[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4273-4274]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          PAYING TRIBUTE TO COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR RICKY YATES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 
accomplishments of Command Sergeant Major Ricky Yates. His service to 
our Nation is the standard by which all U.S. Army Aviation Command 
Sergeant Major careers are measured. His ability to develop solutions 
to complex and inter-related problems coupled with his unequalled 
leadership, technical expertise and devotion to duty set him apart from 
his peers. From his time as a helicopter repairman in an Aviation 
Battalion serving in peacetime and in combat, to his capstone 
assignment as the Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Aviation and 
Missile Command, Command Sergeant Major Yates was recognized with the 
same superlative by every Commander--the best maintenance Non-
Commissioned Officer with whom they have ever served.
  Command Sergeant Major Yates served our Nation for over 3 decades, at 
all levels of leadership which allowed him to capitalize on his talents 
and abilities to serve Soldiers, his unit, the Army and his country at 
every opportunity. He is truly a selfless servant, caring only about 
the welfare of others and never seeking accolades for himself. He 
demonstrated the capacity to be a transformative leader in an 
organization even when he was new to the unit and the mission. In the 
execution of his duties, he was recognized for his unequalled ability 
to diagnose maintenance problems and determine repair requirements.
  Command Sergeant Major Yates first demonstrated his ability to lead 
an organization in combat while assigned as First Sergeant in

[[Page 4274]]

Task Force 118, a ground-breaking special operations aviation unit, 
during Operation Prime Chance. Operation Prime Chance was a United 
States Special Operations Command operation intended to protect U.S. 
flagged oil tankers from Iranian attack during the Iran-Iraq War. This 
operation pioneered the first use of 0H58D Helicopters in ship board 
based combat operations.
  During his Divisional assignments, he was noted by all levels within 
his chain of command as the single best Aviation Maintenance NCO with 
whom they had ever worked and as the ``epitome of commitment to 
maintenance excellence.'' One outstanding feature of CSM Yates' career 
is his constant service in the toughest units in the Army. During his 
career, CSM Yates served in the 1st Armored Division, 1st Cavalry 
Division, 24th Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, and the 82d 
Airborne Division. He served for 21 total years at Fort Bragg, earning 
Jumpmaster Wings and the Combat Action Badge while deploying in support 
of Operations Prime Chance, Desert Shield & Desert Storm, Enduring 
Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
  Because of his proven record in solving strategic level problems and 
his unparalleled expertise in Aviation Maintenance, Command Sergeant 
Major Yates was selected by the Commanding General of the U.S. Army 
Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) to be the AMCOM Command Sergeant 
Major, the senior Aviation Maintenance NCO in the Army. He immediately 
became an invaluable member of the AMCOM team, and his leadership in 
Aviation Maintenance was crucial in the organization's support to 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operations 
over the Horizon (OTH).
  During his tenure as AMCOM CSM, he personally worked multiple 
initiatives that proved crucial to supporting Warfighters. When AMCOM 
was tasked to assume the supply and maintenance management mission at 
Fort Rucker, CSM Yates assisted in identifying the necessary green suit 
structure needed to properly supervise the large force of contractor 
personnel. Stated simply, if any portion of AMCOM required senior 
leadership attention, CSM Yates provided it, and always provided sound, 
timely, and well researched advice to the three Commanding Generals he 
served.
  In support to the Global War on Terrorism, Command Sergeant Major 
Yates made multiple visits to the CENTCOM Area of Operations to assist 
the Combat Aviation Brigades and the Aviation Logistics hubs. He spent 
months in Iraq and Afghanistan, operating independently and by his own 
initiative to provide direct support from AMCOM to the Aviation 
Brigades. He was the eyes and ears of the commander to the field, 
gathering information on how best AMCOM could support units in the 
fight. Likewise, he was the voice of the Commanding General, ensuring 
standardization to maintenance and logistics practices across the Army, 
focused on the areas that most significantly affected the Aviation 
Soldier.
  From the individual Soldier to the highest echelons of Army Aviation, 
Command Sergeant Major Ricky Yates demonstrated a technical prowess, 
unyielding devotion to the Army's mission, transformational leadership, 
and unwavering support to the Soldier. He reached the pinnacle of his 
profession, and was truly the best Command Sergeant Major to have ever 
done his job.
  Therefore Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues to join me in honoring 
Command Sergeant Major Ricky Yates' exceptional service, dedication and 
devotion to duty, leadership, and professional competency. He 
exemplifies the fine tradition of military service and reflects great 
credit upon himself, the Department of the Army, and the United States 
of America. May he know that his Nation is greatly appreciative of his 
dedication, and wishes him the best in all his future endeavors.

                          ____________________