What a Blue Sky Day

What a Blue Sky Day

Today the United States Army Parachute Team, Golden Knights’ celebrated the Change of Responsibility Ceremony at the Headquarters facility for Sergeant Major Michael Eitniear, who has served as the team Sergeant Major for the past six years to Sergeant Major Stephen Young.

Approximately 200 well wishers attended the event to include the United States Army Accessions Brigade Commander, COL Johnson, CSGM Hendrieth and Ms Betty Chaffin. LTC Anthony Dill former team Commander, members of the Golden Knight Alumni Association, friends and family members also gathered for this festive event.

Everyone anxiously looked skyward as the show kicked of with SGT Rachel Medley narrating a Parachute Demonstration from a combination of both Black and Gold Demonstration Teams. SFC JD Berentis, Gold Team leader and SFC Will Fleming, Black Team leader steered in a beautiful two stack formation in to the parking lot in front of the beautiful facility.

The lovely ladies of both families were presented flowers and the fathers and sons were presented team coins in appreciation for their continual support over the years. Chaplin Stumme gave the invocation for the blessed day followed by the National Anthem.

With the Utmost honor and respect 1^st SGT Bryan Schnell passed the NCO Sword of responsibility to SGM Michael Eitniear who passed it to the team Commander LTC Joe Martin who in return passed it to the incoming SGM Stephen Young who then returned it to the 1^st SGT.

LTC Martin praised SGM Eitniear for his dedication and service to his country and to the US Army Parachute Team and welcomed SGM Young and his family to the team. SGM Eitniear then gave a heartfelt speech, which brought tears to some eyes. He stated that it had been a great six years, which had passed so quickly and quoted former 41^st President George H.W. Bush that “We have been planting seed for trees we may never sit under.” By this he was referring to the Soldiers serving with the Golden Knights, who leave impressions with the American Public on a daily basis. Eitniear said, “You have choices at times like this. You can gently float away and land on the ground or you can just drift away. I am going to float gently away and land softly on the ground.” He then slowly turned, stood tall and saluted. His final words were,” I am relieved, I am SO… relieved.”

SGM Young greeted the crowd and reminisced about standing by the corner mailbox watching the team jump when he was a child. He was determined to jump until he broke his arm jumping off a neighbor’s roof top. He said,” that his father was a jumper and he had inspired him to follow in his footsteps. “Young stated that there are times in your career when we all have to step back and allow the mantle of leadership pass to another. He said, “I am thankful that Ike chose me. The direct result of his leadership is the reason the team is where it is today.”

All stood for the closing while the “Ballad of the Green Berets” and the “Army Song” echoed through the trees. SGM Eitniear and his family greeted well wishers in the Golden Knight Museum, and a welcome reception was hosted for SGM Young in the Spider Wrenn Day Room.

Sergeant Major Eitniear is a native of Daytona Beach, Florida. He enlisted in the Army in November 1979. He completed One Station Training as a Military Police Officer at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Sergeant Major Eitniear ETS’d from the Army for 6 months returning to active duty in July 1983 where he attended Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Virginia where he was awarded the Parachute Rigger Badge MOS 43E/92R and earned the distinguished Albert E. Dodge Award.

Sergeant Major Eitniear’s Previous Assignments include: 108th MP Company, Fort Bragg, NC; HHD 1/75th Ranger Battalion, Hunter Army Airfield, GA, 1/10th SFG (A) Bad Toelz, Germany, Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, Fort Bragg, NC, 1/1 Infantry Battalion, West Point, NY, B co 1st Special Warfare Center, Military Freefall School, Yuma, AZ, 647th QM Company, Fort Bragg, NC, Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, Fort Bragg, NC, US Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, TX, 18th Airborne Corps Air Drop Operations Section, Fort Bragg, NC. Sergeant Major Eitniear is currently assigned as the Battalion Sergeant Major of the United Army Parachute Team “Golden Knights” Fort Bragg, NC.

His military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, First Sergeant Course, Battle Staff Course, Sergeants Major Academy, Patrol Dog Handler Course, Airborne School, Jumpmaster Course, Military Freefall Course, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course, Military Freefall Advance Course, Military Freefall Instructor Course, Military Tandem Instructor Course, Army Instructor Course, Combat Diver Course, Combat Dive Supervisor Course, Air Assault Course, Winter Warfare Course, Close Quarters Marksmanship Course, MC-3/4/5 Courses, FF2/AR2 Courses, O2 Course, and the Basic Test and Evaluation Officer Course.

Sergeant Major Eitniear’s Awards and Decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 SOLC/2 OLC), Good Conduct Medal (9th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and a Army Superior Unit Award. Master Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Dive Supervisor Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachute Rigger Badge, Belgium, Dutch, French, and German Parachutist Badges.

Sergeant Major Eitniear has a Bachelors of Science from Excelsior University.

There will be an Official Retirement Ceremony held for SGM Eitniear at the Headquarters Facility on June 16, 2010.

Sergeant Major Stephen L. Young is originally from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He enlisted in the Army in Dec 1984 and attended Basic training at Ft Jackson, SC in Aug 1985. He attended AIT at Ft. Sam Houston, training to be a 91A Combat Medic. Upon graduation from AIT and Jump School, He attended the Special Forces Qualification Course training to be a Medic and was awarded the Special Forces Tab in Feb 1987. He was immediately assigned to the 5th Special Forces group as a Combat Dive Medic.

Sergeant Major Young’s previous assignments include: 3d Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Ft. Bragg, NC; 1st Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group, Ft. Bragg, NC; 3d Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Ft. Lewis, Washington; 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Okinawa, Japan; Joint Special Operations Medical Training Battalion, Ft. Bragg, NC; 3d Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group; 2d and 4th Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group, Ft. Bragg, NC.

His military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course; Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course; Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course; Sergeants Major Academy; Operations and Intelligence Course; Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Target Analysis and Exploitation Techniques Course; Airborne School; Jumpmaster Course; Military Freefall Course; Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course; Advanced Military Freefall Course; Military Tandem/Tethered Bundle Course; Army Instructor Course; Combat Diver Course; Combat Dive Supervisor Course; Combat Dive Medic Course; Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Course.

SGM Young has had combat tours in Somalia, Iraq, and two tours in Afghanistan.

His Awards and decorations include; Bronze Star (2OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1OLC), Army Achievement Medal (3OLC), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Afghan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service.

Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Combat Medic Badge with Star, Expert Field Medical Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Dive Supervisor Badge, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge. His Foreign Parachutist Badges include- Tunisian, Thailand, Canadian, German and the Netherlands.

In his free time he enjoys Family time and woodworking.