FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Earl Rogers is a one-man operation who manages the paper recycling demands of Fort Rucker with his trademark call of "Git 'er done."
"I took that expression from Larry the Cable Guy years ago, and when I visit an office to pick up recycling now, it simply means 'I hope everything is going good and God bless you,'" Rogers said.
Born and raised in the South, Rogers said he grew up with a strong sense of patriotism and devotion to country.
An Arkansas native, he graduated from Carroll High School in Ozark, Ala., in May 1974. During his junior and senior years, he served in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and after enlisting in the Army's Delayed Entry Program, entered active duty in July of that year.
"While I was at Fort Jackson (S.C.) for basic training, my drill sergeant told me 'there's something about you,' and he made me squad leader of my unit, Delta 2-1. So, I guess my JROTC time gave me the confidence I needed to stand out," he said.
He spent most of his three-year Army career as an artillery surveyor at Fort Riley, Kan., with the Headquarters Artillery Battery Division at Custer Hill, before joining civil service at Fort Rucker in 1983.
Rogers worked at the Department of Public Works Metals Shop until the end of 2001, when his job was displaced by privatization, according to Al Townsend, Rogers' supervisor and DPW supervisory environmental engineer.
"Earl is a wonderful person to work with - full of character and love for his country, and who has a special (place in his) heart for the veterans in the U.S. armed forces," Townsend said.
"Since July 2007, I've been assigned to the DPW Environmental and Natural Resources Division. I love people and my job allows me to meet many wonderful folks," Rogers said.
Rogers works with the Qualified Recycling Program.
"He is, has been and continues to be an unofficial spokesperson for the QRP program across the installation and ensures that every aspect of his performance is exemplary," said Townsend. "He started out working in the QRP as a 'one-man operation' and since that time has adapted to change by working with a team to develop sustainable practices around the installation, particularly in the cardboard and office paper initiative programs.
"His efforts helped the installation increase its paper and cardboard collections by 25 and 45 percent, respectively over the last two years in part due to his 'word of mouth,'" he said.
Nearly 30 years after joining the Fort Rucker civilian workforce, Rogers remains dedicated to those he serves.
"I just want everyone to know that when I'm in their building, at that moment, that customer is number one," Rogers said.
Social Sharing