Brig. Gen. A. Ray Royalty | 12/05/2011

I want to take this opportunity to thank Command Sgt. Maj. Don Smith for his dedication, loyalty, and service to this Division as he takes on a mobilization mission. While our time as battle buddies was short by comparison, it has been both a pleasure and an honor to serve with Smith. Always steady, on target, and ready to take on any challenge, I have been fortunate to serve with Smith. I wish both him and his wife, Wanda, the very best moving forward. Meantime, I want to welcome the newest member of the 95th Division Command Team ­— Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Minton. Coming with a wealth of knowledge and experiences, Minton is truly a Soldi... Read More...

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Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Payne | 09/12/2011

August 6, 2011: Chinook crash kills thirty Soldiers in Afghanistan. I want to express my thoughts and deepest regards to all of the families of the casualties of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past many years. But at this particular time would like to specifically extend my condolences to the Families of those brave warriors that went down in that Chinook in Afghanistan. Many of you know my tenure clock is rapidly counting down and my time with the 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training) will be coming to an end between the time you read this and November. Contrary to popular belief I will not be retiring as this old Soldie... Read More...

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Command Sgt. Maj.William J. Payne | 06/05/2011

As my days start to wind down as the Command Sgt. Maj. of the 108th Training Command, I just want to tell you what a privilege it has to serve as your Command Sgt. Maj over these past few years. I have had the chance to visit units and Soldiers throughout this command in places I could only identify on a map before starting my tenure and the ride has been spectacular. Farewell to Brig. Gen. Daniel York as he completes his tour as the commanding general of the 104th Training Division (LT). His enthusiasm, dedication and leadership will leave the 104th in a good position for the new commander. Read More...

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Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Payne | 02/16/2011

As of this writing, I had just returned from the Nominative Command Sergeant Major Conference, commonly known as the Sergeant Major of the Army Conference at Fort Bliss, Texas. A couple of significant events occurred at this conference. First, this was the last time for us to be addressed by the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. George W. Casey who will shortly retire after over 40 years in uniform. This was also the last conference for the current Sergeant Major of the Army, Sgt. Maj. Kenneth O. Preston. After seven years, by three years the longest tenure as the Sgt. Maj. of the Army, he will be retiring concluding an Army career of over 35 years.... Read More...

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Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Payne | 09/20/2010

Well it is official, we can take the tape off the door and paint the name on. Brig. Gen. Robert P. Stall has been officially nominated for promotion to Maj. Gen. and is the new Commanding General of the 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training). Congratulations to Brig. Gen. Stall and his wife Nancy and the rest of the Stall clan as he officially takes over this position. Congratulations to Maj. Gen. James B. Mallory III as he takes over as Deputy Commanding General of 1st Army. It is good to see that the Army Reserve saw to it that Maj. Gen. Mallory stays engaged in the future of the Army Reserve as we continue to move forward. Read More...

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Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Payne | 06/07/2010

I first met then Lt. Col. James Mallory almost 15 years ago as part of 1st Team, the senior leadership team for 1st Brigade, 108th Division Training. I was a 1st Sgt. and acting Command Sgt. Maj. in the 2nd Battalion, 485th Regiment in Asheboro, N.C. and he commanded the 1st Battalion, 518th Regiment in Asheville, N.C. I then served under him briefly when I was assigned as the Command Sgt. Maj. of the 3rd Battalion, 318th Regiment in Hickory, N.C. while he was the Commander of the 1st Brigade, 108th Division. In 1999, I became the Commandant of the 108th Division Drill Sergeant School (DSS). Shortly after becoming the Commandant I was proud ... Read More...

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Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Payne | 02/19/2010

Welcome to 2010 and to a new decade. Does it seem like it’s been ten years since Y2K and the prediction the world would come to a grinding halt? Well, it has been 10 years and there have been a number of changes and challenges in the past decade, some good and some not so good and with the New Year the only constant is change. The Bad was the terrorist attacks on our country on September 11, 2001. Since then our lives, for those of us who serve in uniform and especially the Reserve and National Guard, have been changed forever. We are no longer the old strategic reserve force sitting on the bench, waiting to be called, but never getting into... Read More...

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Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Payne | 12/07/2009

The US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is headquartered at Fort Monroe or Fortress Monroe, Virginia, as it is sometimes referred. Fort Monroe is located on Old Point Comfort on the Peninsula in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia where the James, York and Elizabeth Rivers meet the Port of Hampton Roads and the Chesapeake Bay all come together. Point Comfort was named so by the British Colonist that went on to settle Jamestown, a few miles up the James River in 1607. Fort Algeron was established there by the British in the fall of 1609 and there has been a fort on that location ever since. Read More...

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