Coming up on 20 years of service in the U.S. Army, Master Sergeant (MSG) Stephen Tatar has gained a wealth of experience and accomplishment. He has completed three combat tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan, received numerous awards, and served as senior military science instructor for the IU Indianapolis Army ROTC program over the past three years. Now, he prepares for his retirement from the Army.
Reflecting on his service, Tatar said that the proudest he’s been, and the most fun he’s had, was when he was a first sergeant at Fort Carson in Colorado.
“Being in charge of around 100 soldiers—their livelihoods, their training, their well-being—is one of the more satisfying jobs I’ve been able to have in the Army,” said Tatar about his time at Fort Carson.
When he became the senior military science instructor for Army ROTC, Tatar continued to apply his leadership skills to overseeing the training of cadets, something that was previously outside the scope of his experience.
“I was a little timid at first, since it was the first time I’d been in a position like this, but I’ve had a great time, and it’s been a really eye-opening experience,” Tatar said.
His favorite part about the role has been being able to see cadets progress from first years all the way up to commissioned officers. Through the program, Tatar has impressed upon the cadets diverse ways to understand their own unique leadership styles, which they can take forward in any career they choose.
“Not everyone leads the same way—not everyone is an effective leader when doing it a certain way,” said Tatar, “So I try to get them to figure out what works for them and what kinds of tools they’re able to implement, so they can be successful not only in the military, but also their civilian jobs as well.”
Now, over the next few months, Tatar will go through a transition period before his retirement, during which he is apprenticing with the IBEW 481 Electrical Union in Indianapolis. The opportunity to apprentice to secure employment post-retirement was afforded to him by the Army.
“Anyone who’s departing from the military—whether they’ve done four years or twenty—is allowed time to transition and do an internship,” said Tatar. “It really sets people up for success.”
As he continues to his next journey, we wish the best to Tatar and thank him for his service to our country and to the Army. To learn more about the Army ROTC program at IU Indianapolis—a part of the School of Health & Human Sciences—visit rotc.indianapolis.iu.edu.