Retirement Ceremony I Will Teach and Fight Wherever My Nation Requires
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The Special Forces Creed I am an American Special Forces soldier. A professional! I will do all that my nation requires of me. I am a volunteer, knowing well the hazards of my profession. I serve with the memory of those who have gone before me: U.S. ARMY JOHN F. KENNEDY Roger's Rangers, Francis Marion, Mosby's Rangers, the first Special Service Forces and Ranger Battalions SPECIAL WARFARE CENTER AND SCHOOL of World War II, the Airborne Ranger Companies of Korea. I pledge to uphold the honor and integrity of all I am - in all I do. I am a professional soldier. Retirement Ceremony I will teach and fight wherever my nation requires. I will strive always, to excel in every art and artifice of war. I know that I will be called upon to perform tasks in isolation, far from familiar faces and voices, with the help and guidance of my God. I will keep my mind and body clean, alert and strong, for this is my debt to those who depend upon me. I will not fail those with whom I serve. I will not bring shame upon myself or the forces. I will maintain myself, my arms, and my equipment in an immaculate state as befits a Special Forces soldier. I will never surrender though I be the last. My goal is to succeed in any mission and live to succeed again. SGM Mark A. Eubanks I am a member of my nation's chosen soldiery. God grant that I may not be found wanting, that I will not fail this sacred trust. 25 September 2015 at 1100 "De Oppresso Liber" SERGEANT MAJOR MARK A. EUBANKS After two years and back-to-back deployments SGM Eubanks was given the task of SGM Mark A. Eubanks was born December 25, 1964 in St. Louis Missouri. He enlisted in the Army taking all of his years of combat experience and training the next generation of SOF warriors. He st st on October 4th 1983, and attended basic training at Fort Bliss Texas. was assigned to Echo company 1 battalion, 1 SWTG(A) (MOS company). While assigned as His duty assignments prior to volunteering for Special Forces training include the 56th Field the Echo Company SGM he was able to impact the future of the force by training and mentoring Artillery Brigade (Pershing), Germany, 2/52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Ft. Bragg NC, the 802nd not only students but cadre as well. After only 18 months he was once again called upon to serve Engineer battalion Korea, the 364th S&S company, Ft. Bragg NC and the 3rd Battalion 3rd Special the Nation in Afghanistan; this time at the strategic level. He served as the Senior Enlisted Advi- Forces Group (Airborne) (SFG(A)) as a Motor Sergeant and the sixth Soldier assigned to the unit sor to the Commanders Initiative Group Combined Forces Special Operations Component Com- during activation. SGM Eubanks graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course in February 1993. mand (Afghanistan), for almost one year. His first assignment was to 7th SFG(A) where he served from 1993 to 1999. While assigned Following his assignment at CFSOCC-A he was assigned as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to 7th SFG(A) he participated in operation Snow Cap. A program where the U.S. military assisted the to Joint Task Force Sword (JTF SWORD) U.S. Special Operations Command. When JTF U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in fighting the war on drugs throughout Central and South America. SWORD was transitioned to Special Operations Joint Task Force-Bragg SGM Eubanks volun- His team, ODA 741 was hand selected to be the first 7th group team on the ground during Operation teered for his final overseas deployment to Afghanistan where he expertly navigated the difficult Uphold Democracy in Haiti in order to partner with units from El Salvador. task as the Senior SOF Liaison to the USMC I and II Marine Expeditionary Forces. Facilitating In 1999 SGM Eubanks was assigned to the, 96th Civil Affairs battalion. After only two the coordination of SOF elements from four different countries and eight strike forces. weeks in the unit SGM Eubanks and his team were one of the first elements into Kosovo for Opera- SGM Eubanks is a graduate of Class 57 from the United States Army Sergeants Major tion Joint Guardian helping to resettle almost 90,000 returning refugees during their six-month tour. Academy. His other military schools include the Special Forces assessment and selection course, During his tenure in 96th Civil Affairs SGM Eubanks also served on the continent of Africa in the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, U.S. countries of Malawi, the Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Botswana helping countries to develop their disas- Army Ranger School, U.S. Army Pathfinder School, U.S. Army Basic Airborne School, U.S. Army ter response and mitigation strategies while also