FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Every Soldier takes an oath when they enlist to live by the following seven Army Values: 'Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.'
From May 4 to 6, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Soldiers re-emphasized the meaning of these values by participating in various events during Living Army Values Week at Fort Bragg and in the local community.
It's all about getting back to the basics and building camaraderie, said Master Sgt. Deitra Alam, 1st TSC Chaplain's office sergeant major and a native of Federal Way, Washington. She went on to say that this week puts the Soldiers out front to recognize their talents while their comrades cheer them on. This is an opportunity to highlight the nation's greatest assets, its Soldiers.
The 1st TSC Command Chaplain's Office organized the three-day event to enhance the moral, ethical and spiritual development of the 1st TSC family.
Day one kicked off with a Spiritual Fitness race for individual runners followed by a three-mile espirit de corps run, all focusing on the Army Values - Courage and Integrity.
The Living Army Values Leadership Bowl took place later that day testing the Soldiers' knowledge about the Army Values in a Family Feud and Jeopardy-style gameshow competition between platoons of the 1st TSC.
The second day began with Soldiers participating in unit-level, scenario-based training with their platoons.
Following in the afternoon, more than 100 Soldiers volunteered in the Fayetteville community highlighting the Army Values - Loyalty, Honor, Selfless Service and Respect.
From sorting clothing and household items at the Salvation Army to providing food and assistance cleaning up the park areas around the Dream Center, 1st TSC Soldiers were ready to help where they were needed.
Other projects included cleaning up a highway, playing bingo with residents at a local veteran's home and packing snack packs for the homeless at Fayetteville Urban Ministry.
"This was a wake-up call to get out of my comfort zone and help others in the community," said Pvt. Darius Gibson, a native of Houston and human resource specialist with the 14th Human Resource Sustainment Center. "There are some people out here that are not blessed with the things we have and sometimes we take it for granted."
The final day ended with a Values Prayer Breakfast with special guest speaker Dr. Chuck Stecker, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and President and Founder of "A Chosen Generation."
Stecker spoke to the audience about having the intestinal fortitude to keep pushing forward despite any stumbling blocks that may show up along the way.
One great example he talked about was William Mervin "Billy" Mills, a Marine Olympian who defied the odds by winning the 10,000 meter run and set a world record in the 1964 U.S. Olympics.
"The prayer breakfast was very inspiring," said Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Griffin, Support Operations platoon sergeant and native of Auburn, Alabama. "To have someone who has actually been through the same things that Soldiers face every day I think was very relevant."
Stecker said he was truly honored to have the privilege to serve during Living Army Values Week.
The week of Living Army Values wrapped up with an awards ceremony to recognize winners from the race and the leadership bowl.
Stecker was also presented a glass trophy by Lt. Col. Landis Maddox, Special Troops Battalion commander. Maddox also thanked the leadership and Soldiers for supporting and participating in the various events.
He also recognized the efforts of the 1st TSC Chaplain team for hosting the week.
"This concept is an opportunity to reinforce these values rather than sitting in a theater or a classroom setting, said Chaplain (Col.) Raymond Robinson, 1st TSC Command Chaplain. "It's a great opportunity to experience, live it out, and then give back to the community through service projects."
(The 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) provides Theater Sustainment Mission Command to Army, Joint, and Multinational Forces in support of U.S. Central Command Unified Land Operations in order to enable the combatant commander's ability to prevent, shape, and win our nation's wars.)
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