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Running Head: SMA Gene Mckinney

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Running Head: SMA Gene Mckinney Draughn 1 Running head: SMA Gene McKinney THE 10TH SMA Gene McKinney MSG Anthony Draughn R05 United States Army Sergeant Majors Academy Faculty Advisor: SGM Escamilla March 10, 2003 Draughn 2 15 Minute Military Brief 10th SMA Gene McKinney I. INTRODUCTION: A. Greetings: Greeting of the day (good morning/good afternoon) SGM Escamilla and fellow classmates of R05. I am MSG Draughn. B. Classification: This morning/afternoon I will be presenting a 15 Minute unclassified briefing. C. Purpose: The purpose of this briefing is to provide information on 10th SMA Gene McKinney. D. Refrences: Former Sergeants Major of the Army (website) the SMA by Dan Elder E. Agenda: Here is the Agenda that I will be following. II. Body: a. Growing up i. 8th Infantry Division CSM b. Follows brother to the Army j. USAREUR CSM c. First tour of duty k. Appointment to SMA d. College l. Down fall begins e. Rejoined Military m. Final days f. Role model (1SG Helms) o. Summary g. Leadership abilities p. Questions h. USASMA q. Closing III. Conclusion: A. Summary 1. I have discussed the raise and fall of the 10th SMA Gene McKinney, I briefed his love of the military, taking care of soldiers and his selection as 8th ID CSM, USAREUR CSM, and finally SMA, are there any questions. (SHOW SUMMARY SLIDE). QUESTIONS 3. Concluding statement: SMA McKinney was reduced in rank to master sergeant, later that same year he retired, at his highest rank held, due in part to United States code, Draughn 3 which entitled the senior enlisted postion of each service to receive pay at the highest rage achieved. Gene C. McKinney, the 10th Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA), was born on November 3, 1950 in Monticello, Florida, SMA McKinney knew he wanted to join the military even as a youth. He and twin brother James, along with their six siblings, were raised by hard working parents who served as role models for the Mckinney children, they learned “not to hate” regardless of the situation. Mother Elizabeth was a stern person who would not allow her children to say any unkind words about anybody, no matter who they were. Father Henry instilled in his children the principle that if you keep working hard and you keep at it, you will get there. Though their education was limited, his message to his children was to be consistent, remain focused and do not let outside interferences knock you from where you want to go. The boys worked with their father in the Florida fields and they saved their own money and bought their school clothes. The town they lived in had 2, 400 residents and SMA McKinney grew up in a house with seven other kids and only two bedrooms. After graduating from high school in 1968. SMA McKinney’s first goal was to get out of Monticello, with no idea what he wanted to do, he knew he wanted something better, and that was to see beyond Tallahassee. James joined the Army right away while Gene wanted a taste of the real world and headed north to Detroit. Their other four brothers would served in the military. After experiencing riots and killing, James told those around him “I can get paid for doing this” Draughn 4 and followed his twin into the Army. He attended basic combat and advanced individual training at Fort Knox Kentucky and graduated as a cavalryman. He then went to airborne training and then was the honor graduate of his parachute riggers course. After completion of training like so many others of that area, McKinney, now a private first class, was shipped off to Vietnam. He served with the “Sky Soldiers” of 173d Airborne Brigade with the 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry. The 173d was the first major unit deployed to Vietnam and they later made history as the only major United States Army unit to conduct a combat parachute assault in Vietnam. McKinney recalled the magnificent job performed by the soldiers and noncommissioned officers during his time in Vietnam. A volunteer himself, he did not notice a distinction between draftees and himself, he did not notice a pulling his fair share of the load, he later sayed the toughest aspect he had to deal with were the dangers of combat and that his youthful innocence let him take unnecessary risks. In December 1969 McKinney was promoted to sergeant and he left Vietnam in 1970 and returned stateside to Fort Bragg, North Carolina with the 612 quartermaster Battalion as a parachute rigger. He was later reassigned to the installation’s transportation section and he decided to leave the service to attend college back home in Florida. McKinney attended Florida A&M where he met his wife Wilhemina a Florida A&M student who was studying music education. They both wanted to attend college, but unable to afford both