BAUMHOLDER, Germany — Usually when a young person joins the military, they are looking for some direction. College money, a sense of adventure or seeing the world are some popular reasons for joining.
For Capt. Christopher Booker, he knew the military would give him experience to secure greater opportunities for himself and his family.
Booker is currently a public affairs officer with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, deployed to Germany in support of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe.
Booker never really set out to wear the uniform. By the time the Army came into the picture, he already had a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Delaware State University, a master’s degree focused on law enforcement administration from St. Joseph’s University and a job in probation.
On paper, he was well on his way to the career he had imagined as a kid. All that was left was something to put his resume above reproach.
“The last thing to do was military experience,” Booker said. “That’s when I decided to take the leap, something I never really considered before.”
That leap took him to the Pennsylvania National Guard and eventually into the Simultaneous Membership Program where he served in the Guard while training as a cadet at West Chester University. There, the Army became more of a personal endeavor rather than just a job. Booker still points to one leader in particular, one of his cadre members at West Chester, Sgt. 1st Class Royd Nuckols, as the model he tries to live up to.
“He led with humility and taught with patience,” Booker said. “He created an atmosphere where you wanted to learn and you never wanted to let him down because he was that influential to your career. I wanted to be a great officer so I could lead Soldiers like he did.”
As he neared commissioning, Booker thought carefully about what came next. He knew he wanted his military experience to connect with life outside the uniform just as strongly as his degrees and probation work did. As with many Soldiers, he pursued an Army career field that would transition well to the civilian world. Nothing, according to Booker, translates better to the civilian world than human resources.
Commissioned in 2019 as a human resources officer in the Adjutant General Corps, Booker found a place where his instincts about people and communication were the mission. According to him, the core of the job is simple but demanding.
“In any relationship, family, romantic or business, it all remains the same. Communication is key,” Booker said. “The ability to communicate effectively can determine the trajectory of your life.”
If communication is the engine, people are the priority. One of the first lessons that stuck with him in AG school was that every regulation, every report and every formation ultimately comes down to human beings.
“One of the most important lessons you learn in AG is that people are the most important aspect in the Army,” Booker said. “You take care of people, they are more likely to take care of you. I take pride in that and try to help my Soldiers whenever possible, because their concerns are my concerns.”
For Booker, that responsibility means creating space for Soldiers to be honest before trying to solve their problems. When one Soldier approached him while struggling with family issues, Booker set his rank aside and focused first on listening.
“We stepped outside, I took off my rank and let him unburden himself. Having a non-judgmental outlet was very good for him,” Booker said, adding that he shared his own experience with similar challenges. “That moment was the bonding of Soldiers, but building the trust outside of a working relationship has gone a long way.”
That mindset did not just appear when he put the AG branch insignia on his chest. It traces back to his family and the expectations he grew up with about education and effort. Learning was not something you stopped doing when the degree was finished.
“Education has always been important in my family,” Booker said. “The idea of being a lifelong learner was instilled in me at a very young age.”
When he joined Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, he found a motto that put that expectation into words. “Achievement in every field of human endeavor.” He has tried to embody that motto since 2008.
Those values show up in his civilian work as well, where Booker has built a career that requires focus, patience and precision. The technical side of his job has sharpened how he approaches problems in uniform. It has also taught him to look at every scenario with patience.
“Multiple correct answers may present themselves, however there’s always one response for that specific scenario,” Booker said. “Be diligent, take my time, and find the best solution for that specific problem because the devil is in the details.”
That commitment to growth also applies to the parts of his military career that have not come naturally. As a public affairs officer, Booker has had to confront a fear of public speaking. He knew he could not avoid it if he wanted to excel in the role. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable, as he puts it.
Instead of avoiding the challenge, Booker joined a local Toastmasters chapter to strengthen his public speaking skills and build confidence in front of an audience.
With a demanding civilian career, a commission in the Guard and a full life outside of both, it would be easy for the lines to blur. Booker is intentional about not letting that happen.
“I balance it all by setting priorities and keeping the main thing, the main thing,” Booker said. “I know what goals I have for myself, and people close to me fully support me, which makes things a lot easier. Honestly, my main trick is not to bring work home. Work is work. I keep that completely separate from my family and personal life as much as possible.”
Away from the office, the unit and the deployment, Booker is quick to talk about being a father, a son, a brother and a friend. He’s a die-hard Eagles fan who enjoys anime and karaoke, but he is just as interested in what the people around him care about.
He knows few share his same interests. People have all different kinds of interests that he may or may not even know about. But he also knows that even if Soldiers do not share interests, learning about them can help build understanding and relationships.
“Genuinely taking an interest in another person’s hobbies or interests is the best and fastest way to connect with somebody,” Booker said. “Especially someone you don’t share common interests with.”
That curiosity has become part of his leadership style. Whether he is meeting a new Soldier or getting to know a member of his own team on a deeper level, he tries to start with sincere questions. To him, genuine interest displays a human element which allows leaders to connect with Soldiers on a deeper level. It helps establish trust, and sometimes friendship.
Spc. Skylin Simpson, a public affairs specialist also deployed with the 109th MPAD, has seen that approach firsthand. Rather than remaining on the sidelines, Simpson said Booker makes a point of working alongside Soldiers and taking an interest in what they do.
“Capt. Booker connects with the Soldiers in our unit by simply participating and working with them,” Simpson said. “He doesn’t shy away from asking questions about the camera and enjoying music with us during the workday.”
For Simpson, Booker’s investment also extends beyond the workday. As Soldiers balance long hours, mission requirements and physical readiness during deployment, Booker has made time to help his Soldiers pursue their fitness goals.
In addition to his duties as a public affairs officer, Booker serves as the 109th MPAD’s master fitness trainer.
“Capt. Booker has always taken the time to make sure his Soldiers are physically ready, going out of his way to go on runs with me and giving me advice in the gym,” Simpson said.
Booker’s leadership philosophy is straightforward. It is about dignity, consistency and how people are treated when nobody is watching. Simpson said that standard applies regardless of rank or position.
“I can’t think of a single time he has treated someone differently due to rank or position,” Simpson said. “He doesn’t exclude people from discussions and encourages feedback.”
From a young man chasing a law-enforcement dream to a captain balancing service, career and family, that principle has followed him at every step. For the Soldiers who work with Booker today, it is a quality they see in the way he listens, advocates and leads.
“I want to lead by example and treat others as I would want to be treated,” Booker said. “Simply put, treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO.”
