During the Command Sergeant and Sergeant Majors Conference March 2, Sergeant Michael Cessna, Headquarters and Operations Company, 715th Military Intelligence Battalion, 500th MI Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii was presented with the Command Sergeant Major Doug Russell Award by Command Sgt. Maj. Gerardus Wykoff, Military Intelligence Corps command sergeant major, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca.
The award recognizes a Soldier, in the rank of sergeant or below who has made a significant contribution to the Military Intelligence Corps, or non-military intelligence Soldiers assigned to a MI unit. Although nominees need not be MI Soldiers, their achievement must be in direct contribution to the MI mission.
The Soldier played a key role as the lead reporter of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Signal Intelligence Platoon during their deployment to Iraq from Dec. 2007 to February 2009. As a direct reesult of his efforts, the platoon received a prestigious award. for the best tactical SIGINT unit in the Army for 2008.
Cessna also supported a mission that resulted in the capture of two insurgeents responsible for an attack that killed several people. Due to his analytical efforts, insurgent activity targeting friendly forces dropped 51 percent during 2008 in the unit's operational environment. During his deployment, the Soldier's most significant impact was enabling the brigade to conduct lethal targeting operations.
Cessna also received the prestigious Knowlton Award, courtesy of the Military Intelligence Corps Association, The Knowlton Award is presented for demonstrated excellence in intelligence or superior support to MI. They are awarded to Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps in the Active and Reserve Components, and to civilians.
In addition, the Soldier also earned a one-year MICA membership, the American Military Society President's Coin, a one year membership in the American Military Society, a plaque inscribed with the MI Soldier's Creed and a $150 gift certificate from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
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