Regimental Command Sergeant Major
Command Sergeant Major Raymond Perez Quitugua Jr.
Teammates, as I enter my second year as your 16th Regimental Command Sergeant Major, I continue to be amazed at the quality and sheer volume of work you do as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) professionals across the enterprise. In our many travels across the globe, the commandant and I consistently meet and engage with CBRN Soldiers who work hard every day to ensure that our Nation’s Army is prepared to win in an all-hazard environment. Even more importantly, your senior mission commanders and sergeants major echo my sentiments.
This past year, we have focused on building toward the Chemical Corps of 2030 while also setting the foundations for the Chemical Corps of 2040 and beyond, and we are proud of our accomplishments. Following guidance from the most senior Army leaders, our efforts have centered on the technological changes necessary to combat predicted future threats. Among these initiatives is the application of advanced machine learning and robotics across our Corps protect, assess, and mitigate competencies.
However, we also consistently contend that even the most advanced technological breakthroughs will never replace our most valuable asset on the battlefield—U.S. Army Soldiers. Therefore, we must continue to invest in training, professional military education, and professional development of our CBRN Soldiers, as it is they—not the equipment—who will make the real difference on the battlefield.
This realization further showcases the importance of the recently conducted enlisted critical task site selection board. CBRN leaders representing all components came together at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and thoroughly reviewed more than 330 CBRN tasks across the institutional, operational, and self-development domains. The complete results of the enlisted critical task site selection board, which will be released later this year, will help influence training and professional military education. We expect significant changes to Advanced Individual Training, the Advanced Leaders Course, and the Senior Leaders Course. There will also be changes to CBRN functional courses as well.
For professional development, we have proposed bold updates to Department of the Army (DA) Pamphlet (Pam) 600-25, U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Guide, 1 particularly regarding critical leader development assignments. We have also introduced language and guidance that reflects the order of the merit list promotion system and other new Army talent management initiatives, such as the Sergeant Major Assessment Program. These updates will help shape the kinds of leaders that the Chemical Corps will need in the future fight. Your Corps proponency sergeant major, Sergeant Major Gedney P. Riley, and his team in the Personnel Development Office are spearheading these herculean efforts.
As you can see, the future fight is the theme of my message. To meet future requirements, we must make decisions now. The year 2030 is right around the corner; we must focus beyond that to ensure that the pace of modernization matches the anticipated demands. Regardless, we are in a great space right now. The rest of the command team and I could not be more proud to be a part of this team. We look forward to continuing to see the fantastic things you are doing as we visit the force.
Dragon Soldiers! CBRN Warriors! Elementis, Regamus, Proelium! Be all you can be!
Endnote:
1DA Pam 600-25, U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Guide, 11 December 2018.