tuitions he decided to reenter the Army with only a 38 day break in service, later McKinney admitted that his mother had a lot to do with his decision to return, she had said “You’ve been to Vietnam, seen some of the hardest combat known to Draughn 5 man” and they made you a sergeant. You’ve obviously done well for yourself in the service, why leave it now? Her words made sense to McKinney and he joined the Army for the second time in 1971. He was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, and served with the 1st Battalion, 58th Infantry as a scout section leader. He and Wilhemina were married on August 19, 1972. During this period the Army was in turmoil. The war in Vietnam had drawn to a close, the draft ahd been abolished and the recruiting slogan was “let the Army join you” drug use and tension was high as integration in southern states like Georgia was taking place. Staff Sergeant McKinney and his wife left for their new assignment to the 3d squadron of the 12th cavalry at Budingen, Germany. With similar problems that leaders had faced in Georgia, McKinney’s battalion commander made an effort to get soldiers of his unit to focus their frustration and energy towards healthy competition. The commander developed a unit sports program. Now McKinney had noticed that the soldiers had begun to change in their attitudes and professionalism, he believed it was primarily because these volunteers had wanted to be in the Army. It was during this assignment that McKinney decided he wanted to make the military a career and reenlisted. McKinney served four years in Germany and later was reassigned to Fort Bliss, Texas with the 3d squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR). It was at Fort Bliss where he met his role model First Sergeant Felix Helms, 1SG Helms was McKinney’s first sergeant and saw the young soldier’s potential from the moment he met him, McKinney later recalled Helms as “tough as nails but he always looked out for my best interests.” One day he called McKinney into his office and asked him to take over a communications section because it “lacked leadership” later Draughn 6 McKinney was selected to attend his first NCO education course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course (BNCOC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His first personal experience with the Army’s education system offered him a perspective on learning and a realization on what the needed to learn. The course typically self taught by the students, with the present of cadre nearby to assist when required. McKinney completed the course as the honor graduate. McKinney continued to work in the signal section for almost a year until he returned to a scout section, and later was selected as a master gunner. He credited first sergeant Helms for having faith in his leadership ability for success with that assignment. “He was always trying to teach me something” McKinney quote I would be on my way out and he would stop me and show me how to counsel or how to run suspense files, it didn’t matter, when you get down to it, its not what skills he taught me it’s the fact he gave a damn about me. Upon completion of his tour in Texas, McKinney returned to Germany and was assigned as a platoon sergeant to G Troop 2d Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment. Soon after his arrival he was tapped again for his leadership qualities. When the Commander and First Sergeant of F Troop were relieved his sergeant major placed him in the job. There he was faced with some tough challenges, yet he would realize his greatest impact would be on the training of his subordinate noncommissioned officers. SMA McKinney, returned to the United States again he was assigned to Fort Bliss, 3rd ACR as an Operations Sergeant with headquarters troop, and later as the Air Cavalry Troop First Sergeant. The ACR went through reorganization and the Air Cavalry Troop became a provisional 4th squadron where McKinney, now selected for Sergeant Major, served as the squadron sergeant major. Draughn 7 He left in 1987 to attend the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, located across the street at nearby Biggs Army Airfield. McKinney was pleased with the course of instruction, a graduate of the first sergeant course, he was familiar with the small group instruction process and was physically and mentally prepared for the training, though he would not realize until later in his career, the exposure to international studies would pay off for him in his future assignments. Upon graduation in July 1987, McKinney and his family headed back to Germany this time Bamberg as the 2d Squardon Command Sergeant Major, he felt that coaching and mentoring those subordinate to him was a significant importance and that it was a ‘big part’ of what command sergeants major do.
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