82nd Abn. Div. says farewell to top enlisted

By Staff Sgt. Susan Wilt
82nd Abn. Div. PAO

Photo by Staff Sgt. Susan Wilt/82nd Abn. Div. PAO Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, the former command sergeant major of the 82nd Airborne Division and Combined Joint Task Force-82, speaks to Paratroopers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, during a battlefield circulation, May 21. Capel, a native of Ellerbe, N.C., was the command sergeant major of the division for more than four years and he is about to become the command sergeant major of U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army in Germany.

After serving as the command sergeant major for the 82nd Airborne Division for more than four years, Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel waved farewell to his beloved division, June 24.

Although Capel, who became the command sergeant major in May 2006, is moving on from the division he is not likely to see any downtime soon. He is about to become the command sergeant major of U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army in Germany.

His main duty and responsibilities will be to make sure the more than 90,000 servicemembers will have the equipment they need to accomplish their mission and that any issues they may have are taken care of. This task is something his former division commanders agree he’s more than capable of.

“(He’s) an incredible selfless servant (who can) go anywhere and talk to anybody at any level,” said Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, who was the 82nd Abn. Div. commander from 2006 to 2008. “So when he goes out and talks to the Soldiers, he can communicate with them. When he goes and talks to the generals, he can communicate with them.”

Other factors that will help Capel, a native of Ellerbe, N.C, with his new position will be the fact that he’s twice been the command sergeant major of Combined Joint Task Force-82 the headquarters for Regional Command East in Afghanistan.

Capel’s tours as the CJTF-82 command sergeant major were just two of five in Afghanistan since 2002. Over the course of the last eight years Capel says he has seen a lot of change.

“If I didn’t see change in what we are doing, I probably wouldn’t come back over here,” Capel said. “I see a whole lot of good every year that we come back over here. I see Afghans that are smiling now that weren’t smiling in 2002. I see Afghans going to school, getting educated that weren’t getting educated back then.”

Aside from his many tours in Afghanistan, he’s also obtained enough experience over the past 33 years of his military career to make sure that happens.

Throughout his career Capel has held positions such as team leader, squad leader, drill sergeant and instructor at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Reserve Officers Training Corps. He’s also held the position of first sergeant and has been a command sergeant major at the battalion, regimental and division level. Capel is also a jumpmaster.

He is married to Philadelphia native, retired Sgt. Maj. Marissa Capel, whom he met when he was an NCOA instructor. The Capels have three children; Shavona, Thomas and Calvin.

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