CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – A Warhorse Soldier was the first in the public affairs branch and among the first Army-wide to receive a battlefield promotion under a new policy that allows exceptional Soldiers to be promoted before their peers while deployed.
Pfc. Seth Barham, a broadcast journalist with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, was promoted to specialist June 3, with a date of rank of May 20.
The Army recently allowed battlefield promotions, which was a common practice during World War II and continued through subsequent wars until the end of the Vietnam Conflict. After a successful year-long pilot program that began in April 2008 and saw more than 900 Soldiers promoted, the Army decided to officially reinstate battlefield promotions.
Barham, a 25-year-old native of Exeter, N.H., was able to advance to the rank of specialist five months before fulfilling the typical time-in-service requirement.
"Since he came to the unit, Barham conducted himself in a manner far beyond what his rank suggested. It seemed only fitting to get him promoted as soon as possible,” said Staff Sgt. Carlos M. Burger II, public affairs noncommissioned officer-in-charge, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., and a native of Hampton, Va.
“I believe Barham is the first public affairs Soldier to be recognized in this program and that's a pretty significant achievement that no one can take away from him," continued Burger.
“The fact that I was even nominated meant a lot. It meant the people working around me appreciate me and appreciate what I bring to the table day in and day out,” said Barham. “The fact of the matter is, my chain of command didn't have to do it. They chose to and that is a very special feeling.”
As to why he was nominated, he shrugged and said he just tries to work hard to do the best he can, whatever the job, whatever the mission.
“I try to produce. If you produce in anything you ever try, no one can really get on your case. It's just like winning in sports,” said Barham. “When you produce, you instantly become an asset to the team instead of a detriment.”
“We are proud of Seth and his promotion. We just think it is amazing that Seth got a battlefield promotion,” his parents wrote in an email. “He loves what he does and he will go far. We are very proud of Seth serving his country.”
Both of his parents served in the Army. His mother, Susan, served as a supply sergeant for five years and his father, Ernest is a Vietnam Veteran who served as a mechanic and retired as a sergeant first class.
“My parents weren't necessarily my inspiration for joining, even though they did a number of good things in the service,” said Barham. “When I came down to which branch of service I would join, they had a huge impact on that. It was Army all the way.” “I joined the Army to gain more structure and discipline in my life and to serve my country at the same time,” said Barham, who enlisted Jan. 8, 2008. “Serving my country is a great honor. I believe everyone should have to do it at least once in their lives.”
“The opportunities in the Army are endless and when you reach a point where you might get a little bored with some aspect of it, you can always go to a new school or try a new aspect of your job,” continued Barham. “There are always options to make your time in the Army exciting and fulfilling.”
“Making the Army a career is a possibility,” explained Barham. “However, my dream in life is to work in the management capacity for a professional sports team.”
Though he does not know what the future holds, he said he is content to do his job as well as he can, as a Soldier and a journalist.
“My job is to tell the Soldier’s story and the Army's story, primarily by way of video product,” Barham concluded. “The best part of my job is letting people outside the Army see what a great job the American Soldier does on a daily basis. When a Soldier tells me that his family was able to see him on the computer, television or hear them on the radio, it makes my job very satisfying.”
