Sgt. Maj. Scott R. Wilmot, U.S. Army Force Management Support Agency, received a Legion of Merit award Friday for his exemplary service and for formulating long-lasting strategic senior-enlisted structure initiatives in his three years as the unit's senior enlisted advisor.
With 30 years in the Army, Wilmot is honored to receive the highest peacetime award a Soldier can receive.
"I'm ecstatic actually. I was here as a private as an engineer in 1983 and got an Army Achievement Medal back then," said Wilmot. "To stand here in front of a two-star general receiving a Legion of Merit after 30 years in the Army is unbelievable."
Wilmot's efforts deserve more than a Legion of Merit medal, according to Maj. Gen. John M. Murray, USAFMSA director.
"It's very prestigious for a peace time award and is the pinnacle departure award that most people wish they could get and don't get," said Murray. "It says he's lived up to the creed of the noncommissioned officer. He takes his duties and responsibilities very seriously, he understands his job and he performs beyond standard in everything he does."
Serving as USAFMSA's sergeant major from July 1, 2010 to April 5, 2013, Wilmot set a standard of how a sergeant major should function within a unit as he was a confidant to the director and deputy commander of the unit, and also juggled responsibilities at the Pentagon.
"He advises the director of Force Management and the Sergeant Major of the Army," said Col. Steve Stebbins, USAFMSA deputy commander. "He's also the advisor for Force Management Support Agency. I perform the day to day leadership on behalf of Maj. Gen. Murray, so like any good sergeant major, Wilmot helps me arrange personnel issues, structure issues, all those things a commander works out with his sergeant major in addition to projects he's received from the Sergeant Major of the Army."
Murray transitioned into the director position a year ago and relied on Wilmot for an introduction on what the director of Force Management is supposed to do and not supposed to do, and making sure others in the unit were keeping up to standard.
"He has looked out for my back from the day I got here to make sure I was where I needed to be with what I need and done everything you would expect from a senior NCO," said Murray. "He's done a good job of policing up O-6s and O-5s and letting them know when they're not following standards in terms of what is expected from them."
Since this is Murray's first force management leadership position, Wilmot wanted to make sure Murray had everything he needed to easily move into the role.
"What does he need to know to get him through the first 30, 60, 90 days?" said Wilmot of his thought process for Murray. "I realized this was his first force management position, so I tried to put myself into his shoes as far as being a senior leader coming into force management and being responsible for the daily actions."
Murray said when he hears Wilmot's name, the word perfection comes to mind because of Wilmot's impeccable attention to detail.
"He runs himself ragged making sure every wrinkle is out of every flag," said Murray. "The people are where they need to be, when they need to be there. He's herded lieutenant colonels and majors around. He crosses all the 't's' and dots all the 'i's' with everything he does."
Wilmot spent a year in the Army Reserve due to a low score on his ASVAB test he got from staying out all night the night before his test. He said, coupled with martial arts training, the Army's culture formed his attention to detail.
"It's something the Army trained me to do," said Wilmot.
He will relish his time working for a two-star general and the opportunity to help Soldiers in theatre when he looks back on his time at Fort Belvoir, according to Wilmot.
"Every day I did something that affected a Soldier in a fox-hole even though I've never seen their faces," said Wilmot. "Understanding the value of that -- and not taking advantage of that situation -- and being a voice for Soldiers, is something I will never forget."
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