BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force Falcon, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Falcon received battlefield promotions at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, July 5. Sergeant Roberto Solorzano was promoted to staff sergeant, and Spc. Anthony Hister, was promoted to sergeant during the ceremony.
"These two Soldiers were selected by their supervisors for the hard work and dedication that they give to their job and section," said 1st Sgt. Christopher Wood, HHC, 3rd CAB, TF Falcon. "Both of these Soldiers go above and beyond the scope of their [military occupational speciality] enhancing the combat effectiveness of the aviation brigade."
The battlefield promotion program allows commanders to recognize outstanding Soldiers who are at the rank of staff sergeant and below and to promote them based on their performance in battlefield conditions.
"After diligently searching across the ranks of HHC, these two Soldiers were selected for a battlefield promotion specifically for their individual achievements while deployed and more importantly, a holistic look into their accomplishments since I took command," said Capt. Christopher Rogers, commander of HHC, 3rd CAB, TF Falcon, from Andover, Mass. "Their performances have been stellar on both accounts and as the command team, the first sergeant and I felt they deserved to be recognized."
Staff Sergeant Solorzano, from Houston, is the senior NCO of the topographical section of the company, producing products that normally come from a larger section. Sergeant Hister, from Marked Tree, Ark., was selected as a specialist to train and perform the duties of the battle noncommissioned officer by orchestrating and tracking everything that happens within the brigade tactical operations center.
"The promotion system does not always get it right; however, with this program a Soldier can get promoted on their merits for the outstanding job they do in a combat zone," said 1st Sgt. Wood. "Soldiers can also get promoted in [military occupational specialties where] promotion points are traditionally maxed all the time. I think with as much as the Army is deployed, this is a good program to help keep good Soldiers in the Army and advancing their careers."
"My (military occupation specialty) merged, adding a ton of NCOs and our promotion points went through the roof," said Staff Sgt. Solorzano. "I've been in a staff sergeant slot for more than a year now and held a promotable status for two and a half years, so to finally wear the staff sergeant rank on my chest is a great feeling. To have been considered for a battlefield promotion is special, and I feel privileged and thankful that I have such great leaders."
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