Reinstated: Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur “Cliff” Burgoyne Jr. of Fort Hood Suspended For use of Inappropriate Language
Update: “Command Sgt. Maj. Burgoyne is a tough leader who cares about every soldier in his formation. I have faith in his leadership, and I know his soldiers are his top priority,”
Full Release: Update: III Corps Command Sgt. Maj. Reinstated Following #USArmy Forces Command Investigation — U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Pat White, commanding general of III Corps, is reinstating Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur “Cliff” Burgoyne III following an investigation into allegedly using unprofessional language toward subordinates in December 2020. U.S. Army Forces Command concluded the investigation today, Jan. 22, 2021, which determined that Command Sgt. Maj. Burgoyne’s language was not unprofessional and he did not exhibit counterproductive leadership. “Putting #PeopleFirst includes holding our leaders to a high standard,” said Gen. Michael X. Garrett, commanding general of FORSCOM. “Command Sgt. Maj. Burgoyne is a tough leader who cares about every Soldier in his formation. I have faith in his leadership, and I know his #Soldiers are his top priority.” This investigation was unrelated to other investigations of III Corps and Fort Hood. A suspension is a temporary removal, often pending the results of an investigation, and is not punitive in nature. Command Sgt. Maj. Burgoyne will resume his duties at III Corps and Fort Hood.
Background: Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur “Cliff” Burgoyne Jr. has been temporarily suspended because he alledgedly “used language to address subordinates that did not meet the standards expected of a corps-level command sergeant major,” Stars and Stripes reported.
An investigation is launched into whether Sgt. Maj Burgoyne violated the “people first” policy when talking to subordinates, Army Times Wrote. clarifying that the unprofessional language had nothing to do with race, gender, sexual orientation or sexual harassment.
The Army official characterized the comments in question as “direct talk” that is sometimes used within light infantry formations, where Burgoyne spent much of his career, but not what is expected of a corps-level command sergeant major.
So what is the People First Policy: “The time is now to transform how we take care of our people, our doctrine, our organizations, our training, our equipment, and how we compete around the world,” Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James C. McConville said.
The four-star general vowed people would be his No. 1 priority. Not just Soldiers, but also their families, Army civilians, and Soldiers for Life.
For McConville, “people first” is more than a tagline, “it’s a philosophy,” he said. “When we take care of our people and treat each other with dignity and respect, we will have a much stronger, and more committed Army.
“It’s always [been] people first,” he said. “People are our greatest strength and most important weapons system.”
Command Sergeant Major Cliff Burgoyne is a native of Slidell, Louisiana and graduated from Central Texas College with an Associate’s Degree. He entered the United States Army in September of 1986 with the Louisiana National Guard and entered Active Duty at Fort Hood, Texas in December of 1992.
CSM Burgoyne has served as an Infantry Team Leader and Squad Leader with B Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Richardson, Alaska; Long Range Surveillance Halo Team Leader F Company, 51st Infantry, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Ranger Instructor with 5th Ranger Training Battalion, Camp Merrill, Dahlonega, Georgia; Instructor and Platoon Sergeant with 5th Ranger Training Battalion, Camp Merrill, Dahlonega, Georgia and again served as a Platoon Sergeant with three companies for the 1st Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; First Sergeant of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion 13th Infantry Regiment, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion 60th Infantry Regiment; HHC 193rd Infantry Brigade and Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment; Operations Sergeants Major for 2nd Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment; Command Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT), Train Advise Assist Command-South, Kandahar, Afghanistan, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center and most recently served as the Division Command Sergeant Major for the 82nd ABN DIV. CSM Burgoyne deployed six times, 3x Iraq, 3x Afghanistan.
CSM Burgoyne’s military education includes all corresponding levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System. CSM Burgoyne is also a graduate of Ranger School, Jumpmaster, Military Free Fall, Long Range Surveillance Leaders Course, Pathfinder, Basic Military Mountaineering Summer and Winter, Assault Climber Course, Northern Warfare Training Center Infantry Course-Winter, Army Instructor Training Course and Emergency Medical Technician-Basic Course.
His awards include Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (6 OLC), Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal (2), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2), Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Thailand, British, Italian, Chilean and German Parachutist Badges and the Ranger Tab.