Former SMA visits Great Place

Michael Grinston, the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army, returned to the Great Place for the week of April 22 to speak as director of the Army Emergency Relief nonprofit.

Enlisting in the Army in 1987 as an artilleryman, Grinston served in a variety of assignments before being sworn in as the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army on Aug. 9, 2019. He served until his retirement on Aug. 3, 2023, and shortly thereafter became the first former noncommissioned officer to lead AER on Jan. 1, 2024.

On Fort Cavazos, Grinston spoke to and sat in meetings with Army Community Service and command sergeants major from the III Armored Corps and other divisions and brigades on the installation.

The meetings served to provide updates on the status of the AER fund and to promote further buy-in from local commands and donors and increase awareness of the program to Soldiers of Fort Cavazos while also allowing Grinston to, in his own words, sprinkle

in a little professional development to Soldiers.

"Last year, we took in $11.5 million in donations," Grinston said. "We gave out $21 million in grants and scholarships - $12 million in grants and $9 million in scholarships.

"The only way we can do that is we have to have an endowment. If we got rid of that, and we can, I'll probably be the last enlisted to ever run AER. I'm trying not to be the last," he quipped.

He also participated in local community gatherings, including a visit to Texas A&M University.

"It's really hard to get a guy from Alabama to stay on the campus to Texas A&M," Grinston said of his visit to the university while speaking on the Great Big Podcast. "I held my own - you only need one 'Roll Tide' fan with Texas A&M."

While at Fort Cavazos, Grinston spoke to Soldiers on what it means to be a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army.

"One thing I've learned with leadership is I wouldn't stick with any one certain style," he said. "Even if it is your style, you've got to be flexible.

"What worked before might not work tomorrow, that's number one. Number two: what works with one individual may not work with another individual," added Grinston.

Grinston finished his week at Fort Cavazos joining the father-son duo that previously commanded the III Armored Corps, retired Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk and retired Gen. Paul E. Funk II, hosting a fireside chat sponsored by AER at the National Mounted Warrior Museum on the installation.

The chat brought the trio together for a friendly afternoon recalling their collective experience during their time of service. Both Funk II and Grinston served together during Operation Inherent Resolve when Funk II was commander of the Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve and Grinston the command sergeant major of the 1st Infantry Division.

"The secret to our Army is our sergeants," Funk II said.

AER serves as a nonprofit independent of, but that works closely with, the U.S. Army and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It was founded in 1942 and works with

Soldiers and their dependents to provide financial aid for emergency situations via grants or interest-free loans, but also provides educational scholarships to children of Soldiers.

For more information on the Army Emergency Relief fund, visit armyemergencyrelief.org.

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