FORT SILL, Okla.-- Fort Sill recognized its noncommissioned officer and Soldier of the second quarter, and its newest Sergeant Audie Murphy Club inductees during a ceremony June 8 at the Patriot Club. Command Sgt. Maj. Robert White, 428th Field Artillery Brigade CSM, was the guest speaker at the quarterly event.
Hundreds of fellow Soldiers, family, friends and co-workers packed the club as Staff Sgt. Stephen Gilson, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery, and Spc. Jean-Chardins Jean-Baptiste, HHB, 31st ADA, were honored as the NCO and Soldier respectively.
Gilson attended basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2001, and went on to advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Ga., to become a communications specialist. With the 3-2nd ADA, Gilson has deployed to Korea, and to Southwest Asia where he served as a Patriot fire control enhanced operator.
"It was a huge honor being selected," Gilson said. "I've never been much of a public speaker, so facing my fears was my main goal. Winning was just a very nice bonus."
Gilson said he spent a lot of time studying for the competition and that his wife, Shanna, and their children all pitched in.
Jean-Baptiste, 36, originally from Haiti, completed basic training in 2010, at Fort Jackson, S.C. He completed AIT at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as a health care specialist.
"Hard work pays off. There is no dream too big," said Jean-Baptiste, referring to his selection. "I put a lot of effort and energy into studying."
Jean-Baptiste, too, credited his wife, Alexis, who put in numerous hours helping him study for the competition.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Seelig, Jean-Baptiste's sponsor, described him as a motivated, determined Soldier, who brings 100 percent to the table.
His motivation is contagious and brings his fellow Soldiers up to his level, said Seelig, who was the NCO of the quarter last quarter.
The newest members of the Fort Sill SAMC Chapter are Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Gulley, B Battery, 2-6th ADA; Staff Sgt. Adam Dahle, A Battery, 1-78th FA; Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Gerald James, A Battery, 1-40th FA; and Staff Sgt. Brandie Walker, HHB, 31st ADA.
All of the recognized Soldiers received several gifts from units and organizations, the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and community sponsors.
Social Sharing