Dedication; Through blood, sweat, tears, sparks and magic smoke, regardless of the situation at hand, always give your best.
Expertise; Through dedication, achieve what was once thought impossible. Push boundaries. Hone your edge through and through, to the finest of grits. Don’t just become an expert, know you are, and act as such. Know your worth.
Leadership; Through your acquired expertise, bring folks together, and ensure that not a single one is left behind. Everyone counts. Everyone deserves your time, effort and respect. Do not falter, and do not let them down.
Legacy; Through your leadership, expertise and dedication, ensure that those who walk in your steps can learn all of the above. Share your wisdom. Give those who will carry on a torch worth holding high and proud.
These are lessons that were not taught to me through life. You may be surprised by me saying that I have always struggled with my sense of self-worth and identity. I have often lost sight of my accomplishments and only saw my stumbles and falls, not the marathonian distances covered.
This changed drastically when I joined the 29th. I was met with a firm, respectful guiding hand, and a clear path laid ahead of me. I knew what I had to do, and before long I realized I knew how to do it, too! From a bumbling Pvt. who could barely get an English sentence together and land one shot out of a full magazine on target… all the way to a Sgt. who was respected by her peers and subordinates… down the road heading back to what has genuinely felt like home in the Spitfires, DP3S1, folks I consider honorary family at this point… achieving the first Expert Combat Engineer badge in Dog Company history… hosting classes… teaching the next generation of CEs… I have achieved A LOT!
I do not say this lightly when I say the 29th not only changed the trajectory of my life, but may very well have wholeheartedly saved it back when I rejoined in 2018. You all have made a serious and genuine impact on who I am as a person, and there are very few words I can think of that can convey how blessed I am to have been your trainee, squadmate, ASL, squad leader, peer… but most importantly, your friend.
It’s with a thankful, content and heavy heart that I am retiring from the 29th. Just as it provided me with a clear path to follow in my formative years, life has granted me equal clarity, and the path it has lit up is one that no longer overlaps with the 29th. This is by no means to say I will never guest a drill here and there, or hang out with folks outside of the unit! Think of it more like… a grizzled old grandma who’ll occasionally send thumps on live from her porch, sitting on a rocking chair to let it soak the recoil instead of her tired shoulder. Just keep an ear out… if you hear a “THWOOMP!” when live is called, you’ll know I’m not too far. 
I wish nothing but the best to every single one of you, and I’ll see you around.
As always, EVER FORWARD!
-Sasha L. Greeves
