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 CAMP
HENRY, South Korea – It is challenging enough to become a
noncommissioned officer, let alone a chief warrant officer, and a
field grade officer. However, for Lt. Col. Anthony G. Glaude, 19th
Expeditionary Sustainment Command G-6 assistant chief of staff, he
accomplished all that and more.
If you look around, you can
rarely see a soldier who chooses to go through three different rank
structures to serve his country. Glaude, who enlisted in the Army as
a telecommunications center operator, transitioned into a warrant
officer and a commissioned officer in sequence.
“I have gone
through all three rank structures, I believe it gives me the ability
to relate and empathize with soldiers regardless if they are
enlisted soldiers, warrant officers, or commissioned officers,” said
Glaude. “I feel soldiers are comfortable around me and therefore
more honest and open with me, which allows me to be a better
leader.”
Before joining the U.S. Army, he enlisted in the
U.S. Marine Corps in 1980 where he made the rank of lance corporal.
He later decided to add a new dimension to his military career, and
reenlisted in the Army in 1985, serving seven years up to the rank
of sergeant.
“When I enlisted in the Marine Corps, my plan
was not to make the military a career. I planned to use the military
as a ‘stepping stone' for a future job. But I liked the military and
wanted to continue to serve, so I joined the U.S. Army in 1985 and
the rest is history.” Glaude said.
Serving 12 years of
military service as an enlisted soldier gave him a strong thirst for
further expertise and development.
“I wanted to be an expert
in my field of communications. Warrants become experts at their job
because their knowledge, skills and abilities continue to grow year
after year by basically performing the same kinds of jobs throughout
a warrant's career.” Glaude said.
“Glaude is a leader who
leads from the front and set examples in all he does without
hesitation. He is well organized, extremely competent, and has an
excellent rapport with people,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael
Loyd, 1st Theater Sustainment Command senior electronics maintenance
technician. “He and I have been friends for many years since we met
at the Warrant Officer Candidate School, and I am proud to have
served with him.”
Being a chief warrant officer 2 after four
years of service as a warrant officer made him look for another
challenge. He decided to become a commissioned officer which led him
to attend Officer Candidate School, a 14-week course at Fort Benning,
Georgia.
“Serving as a warrant officer was great, but for me
something was missing and that something was working with more
soldiers on a more personal basis,” Glaude said. “As a warrant
officer, I typically had a few soldiers, but as a commissioned
officer, I worked with thousands of soldiers; this gave me and still
gives me today a chance to make a positive impact or difference in
someone's life.”
“As an officer, he spent his time as a
junior officer from platoon leader to company commander and
understands what it takes to be a successful leader. His door is
always open to provide that mentorship to anyone that comes into his
office.” said Sgt. Maj. Richard A. Jones, 19th ESC G-6 sergeant
major.
He currently works as the G-6 to ensure his section
provides proper command, control, communications, computers and
intelligence support to the 19th ESC. As an officer who climbed all
the way up to the rank of lieutenant colonel with the experience of
being an noncommissioned officer and a warrant officer, he has
demonstrated his capability to lead soldiers and maximize the
efficiency in the workplace with his expertise.
“His previous
experiences are an asset to the G-6 team as well as the 19th ESC,”
Jones said. “Being an NCO in the past, he understands what it means
to be a first-line leader of soldiers and the importance of training
them to standard. He respects the opinions of the NCOs and empowers
them to do what needs to be done.”
“The technical aspect of
being a warrant officer allows him to communicate and understand the
world of a technician and provide them with the tools to be
successful or where to get the right answers for the betterment of
the G-6 when it comes to technical issues or the placement of our
network technicians to offer the 19th ESC the best communication
package that can be provided.” Jones added.
Even though all
three areas demand soldiers to have different tasks to accomplish,
he believes the basic values that they follow still remain
unchanged.
“Dignity, honor, respect and trust are my
watchwords along with the Army Values, and I try to demonstrate
these watchwords with action no matter where I am,” Glaude said.
“Many soldiers who have worked with me in the past have heard me use
this simplistic description of what it takes to succeed in the Army,
‘be in the right place, on time and in the right uniform.'”
During his military service, he also had to face difficulties and
hardships like many other military members undergo, especially when
the responsibilities kept changing as he placed himself in new
environments.
“The Army is a hard life in and of itself; the
requirements, commitment and sacrifice can be daunting over time
since you inherit more responsibility as you earn more rank,” Glaude
said. “And for me, it is very difficult being away from my family
like many military members will tell you; however, this is the life
I chose and my family still supports my service.”
It was his
wife, who herself is a retired signal warrant officer, that helped
him overcome obstacles that he encountered and made him what he is.
She keeps him straight and grounded, taking care of their family
while he is gone so that he can concentrate on his job.
“I
can always count on him to maintain a cool head and to be decisive,
especially when it comes to what he believes is best for his family
and the soldiers and civilians he is responsible for,” said his
wife. “It has been difficult with him away, but I understand and
support his determination and persistence to serve the country we
all love.”
“My husband is the consummate soldier, and
continues to live by and enforce the importance of the NCO, warrant
officer, and officer creeds,” his wife said. “Over the last 33
years, Anthony has continued to devote his time and energy into
leading, mentoring, and learning from other soldiers. He gains the
respect of his peers and subordinates through his discipline and
work ethic.”
Even with 33 years of military service, he
believes he still has more to give for the rest of his career as
long as he is still healthy enough to lead and motivate soldiers.
“I would like to be a battalion commander which would allow me
to reach out to a large population of soldiers and civilians, and
provide the best leadership I could possibly provide.” Glaude said.
By Army Sgt. Sung-jun Lim
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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