Warrant officer nominations sought for new MI award

By Lori S. TaggFebruary 2, 2016

Fort Huachuca, Arizona - A brand-new annual award, the CW5 Rex A. Williams Award, honors warrant officers for excellence in Military Intelligence (MI).

Nominations are being accepted for the 2016 Williams Award through April 1. To be eligible, a candidate must be an MI company grade warrant officer 1 or chief warrant officer 2 in the Active Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard.

The candidate must have performed actions during his or her career that positively promote, impact, advance and bring honor to the MI profession. The candidate must possess an MI warrant officer military occupational specialty and be fully eligible for continued service for at least one year after award presentation, through June 2017 for the 2016 recipient. No posthumous awards will be presented.

Candidates must also meet the height and weight standards specified in Army Regulation 600-9, maintain a current passing grade on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) which is waived for deployed nominees unable to take the APFT, and must not be under an unfavorable personnel or Uniformed Code of Military Justice action. Recipients of the 2016 Williams Award will be recognized at a luncheon during the MI Corps Hall of Fame Week in June.

This award is named in honor of Retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Rex A. Williams. Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1971 and served as an imagery and intelligence analyst in Germany, Korea, Hawaii and various locations throughout the continental United States. He improved training, mentored countless Soldiers, and defined the processes of Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, which remains the foundation of intelligence analysis. He also served as the first chief warrant officer of the MI Corps. During his tenure, he modernized every aspect of the MI warrant officer corps, from accessions to leader development. Williams is recognized foremost for his 31 years of outstanding service and contribution to MI as well as his strong devotion to the nation and the Soldiers who serve.

Nominations for the 2016 Williams Award must be received not later than April 1. Mail complete nomination packets to Command Historian, ATTN: CW5 Rex Williams Award, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, 1889 Hatfield Street, Building 62723, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-7000. Soft copy nominations will also be accepted.

For questions, assistance or to obtain full nomination procedures including email address for soft copy submissions, call the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence command historian at 520.533.4113 or Defense Switched Network 821.4113.