NY Army National Guard Soldier from Bridgeport selected as senior enlisted advisor for Long Island Aviation unit
James Holloman, a combat veteran with more than 33 years of service, to serve as battalion command sergeant major
RONKONKOMA, N.Y (06/08/2019) — A New York Army National Guard combat veteran Non-Commissioned Officer and aviation crewmember with nearly 33 years of military service assumed responsibilities as senior enlisted advisor to the Guard's 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment during a unit ceremony June 2 at the battalion headquarters on Long Island.
Command Sgt. Maj. James Holloman, a resident of Bridgeport, Connecticut, received the duties as command sergeant major of the battalion during a change of responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Klimek.
Holloman, who spent his first five years of military service from 1986-91 on active duty, has a lengthy career serving in aviation maintenance and operations positions at the company and battalion level.
His last position before coming to the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation was as Senior Aircraft Maintenance Manager, in the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion in Rochester, N.Y.
Holloman has five overseas deployments as well, with support to Army missions in Bosnia in 2008-09, Iraq in 2008-09, and Kuwait from 2013-14.
"Today for me is a day to celebrate!" Holloman said. "I get to instill what I know by mentoring the next generation of Soldiers coming to the 3rd Battalion."
As part of the ceremony, Holloman received his new rank insignia of a command sergeant major with the increased responsibilities as the senior enlisted advisor for his battalion. Holloman's wife Sandra pinned his new rank insignia, with brother Joshua Grant and his wife Abiola present for the ceremony.
Klimek, from Yaphank, N.Y., told the formation of Soldiers that the highlight of his past 23 years of military service was his passion and dedication for Soldier care.
"The one thing that really matters are individual Soldiers," Klimek said of his past four years as the battalion command sergeant major.
With more than 28 years of service, and 23 of those years as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, Klimek moves on to serve as the Operations Sergeant Major for the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade headquarters in Latham, N.Y.
Klimek is married to his wife of ten years Veronica, who is also a veteran of two tours in Iraq. They live on Long Island with their two Boxers, Milo and Bella.
The battalion commander, Lt. Col. Jason Lefton, presented Klimek with the Meritorious Service Medal in appreciation and gratitude for Klimek's service.
"On behalf of the battalion, in lieu of a goodbye, we now look ahead to continue the mission with another meritorious and accomplished senior leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Holloman," Lefton said.
Media Attachments
Command Sgt. Maj. James Holloman, a resident of Bridgeport, Connecticut, received the duties as command sergeant major of the battalion during a change of responsibility June 2 at the unit headquarters in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., from Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Klimek.
New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Jason Lefton, left, congratulates Command Sgt. Maj. James Holloman after he received the duties as command sergeant major of the battalion during a change of responsibility June 2 at the unit headquarters in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., from Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Klimek.