Jefferson City Soldier takes command of National Guard infantry unit

Capt. Kevin R. Burkman, the new commander of B Company, 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment, is pictured with outgoing commander, Capt. Shaun Edwards and Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Kevin Fujimoto. (Bill Phelan photo)



Capt. Kevin R. Burkman speaks to his troops after taking command of B Company, 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment. (Bill Phelan photo)

By Bill Phelan
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - A Jefferson City Soldier, Capt. Kevin R. Burkman, is the new commanding officer of B Company of the 1st Battalion, 138th Light Infantry Regiment of the Missouri National Guard.

Burkman assumed command from Capt. Shaun Edwards during a ceremony Oct. 2 at company headquarters on south Kingshighway in St. Louis. Among those attending the ceremony was Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Kevin Fujimoto, Burkman's family and the noncommissioned officers of the unit.

"Being selected for this command is the pinnacle of my military career so far," Burkman said. "I want to learn what the strengths and weaknesses of the unit are and make sure we gel as a team."

As company commander, Burkman will lead more than 100 Soldiers, but is quick to point out that the 1-138th is an "NCO-lead battalion."

"The noncommissioned officers of this unit are very strong," he said. "When we deploy for war the majority of the operations are squad-level tactics, which are NCO-lead missions."

"I leave this command knowing that I empowered the noncommissioned officers of this unit," added Edwards. "In an infantry unit, NCOs have a greater role of responsibility."

Capt. Edwards will now serve the 1-138th as a battalion supply and logistics officer.

"Serving as B Company commander was one of the most rewarding jobs I've ever had," he said. "Leaving this job is not an easy thing to do but I know this unit will excel under the command of Capt. Burkman."

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Burkman served six years in the Navy before attending the University of Nebraska, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and psychology in 1997. While in college, Burkman joined the Army Reserve and attended officer's candidate school, earning his commission as a National Guard officer in 2005. A veteran of Somalia and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Burkman's awards include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal and the Officer Recruiter of the Year Award.

A 10-year veteran of the National Guard, Burkman's 21-year military career includes service with the field artillery, the military police, and most recently as a training officer for the 110th Maneuver and Enhancement Brigade in Kansas City. He also worked as an officer recruiter for the 27th Recruit and Retention Battalion.

Capt. Burkman and his wife, Karla, have three children, Rylee, Carter, and Masen.

The 1-138th Infantry Regiment is headquartered in Kansas City and maintains units in St. Louis, Boonville, Perryville, Monett, Anderson and Jefferson City.


For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.
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For more information about this release, please contact UPAR Bill Phelan at 314-416-1868 or cell, 314-556-5428 or e-mail bill.phelan@us.army.mil .