Sgt. Maj. Tracey Anbiya will be missed

Photos by Marny Malin
Installation Command Sergeant Major Tracey Anbiya greets a member of the community during the 1,000th home celebration in Park Village earlier this year.

Installation Command Sgt. Maj. Tracey Anbiya has always put others before herself. Her time here at Fort Belvoir was no different.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Anbiya was always the front-runner for Soldier issues," said deputy garrison commander, JoAnn Blanks. "She took the Army adage of 'take care of our own' personally, and was always willing to work the best solutions for the Soldier and the Army."

Anbiya's current and former commanders praised her ability to find the right solutions while keeping a positive attitude.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Anbiya's ability to resolve important issues and her natural instinct to help Soldiers and civilians will be missed," Installation Commander Col. Jerry Blixt said. "It is going to be hard to replace the infectious smile she brings to all that she does."

Col. Brian Lauritzen, former installation commander, said he felt very blessed as a commander to have had Anbiya as his "battle buddy."

"As an officer, I was honored to have her provide me with valuable insight that a senior enlisted advisor provides to our officer corps," Lauritzen said. "Most importantly for me was the time we shared together in mutual mentorship, as confidants and professionals and friends.

"A critical concern for leaders is to 'know what right looks like' and, with Anbiya, I always had that example of right," Lauritzen said.

As she prepares to leave for her next tour, Anbiya said her biggest reward was making a difference in the lives of others. She was an advocate of taking care of families during the holidays; taking food to the shelter outside Tulley Gate; and ensuring common policies and procedures were in effect.

Anbiya entered the Army Aug. 28, 1984, and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, with the 522nd Military Intelligence Battalion.

Before she came to Fort Belvoir in 2005, she was stationed at Garlstedt, Germany; Berlin Brigade in Berlin; Ansbach and Heidelberg, both in Germany. Before being stationed in Berlin in 1991, she was a drill instructor for two years at Fort Jackson, S.C.

At Fort Belvoir, she started out as the Headquarters Battalion Special Activities Command Sergeant Major and was selected as the Installation Command Sergeant Major in June 2006.

"The best part of my time here has been getting to know the people who take care of our servicemembers and their families and forming relationships and partnerships with all those inside and outside the gates," Anbiya said. "We are truly blessed to have such caring professionals working on and affiliated with this installation and it's evident in their everyday service."

Anbiya leaves a legacy of her own service to the installation. During her time at Belvoir she was instrumental in the renovations of the barracks; the continued development of the Warrior in Transition Unit; bringing Gospel concerts to the community; and National Capital Region Joint Breakfasts.

"I am most proud of the NCO and Soldier of the Quarter and Year competitions because the support for these boards was outstanding," Anbiya said. "Various units on the installation sent their Soldiers and NCOs to compete, making these boards a challenging and rewarding experience that will last throughout their military career."

Next week, Anbiya returns to Heidelberg, to serve as the Installation Management Command Europe Region Command Sergeant Major.

"I am deeply humbled and grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to making a difference there," Anbiya said.

"I want to send a heartfelt thank you to our community. So many of you do great things every day and I am honored to have served with each of you," Anbiya
said. "Thank you for allowing me to serve as your installation command sergeant major, thank you for the memories and may God continue to bless each of you
and this great installation."