According to the Department of Defense’s 2021 Demographics Report, 5.3% of the total DoD Force has a dual military marriage. This family demographic presents its own set of challenges from parents traveling for different missions at the same time to both service members falling under the same command.
In a rare occurrence, U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Erik Miller passed command of the 168th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, Basic Leader Course, Fort Carson, Colorado, to his wife, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Sarah Miller, Sept. 8, 2024.
“This is one of the most special things I think I could ever do in the Army,” Erik said. “Sarah’s leadership style, care for Soldiers, and being so strong on the admin side of the house will help her tremendously and assist her in taking the organization to new heights, heights I could only dream about. She will thrive here, and her team will thrive right along with her.”
Erik and Sarah met in the early 2000s when he was assigned to the medical detachment and she was assigned to the Centennial Training Site at Fort Carson. Their paths crossed a few years later when they were both assigned to an infantry unit.
“We talked occasionally at work, more than anything I looked up to him as a mentor,” Sarah said. “A few months after I left the infantry, I ran into him dropping something off on Fort Carson. We were also both going through a divorce from our children’s other parents at that time. We became friends as we both were the primary parent for our kids and were going through similar situations.”
That period in the infantry was the only time they were in the same unit, but they had no personal relationship at that point. Since their marriage, Erik said that despite the challenge it is, they do their best to keep their careers as separate as possible.
“We like to keep personal, personal and professional, professional,” Erik said. “We have worked very hard at ensuring that our careers do not intertwine. If there is something that one of [us] could do to interfere or affect the other’s career, we steer clear at all costs.”
When assembling the board to hire a new position in the National Guard, standard practice is to include the person currently serving in the position. When Erik learned of Sarah’s interest in the BLC commandant position, he removed himself from the board to remove the conflict of interest.
“As soon as she said she was applying for the position, I called State Command Sgt. Maj. Assaad and asked him to completely take over the hiring process for the BLC Commandant,” Erik said. “The only thing I did was the announcement for the job to get the wording correct.”
Sarah is no stranger to working at the 168th Regiment. She served as a unit administrator, an instructor in four different courses, the 168th Regional Training Institute S1 (administration), and an instructor to start the multi-component schoolhouse.
“Command Sgt. Major Miller did an outstanding job during his tenure as the Basic Leader Course Commandant, stemming from a long list of distinguished command sergeants major that served before him,” said Assaad. “I am confident that Master Sergeant Miller will continue that tradition of excellence and continue to build off his accomplishments making our 168th RTI the premier institution of knowledge for junior NCOs across the country.”
“Coming back here to take this position is a bit euphoric, my career has come full circle,” Sarah said. “It is a humbling opportunity. As the BLC commandant, you are the senior non-commissioned officer who gets to provide the initial institutional knowledge to these young Soldiers, learning to become leaders.”
Sarah says being an instructor is one of the most rewarding positions she’s ever held. Her passion for teaching will guide her as she provides insight to the instructors through her previous lessons learned.
“I am looking forward to bringing the Academy further than it already is,” Sarah said. “CSM Miller has done so much, and I do not want those efforts to go to waste. I really look forward to being a part of the development of these young, new leaders, as well as continuing to mentor the instructors and staff.”