By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, December 11, 2015 — Army Command Sgt. Maj. John
W. Troxell was sworn in as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff today during a change of responsibility ceremony hosted
by the chairman, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr.
The event took place at Conmy Hall on Joint Base
Myer-Henderson Hall in Northern Virginia. It included a ceremony honoring
outgoing SEAC Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, who's scheduled to
retire in April 2016 after nearly 36 years of service.
Presenting the flag to Battaglia was former chairman Army
Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Dunford's predecessor and the one who chose Battaglia
as his SEAC.
In the audience were Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva, vice
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez, commander
of U.S. Africa Command, Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of United
Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea, and
other mentors, friends and family members of Battaglia and Troxell.
Leader, Warrior
When Dunford spoke he thanked Battaglia for all he has done
on behalf of the nation’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines and their
families.
“Sergeant Major Battaglia, you're a leader, you're a warrior
and you're a man of character,” the chairman said.
“Today, as you complete your active service you have what
every leader would want to have,” Dunford added. “You have the admiration, the
appreciation and the affection of your fellow Marines, soldiers, sailors and
airmen -- and that includes the Dunford family.”
Extraordinary Record
On Troxell’s assumption of the role of SEAC, Dunford said
the department is welcoming another leader with an extraordinary record of
service.
Three weeks ago a reporter asked Dunford about the criteria
for selecting Battaglia's replacement.
“I said it's pretty straightforward. I looked for somebody
with a wide range of experience and a proven track record as a leader, a
teacher, a mentor and a warrior,” Dunford explained.
He looked for someone who could stand before soldiers,
sailors, airmen and Marines and inspire confidence, and someone enlisted men
and women would be proud to have represent them.
“I was looking for someone who'd provide advice with
candor,” Dunford added. “And to be honest with you, I was looking for someone
exactly like Sergeant Major John Wayne Troxell.”
Dempsey Reflects
In his remarks, Dempsey, who retired in September and moved
to Raleigh, North Carolina, thanked Dunford for being the current chairman and
the senior military leader of the armed forces.
“I didn't think [the job] could get any more complicated,”
Dempsey said. “And then I left and I looked back and I said, 'Wow, it just got
a little more complicated.' But you're the right man in the right place.”
About Battaglia, Dempsey said that for the last four years
of Battaglia's career, "he was my confidant and my advisor. But he was
also … the lead scout for the joint force, he was the champion of soldiers,
sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, he was the coach of the senior
enlisted leaders of our services, and he was the mentor of the senior enlisted
leaders of our combatant commands."
Dempsey also mentioned the work of Army Command Sgt. Maj.
Joe Gainey, the first senior enlisted advisor to the chairman, who served under
then-chairman Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace.
“Gainey was the groundbreaker. He was the man who set the
parameters, and we've all been working to sustain the office and to continue to
make it relevant,” the former chairman said. “I know that Sgt. Maj. Battaglia
did that and Sgt. Maj. Troxell will do it as well.”
Best Advice
In his remarks, Troxell thanked Dunford for having
confidence enough to make him SEAC.
“I do not take my
duties lightly and will work tirelessly day in and day out to influence the
entire joint enlisted force to assist in making your focus areas come to
fruition,” Troxell said, “and to provide you and the secretary of defense my
best military advice regarding our service members, families, civilians and
veterans.”
To the service senior enlisted advisors and combatant
command senior enlisted leaders, Troxell said he looks forward to serving with
them and building a synergistic relationship based on “shared understanding,
respect and trust as we aim to provide training, education, experiences and
opportunities for our joint enlisted force.”
Troxell also thanked wounded warriors and Gold Star families
for their service and sacrifice. “You are definitely our country’s treasures,”
he said.
Many Mentors
Battaglia thanked the many mentors that have helped and
shaped him across his career as a Marine, and he thanked Dunford, noting that
they first crossed paths as Captain Dunford and Corporal Battaglia.
When Dunford became chairman, Battaglia said, he took on
tough military issues “that could have been set aside for someone else to
tackle, but bravely made bold and righteous decisions to take them on with the
Joint Chiefs and orchestrate worthwhile and sensible solutions.”
Battaglia also thanked Dempsey for “having the trust in my
abilities to make my small contribution and its value to the force.”
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