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After 30 years, Carson's Van Dyke retires

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Contributed by: Karen Linne on 7/2/2008

by Nel Lampe, Fort Carson Mountaineer

Tuesday will be a big day for U.S. Army Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph P. Van Dyke. In a 10 a.m. ceremony at Manhart Field, he'll be retiring after more than 30 years in the U.S. Army.
Van Dyke has served in every enlisted leadership position - from squad leader to command sergeant major.
Those who've worked with him know that "teamwork" could be his slogan.
Joey Bautista, Fort Carson's Volunteer Coordinator, knows that Van Dyke believes in teamwork. Bautista also coordinates the Mayor Program.
"Since Command Sergeant Major Van Dyke got here, he took the lead in the Mayor Program. He motivated mayors. He'd say 'we'll make it happen.' Next thing you know, it happened," Bautista said. "He's a mover and a shaker."
"It's all about teamwork. That's key to Carson's success," Van Dyke said.
"Soldiers, Family members, civilians and contractors contribute to the team work at Fort Carson," he said, along with contributions of community support and organizations, such as Patriot Riders, El Pomar, Citizen-Soldier Connection and others who gave support.
"I'm proud of the partnership with housing and what they are doing for Soldiers. I'm proud of the commissary and post exchange. I'm proud to associate with all those organizations that support Soldiers and the military - those who came on board and those outside the gate."
Steve McCoy, deputy commander, U.S. Army Garrison, said that Van Dyke was active in the community and represented the garrison commander at events.
"He's very reliable. He's been the eyes and ears for the garrison commander and he has kept good order and discipline," McCoy said. "After his five years of longevity, we'll have some transition pain, I'm sure.
Speaking of his job, Van Dyke said, "I get to play a significant role and it's important to Soldiers and Family. I listen to the community, to spouses. If one of them has a great idea or wants to do something, it's my job to listen."
Van Dyke was also a supporter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
"During his tenure, Command Sergeant Major Van Dyke's continuous support of the Mountain Post Sergeant Audie Murphy Club has contributed greatly to the success of the club. His actions have made the club's volunteer mission of Share Colorado an outstanding accomplishment yearly by providing unit support," said Staff Sgt. David L. Wilkins, vice president of Sgt. Audie Murphy Club.
"The NCO (noncommissioned officer) Corps is the backbone of the Army. It gets things done," Van Dyke said.
There are opportunities "for Soldiers to be great leaders. If we aren't their mentors, it's a reflection on us.
"If Soldiers go to a board and don't know the things they should, then we failed to train them. The NCO corps is responsible for letting Soldiers grow; to lead the Army of the future. It is our responsibility to get them promotions, to get them into schools.
"I believe that Soldiers are our credentials; they are the ones who get the work done. Soldiers are our future," Van Dyke said.
Van Dyke believes that Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers is a great program for single Soldiers. Quality of life is important for all Soldiers, he said.
"When Families are happy, Soldiers are happy."
Reflecting on his 30 years, Van Dyke said "Things (in the Army) have changed a lot. Today, while their Soldiers are gone, Families are able to communicate by video conference and e-mail.
"When I came into the Army in 1978, as a wheel track mechanic, we had manual typewriters," he said.
Van Dyke entered the Army's Delayed Entry Program in August 1977. "I was inspired by the POWs who returned from Vietnam," he said.
"As a young Soldier, I didn't have an idea of the opportunities that lay ahead. I had no idea the Army would provide me the opportunities it did; the places I'd go, the people I'd meet, the contributions I could make," he said.
He served in the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Wash; in the 3rd Armored Division, Friedburg, Germany; the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson; the 5th Combat Equipment Company, 21st Combat Equipment Company, 21st Support Command, Pirmasens, Germany; the 143rd Ordnance Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.; the 595th Maintenance Company, K-16 Airbase, Republic of Korea; Company B, 115th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas; and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 325th Forward Support Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He also served in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., before becoming the U.S. Army Garrison command sergeant major at Fort Carson in April 2003.
Now, after more than 30 years Army service, Van Dyke is retiring.
"It's a good time (for me) to transition," he said. "I've done a lot. It's time to give the opportunity to someone else."
What's life after the Army?
"There's an old saying that once a Marine, always a Marine. I say, 'Once a Soldier, always a Soldier.'"
He's not yet sure what he'll be doing, but "I want to make a difference."
He and his wife Teresa will make their home in the Pikes Peak area.
"The Army life has been challenging for my children. But they've been places, had great experiences; lived in different places.
"My son, Christopher is studying to be an attorney, my daughter Angelina will be a nurse. So, I should be healthy and out of jail," he joked.

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Karen Linne

Colorado Springs , CO

Karen Linne has posted 70 stories and 0 comments since joining on 8/29/2007. Karen Linne 's average story rating is 4.89.

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