supporting the U.S. Department of State Africa Crisis Jumpmaster School, the Civil Affairs Course, and the U.S. Army Long Range Leaders Surveillance Response Initiative. SGM Eubanks was still assigned to 96th Civil Affairs battalion on September 11th, Course. th 2001. His team was deployed in support of Operation Rhino and Task Force Dagger during the early SGM Eubanks highest award is the Bronze Star Medal, 5 Oak Leaf Cluster. SGM days of Operation Enduring Freedom. Eubanks has served nine combat tours; four tours of duty in Iraq and five tours of duty in Af- At the end of his first tour in Afghanistan SGM Eubanks was assigned as the Team Ser- ghanistan. He is married to the former Ms. Paula Nobles of Tucson Arizona, they have four lovely geant for ODA 384. While serving as the Team Sergeant for ODA 384 he led his team into combat children and one grandchild. three times. In 2005 SGM Eubanks was assigned as the First Sergeant of Headquarters Support Com- pany 3rd battalion 3rd SFG(A), where he prepared the unit for combat alongside his commander CPT Edward Croot. Together they trained the support Soldiers to perform the arduous task of working alongside Special Forces operators in remote locations. SGM Eubanks was selected for the Sergeant’s Major Academy and could not deploy with the unit, but three support Soldier’s earned medals for valor on the next rotation into Afghanistan. SGM Eubanks was selected for early graduation from the United States Army Sergeants Major academy in order to take on the most challenging assignment of his career. He was assigned as the Bravo Company 2nd Battalion, 3rd SFG(A) Company SGM. Shortly after his arrival the company was deployed to Iraq at the height of the U.S. surge led by General Petraeus, to break the momentum of enemy insurgents in Iraq. In the first year Task Force Raptor executed over 500 high-risk missions in a four-month span, finding, fixing, and finishing the enemy in areas that were previously considered unreachable by U.S. forces. The company was awarded consecutive Valorous Unit Commendations for its accomplishments. SERGEANT MAJOR MARK A. EUBANKS After two years and back-to-back deployments SGM Eubanks was given the task of SGM Mark A. Eubanks was born December 25, 1964 in St. Louis Missouri. He enlisted in the Army taking all of his years of combat experience and training the next generation of SOF warriors. He st st on October 4th 1983, and attended basic training at Fort Bliss Texas. was assigned to Echo company 1 battalion, 1 SWTG(A) (MOS company). While assigned as His duty assignments prior to volunteering for Special Forces training include the 56th Field the Echo Company SGM he was able to impact the future of the force by training and mentoring Artillery Brigade (Pershing), Germany, 2/52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Ft. Bragg NC, the 802nd not only students but cadre as well. After only 18 months he was once again called upon to serve Engineer battalion Korea, the 364th S&S company, Ft. Bragg NC and the 3rd Battalion 3rd Special the Nation in Afghanistan; this time at the strategic level. He served as the Senior Enlisted Advi- Forces Group (Airborne) (SFG(A)) as a Motor Sergeant and the sixth Soldier assigned to the unit sor to the Commanders Initiative Group Combined Forces Special Operations Component Com- during activation. SGM Eubanks graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course in February 1993. mand (Afghanistan), for almost one year. His first assignment was to 7th SFG(A) where he served from 1993 to 1999. While assigned Following his assignment at CFSOCC-A he was assigned as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to 7th SFG(A) he participated in operation Snow Cap. A program where the U.S. military assisted the to Joint Task Force Sword (JTF SWORD) U.S. Special Operations Command. When JTF U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in fighting the war on drugs throughout Central and South America. SWORD was transitioned to Special Operations Joint Task Force-Bragg SGM Eubanks volun- His team, ODA 741 was hand selected to be the first 7th group team on the ground during Operation teered for his final overseas deployment to Afghanistan where he expertly navigated the difficult Uphold Democracy in Haiti in order to partner with units from El Salvador. task as the Senior SOF Liaison to the USMC I and II Marine Expeditionary Forces. Facilitating In 1999 SGM Eubanks was assigned to the, 96th Civil Affairs battalion. After only two the coordination of SOF elements from four different countries and eight strike forces. weeks in the unit SGM Eubanks and his team were one of the first elements into Kosovo for Opera- SGM Eubanks is a graduate of Class 57 from the United States Army Sergeants Major tion Joint Guardian helping to resettle almost 90,000 returning refugees during their six-month tour.