FORT HOOD, Texas - Being a Soldier in the Army takes hard work and dedication, but for one "Brave Rifles" Trooper, it's the embodiment of a leader.
Sgt. Christopher Starbuck, a cannon crew member with Battery B, Steel Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment knows the key to success and continuously works on self-improvement.
His recent victory during the 1st Cavalry Division's noncommissioned officer of the quarter board was one step towards making him a better leader, and his chain of command wants him to continue to compete.
"When I asked for recommendations for the board, everyone said Sgt. Starbuck," said Sgt. 1st Class Rodel Yado, acting first sergeant of Battery B. "We knew he was a go-getter, confident, and would excel at any given task."
Although initially feeling nervous when told he would be attending the promotion board, he pressed forward toward earning the next level of leadership, Starbuck said.
"I didn't think I was ready to be a NCO, but my platoon sergeant blessed off on me going to the promotion board almost immediately and said "you need to go,'" said Starbuck.
So he went to the promotion board and confidently stated there wasn't a question he didn't know. He then was recommended to compete at the NCO of the quarter board for Steel Squadron.
"A lot of time, practice and patience goes into preparing for it," said Starbuck. "I rewrite and reread all of my note cards to help with memorization for board questions."
He didn't stop at the squadron level, and continued to the 3d CR Soldier of the quarter board against 14 of his peers - and won.
"It's an honor any time I get to go in to the regimental building - it has so much history; I always find myself walking up and down the hallways reading the history on the walls, although I've probably read it like a million times," said Starbuck.
Last week, Starbuck competed and won the 1st Cav. Div. board after four strenuous days of Soldier tasks including an Army Physical Fitness test, a written test, weapons qualification, a day and night land navigation course, and a board-style questioning section with the unit's senior enlisted personnel.
"This board was very strict and challenging," said Starbuck. "There were so many outstanding competitors. It was a small six-point margin that allowed me to win... I did the best that I could."
Not only has Starbuck won the NCO of the quarter board, but he recently graduated from Fort Hood's Air Assault School and is slotted to attend airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia, in two weeks. He also hopes to attend Ranger school in the future.
"I believe in setting military, career goals for myself and then accomplishing or exceeding them," said Starbuck.
He not only believes in personal growth, but also in the growth of others as well. He encourages his Soldiers to set goals and achieve them, he said.
"I'm always here [at the office] before and after normal work hours in case my Soldiers need anything," he said. "Often, I get told to go home."
"A lot of our Soldiers look up to him and seeing him do all of this stuff such as air assault school and winning the boards makes them want to go out and try it too," said Yado.
"I have a strong support system at home that allows me to be there for my Soldiers," Starbuck mentioned.
Starbuck's support system includes his wife, children, and father, who is an active duty service member.
"I watched my father as I was growing up and considered how my dad operated as a cheat sheet to successfully progressing in the military," said Starbuck, doting on his father, 1st Sgt. Mark Tobey of Company C, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cav. Div.
"I'm so proud of my son," said Tobey. "He has proven that he will excel in his Army career."
Starbuck often runs into his father's Soldiers on Fort Hood. He usually asks the Soldiers about their first sergeant, unbeknownst to the Soldiers of their family relationship, but he has never heard a negative comment about his father as their leader.
"Usually they tell me they wish that 1st Sgt. Toby wasn't leaving, and he's a great leader; it's comments like this that make me want to strive to be a great leader," said Starbuck. "I hope I can be half the leader my father is, and someday my Soldiers will say things like this about me."
"My father always gives me good advice, but he never pressures me into anything, because he wants me to discover my own way and leadership style," he continued. "It's an honor not only to be mentored by such an outstanding NCO, but also the fact that he's my father."
Tobey usually mentors his son on leadership such as knowing his Soldiers and always putting their needs above his own.
In retrospect, Starbuck said he is proud to have had the opportunity to go as far as he did in the NCO of the quarter board and his three-year military career. His next stop is the III Corps, Fort Hood NCO of the quarter board slated for November.
"He's a great leader; he's the type of NCO we dream of as senior leaders in our formations, because they are the ones that make a big difference within the unit," said Yado.
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