, and I go to the 1-25th up north (Fort
Wainwright), and we deployed, and he was right across the river from
me," Sergeant Major Knight said. "We deployed to the same sector of
Kandahar, southern Kandahar, one of the worst areas, right there where
Mullah Omar, who started 9-11, lived."
After the deployment, the Knights reunited in the U.S. when Sergeant Knight re-enlisted with orders to Alaska.
"I love what I do," the younger Knight said. "I'm glad I joined. I'm
glad I could be closer to my father. That's why I re-enlisted to come
here, so I could be near family, and do the Army life."
According to Sergeant Knight, he and his father call Alaska home, even
though his father is originally from Kansas City, Kan., and he is
originally from Orange County, Calif.
"I would say I grew up here," Sergeant Knight said. "My dad spent most of his career here, so I definitely grew up in Alaska."
Both Knights said they plan to live in Alaska after their Army service.
"I am going to be a member of this community," Sergeant Major Knight
said. "I'll still be a friend of USARAK. I'm still going to try to hang
out with them."
Sergeant Major Knight is wrapping up a 31-year, active federal service
career. He spent four years with the Marine Corps and 27 years with the
Army.
He takes with him many memories and experiences. He said the Army is a
big family. An example of this was reinforced when he talked about
finishing up his airborne career with Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Hacker,
the senior enlisted adviser for the Spartan Brigade.
"The Army, although people say it's big, it's a small Army, and it's a
huge family, because on this jump right here, the sergeant major of the
4-25th was with me when I first started jumping out of airplanes back in
1990. We were in a [long range surveillance] unit together, and he is
on this jump. That's kind of neat. So you say it's a big Army, but it's
not. It's a small Army, but it's a big family."
With his recent home purchase in Chugiak, Sergeant Major Knight is
beginning his retirement plans as his son looks forward to tackling
upcoming Army challenges. He is going in front of the staff sergeant
promotion board this month and plans to attend jumpmaster school, as
well as compete for a Sergeant Audie Murphy Club membership. Long term
goals include a college degree and a slot at Ranger School.
"I enjoy my job," Sergeant Knight said. "I love the Army. I love the
Army life. They are good to my family, and I appreciate what the Army
has done for me and my father."
As he snapped the last button of his last aviator's kit bag, the 52-year-old veteran summed up his leadership.
"I would tell people that Sergeant Major Knight doesn't make one decision without thinking about Soldiers first."
Thursday, April 03, 2014
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