An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Archives

NEWS | Oct. 29, 2024

Colorado Army National Guard Soldier returns to Regional Training Institute as Commandant

By Staff Sgt. Taylor Lakey-Tamacori

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.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 

December 2024 (1)
November 2024 (6)
October 2024 (9)
September 2024 (2)
August 2024 (4)
July 2024 (8)
June 2024 (1)
May 2024 (4)
April 2024 (5)
March 2024 (5)
February 2024 (1)
January 2024 (3)
December 2023 (5)
November 2023 (3)
October 2023 (6)
September 2023 (2)
August 2023 (3)
July 2023 (6)
June 2023 (4)
May 2023 (6)
April 2023 (2)
March 2023 (2)
February 2023 (2)
January 2023 (6)
December 2022 (5)
November 2022 (5)
October 2022 (2)
September 2022 (7)
August 2022 (5)
July 2022 (3)
June 2022 (7)
May 2022 (3)
April 2022 (4)
March 2022 (3)
February 2022 (4)
January 2022 (5)
December 2021 (7)
November 2021 (3)
October 2021 (2)
September 2021 (2)
August 2021 (6)
July 2021 (4)
June 2021 (1)
May 2021 (5)
April 2021 (5)
March 2021 (5)
February 2021 (2)
January 2021 (3)
December 2020 (3)
November 2020 (7)
October 2020 (6)
September 2020 (6)
August 2020 (8)
July 2020 (9)
June 2020 (7)
May 2020 (10)
April 2020 (9)
March 2020 (2)
February 2020 (4)
January 2020 (5)
December 2019 (6)
November 2019 (2)
October 2019 (8)
September 2019 (4)
August 2019 (7)
July 2019 (5)
June 2019 (2)
May 2019 (6)
April 2019 (9)
March 2019 (2)
February 2019 (2)
January 2019 (3)
December 2018 (4)
November 2018 (6)
October 2018 (2)
September 2018 (3)
August 2018 (9)
July 2018 (1)
June 2018 (1)
May 2018 (1)
April 2018 (5)
October 2017 (1)
May 2017 (1)
April 2017 (2)
March 2017 (2)
February 2017 (3)
January 2017 (1)
November 2016 (1)
October 2016 (2)
September 2016 (5)
August 2016 (3)
July 2016 (4)
May 2016 (2)
April 2016 (3)
March 2016 (1)
February 2016 (4)
January 2016 (1)
December 2015 (1)
November 2015 (3)
October 2015 (3)
September 2015 (2)
August 2015 (1)
July 2015 (1)
June 2015 (2)
May 2015 (3)
March 2015 (1)
February 2015 (1)
October 2014 (1)
September 2014 (1)
June 2014 (1)
April 2014 (1)
May 2013 (1)
April 2013 (4)
March 2013 (8)
February 2013 (9)
January 2013 (7)
November 2012 (1)
April 2012 (2)
January 2012 (1)
March 2010 (1)