New Senior Enlisted Leader for the Ga. Department of Defense Story & Photos by: Maj. William Carraway | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard Orginally published Jan. 8, 2021
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj . Matthew Marks assumed responsibility as the senior enlisted leader of the Georgia Department of Defense during a change of responsibility ceremony at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga., Jan. 8, 2021. Marks assumed the mantle of responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Marchert, who retired after more than 30 years of military service. Speaking during the ceremony, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Tom Carden, Adjutant General of the Ga. DoD praised Marchert’s long career in the military and public education.
8 | The Georgia Guardsman
“Today, we celebrate success. Command Sgt. Maj. Marchert has led at every level and delivered exceptional results for more than 32 years,” said Carden. “From his humble beginnings as an infantry Soldier, to serving as my mentor and our senior enlisted leader, Marchert has set the standard.” Central to the change of responsibility ceremony was the passing of the noncommissioned officer’s sword, symbolizing the relinquishing of responsibility from the outgoing to the incoming senior enlisted leader. As the SEL for the Ga. DoD, Marks assumed responsibility for nearly 15,000 personnel of the Ga. Army National Guard, Air National Guard and State Defense Force. In his remarks, Carden noted career highlights of the incoming and outgoing senior enlisted leaders. “Command Sgt. Maj. Marks takes on the difficult task of being my mentor and the standard bearer for all Soldiers and Airmen in our
