The 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell welcomed the 33rd command sergeant major during a ceremony Friday. Army officials say Command Sergeant Major Bryan Barker comes to the division from 5th Armored Brigade, First Army Division West, at Fort Bliss, Texas.
According to Fort Campbell officials, the assumption of responsibility ceremony on Friday was Barker’s second ceremony of the day, as he had just graduated Air Assault School that morning. Barker said he insisted on going through the rigorous 10-day training before starting his new position, just as he would expect of his “Screaming Eagle” soldiers.
Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division, Major General Brian Winski said he picked Barker to be his senior enlisted advisor because his career uniquely prepared him of the position because he had belonged to units like Army Rangers, Airborne and mechanized infantry units, and the Army Reserve.
The assumption of responsibility ceremony took place on the 50th anniversary of the frontal assault on Hill 937 in Vietnam, more commonly referred to as the Battle of Hamburger Hill. The ten-day engagement was fought by U.S. Army Soldiers, including those from the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Marines and the South Vietnamese military.
During his 22-year career, Army officials say Barker has held positions as a soldier and leader to include all rifleman positions to Operations Sergeant Major and multiple Command Sergeant Major positions.
Barker replaced Command Sergeant Major Todd Sims, who left the division following a relinquishment of responsibility ceremony on March 20.
