The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.15.2021 | Football
The retired brigadier general will be honored when Texas Football hosts Oklahoma State.
What began as a step forward to better support his family grew into a three-decade-long service career to the world community at large.
Charles Schoening was working for the City of Austin and reached out to a National Guard recruiter in pursuit of a second job. The idea of once-a-month training assignments appealed to his enjoyment of the outdoors and sense of adventure, as well as Schoening's desire to provide for his wife and three daughters at home.
He enlisted in 1989 and was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 1991 as an Army Engineer Officer.
"Opportunities kept opening up, and I kept following the path," Schoening said.
The path intensified after Sept. 11, 2001. He spent the better part of the next five years away from home. And overall, during his 32 years of service, among four combat zone deployments, hurricanes and civil support, Schoening estimates 50 percent of his time was in active duty.
"It was a lot of sacrifice we did not anticipate," Schoening said.
Schoening's military education includes Basic Combat Training, the Engineer Officer Basic Course, the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Intermediate Level Education, the Advanced Operations Warfighter Course, the Contingency Engineer Manager's Course and the Senior Service College.
He holds undergraduate and master's degrees in the areas of environmental science, policy and re-source strategy.
His key military assignments include: action officer at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Washington D.C., infantry division engineer and multiple command appointments, including the 176th Engineer Brigade. He assumed command during April 2016 and led a one-year mobilization and de-ployment in the Middle East.
As an engineer officer, Schoening encountered combat assignments, which included providing barriers for base security and clearing obstacles and routes. He was also involved in construction engineering projects that included airfield repair, building out facilities and developing new bases throughout Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.
"We were all over, doing all sorts of things," Schoening said. "It was very rewarding to be able to lead that mission and engage with the soldiers. A key part of leadership is understanding soldier needs and making sure they have the resources needed to be successful."
His final assignment was to serve as the Commander of the 71st Troop Command.
Throughout his military career, Schoening was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars and the Combat Action Badge. He is also the recipient of the Franklin Award from the Department of State and the Silver de Fleury Medal from the Army En-gineer Association.
Schoening now oversees operations in Central Texas for an engineering consulting firm, and he resides in Georgetown with his wife, Kay. They have three children and five grandchildren.
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