COLUMBIA, SC (SCDVA) - Lamont Christian, a retired Army Command Sergeant Major and Director of the Warrior PATHH Program at The Big Red Barn Retreat in Blythewood has been selected by SCDVA's Internal Selection Commitee as the newest Veteran of the Quarter (January - March 2023).

“I am extremely pleased to have been recognized as SCDVA Veteran of the Quarter," says Christian. "The honors go to all my fellow team members at The Big Red Barn Retreat, as it is largely due to their collective attitudes and efforts that I have got this far.”

"No one deserves this acknowledgement of being selected as Veteran of the Quarter more so than Lamont Christian," says David Williams, the Executive Director of The Big Red Barn Retreat. "He is out there every day helping Veterans who are struggling and making a difference in their lives for not only those Veterans in Midlands but throughout the entire state. It's an honor to serve with him at The Big Red Barn Retreat and see the difference he is making firsthand every day. I also really appreciate the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs for recognizing our Veterans, like Lamont Christian, and how they continue to serve in a different capacity helping our fellow Veterans in South Carolina."

Lamont Christian, is a native of Brooklyn, New York and resides in Elgin, SC. He entered the Army Reserves as a Parachute Rigger in 1986 and later entered active duty, completing Infantry One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served his country as a Noncommissioned Officer from 1986 to 2018, serving in several combat operations during Desert Shield/ Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan).

Christian held every leadership capacity from Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Command Sergeant Major, Commandant and Post Command Sergeant Major. His assignments included tours of duty with The Army Training Center and Fort Jackson, The United States Army Drill Sergeant Academy, Fort Jackson; 101st Airborne Div. (AASLT) Fort Campbell, Kentucky; 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy, Fort Benning, Georgia; 82nd Airborne Division, 18th Airborne Corps, United States Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He is recognized around the world as "America’s Drill Sergeant" having led the Army’s only Drill Sergeant Academy and having his voice premiered in the Gatorade HARD WORK military cadence commercial and also for being the Army’s Senior Enlisted Leader for the Commander of the world’s largest training post and center of excellence for initial military training at Fort Jackson. 

Since retiring in 2018, after 33 years of service, he continues to assist nonprofit organizations, Law Enforcement and First Responder organizations by providing leadership, training improvement and development. He serves the community at-large nationwide in various causes for the betterment of social, economic and progressing services for veterans and those who support veterans and their Families. He has sat on countless committees of change to include the Hawaii Supreme Court Subcommittee Member for equality in the Courts and the National Major Gang Task Force and has been recognized as the Midlands Chamber of Commerce 2022 Military Advocate of the Year. He is currently serving as a Richland County Reserve Deputy and the Director of the Warrior PATHH Program at The Big Red Barn Retreat in Blythewood.

CSM (Ret.) Lamont Christian was nominated by SCDVA's Deputy Director of Operations, Dan Wrightsman, for Veteran of the Week during the January - March 2023 quarter. We thank Lamont Christian for past and present service to our nation's military and the great state of South Carolina!