U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joe Addison ... Proud To Serve
by U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Wratee
April 19, 2026

Raised in Lydia, South Carolina, Lt. Col. Joe Addison was not from a military family. He decided to serve to better himself and set an example.

Now, after 35 years in uniform, he reflects less on rank and titles and more on the experiences and people that defined his service.

Over the course of his career, he's held multiple roles and deployed six times to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. He began as a 13B, field artillery cannon crewmember, and rose to assignments as a drill sergeant, signal officer, commander, inspector general, and ultimately a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

"I joined the Army for two simple reasons," Addison said. "I wanted to be a positive example for some of the younger kids back home, and I wanted to make my mom proud."

Addison enlisted in 1991 and spent his first decade on active duty, rising to the rank of sergeant first class. Of all his assignments, he said one stood above the rest.

"Being a drill sergeant was the most memorable assignment I had," he said. "What I learned during that time was that you are building a bench for the U.S. Army. Every group of new trainees will replace a seasoned Soldier. Whether it's in nine weeks, nine months, or nine years, one of the Soldiers you train will pick up where someone else left off. As a drill sergeant, you have the opportunity to shape the future of the Army."

At Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Addison wore the "brown round," formally known as the drill sergeant campaign hat. There, he trained hundreds of recruits by setting the example.

"At first, I was robotic because I was building a professional image," he said. "But then I realized I had to be human too. Soldiers need to see that. They need to remember you for the right reasons."

That balance of firm standards and genuine care became the foundation of his leadership style. But his leadership philosophy didn't develop in isolation. In 1991, when Addison was a trainee himself, one drill sergeant left a lasting impression — Drill Sgt. Jenkins.

"I wanted to be just like him," Addison said. "Funny thing is, years later, when I was a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson, I ran into him again. I instinctively snapped to parade rest. He was retired, and I was wearing the brown round myself, but that respect never went away."

During his first deployment, while still enlisted, Addison submitted a direct-commission packet and the Army selected him for a commission. His commissioning board didn't convene in a formal conference room or ceremony hall, but instead in a theater inside a tent, with Addison seated on a milk crate.

"That's just the Army," he said with a laugh. "You do what you have to do where you are."

As an officer, Addison continued learning from leaders around him. He credits his time serving as an aide-de-camp to then-Brig. Gen. Lawrence Brock with broadening his understanding of leadership at the strategic level.

"General Brock was a people person," Addison said. "From junior enlisted to senior leaders, everyone mattered to him. They all had something to contribute. That humility stuck with me."

Addison later served in operational units, recruiting assignments, and nearly five years as an inspector general — including one year overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says his time as an inspector general reinforced what he believes leadership is ultimately about: accountability and trust.

"As an inspector general, you're there to find the truth and be part of the solution," he said. "Soldiers and leaders deserve fairness. There are checks and balances for a reason."

For Addison, the position wasn't about investigations or paperwork; it was about protecting people and strengthening the force. After 35 years, Addison doesn't see his service as defined by a single assignment or deployment. While his uniform reflects the awards and badges he earned over time, he says he was never chasing recognition.

"I'm happy with how my career turned out. I'd do it all over again. I met so many good people and lived so many great experiences."

As the Army Reserve in Europe marks 70 years of service, Addison is one of countless Soldiers who have contributed to that legacy. From a young enlistee from a small South Carolina town to a lieutenant colonel who served across three continents, his career is part of a formation that has stood ready in Europe for seven decades — to serve, to lead, and to make those at home proud.

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