Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey presented his Sergeant Major of the Army challenge coin to the 8th Regiment, Texas State Guard, during the regiment’s training drill at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8790 in Spring Branch, Texas, February 25, 2017. The highest ranking non-commissioner officer of the U. S. Army, Dailey praised the selfless service of the 8th Regiment to the people of Texas. Accepting the coin was Col. E. A. “Buddy” Grantham, commander, 8th Regiment, Texas State Guard. (Photo by Warrant Officer One Malana Nall, Texas State Guard/Released)
Story by: Warrant Officer Malana Nall, Texas State Guard
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey praised the selfless service of the 8th Regiment, Texas State Guard during the regiment’s training drill held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8790 in Spring Branch, Texas, February 25, 2017. The highest ranking non-commissioner officer of the U. S. Army, Dailey was in the Houston area to visit the 75th Army Reserves Training Command and meet with local and community leaders. (Photo by Warrant Officer One Malana Nall, Texas State Guard/Released)
SPRING BRANCH, Texas – Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey made a surprise visit to the soldiers of the 8th Regiment, Texas State Guard, when he stopped by a training drill held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8790 in Spring Branch, Texas, February 25, 2017. Dailey was in the Houston area to visit the 75th Army Reserves Training Command and meet with local and community leaders regarding the United States Army mission and recruiting.
Dailey thanked the 8th Regiment soldiers for their selfless service as volunteer citizen soldiers in the Texas State Guard. Watching the regiment conduct a rehearsal of concept hurricane evacuation training exercise, he commented that Texas was most fortunate to have such a well-trained state defense force to assist the people of Texas in times of disaster or emergency.
Dailey then presented his challenge coin to the regiment.
Col. E. A. “Buddy” Grantham, commander, 8th Regiment, returned the honor by presenting Dailey with the regiment’s challenge coin and made him an honorary member of the unit.
Command Sergeant Major John Marshall, 8th Regiment, observed that “you can go your entire military career and never meet anyone above your unit. Today we were honored to meet the Sergeant Major of the Army, the highest ranking non-commissioner officer of the U. S. Army. He spoke to us as members of the Texas State Guard and as a force multiplier within the Texas Military Forces when called upon to assist our fellow Texans during an emergency or natural disaster. This is something that I will always remember.”