COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Aca,!" For most of the Soldiers in the audience of more than 500, it felt like a baseball game in the 9th inning with two outs and two strikes. But one of their own came through with a homerun. In a sea of blue, two of three top outstanding enlisted members in ColoradoAca,!a,,cs Pikes Peak Region were already announced during an Armed Forces Day Luncheon sponsored by the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce held and at The Broadmoor May 16.
Both were in the Air Force.
Then the announcement:1st Sgt. Steven Adams from 1st Space Company, 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, was named as the Outstanding Enlisted in the Category 3 division (E-7 & E-8) for 2008.
Adams thought it would be a shut out for sure with the Air Force already capturing the Category 1 (E1 Aca,!" E4) and Category 2 (E5 Aca,!" E6) spots. But suddenly the first sergeant for the Theater Missile Warning Company found himself on stage and in a role other than providing early missile warning to combatant commanders in theater Aca,!" that of senior outstanding enlisted Soldier for the Pikes Peak area.
Aca,!A"IAca,!a,,cm flabbergasted in a way, but IAca,!a,,cm really honored to be the Army guy that broke the Air ForceAca,!a,,cs streak,Aca,!A? said Adams. Aca,!A"When all 11 of us (candidates) appeared at the luncheon nobody had a clue who won although everybody had their inkling.Aca,!A?
Aca,!A"ItAca,!a,,cs the Soldiers who truly deserve it. I strongly believe that I would not be where I am today if I did not have the outstanding Solders I have today and have had in the past.Aca,!A?
A competition like the Pike's Peak Regional Armed Forces Week allows Soldiers to compete head-to-head against more than 20,000 other men and women from all the Department of Defense services, to include the Active and Army Reserve, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin McGovern from the 1st Space Brigade.
Aca,!A"There were only three Army representatives to move forward and the 1st Space Brigade had two of them from among the thousands of Soldiers at Fort Carson and the surrounding area,Aca,!A? said McGovern.
Joining Adams in this yearAca,!a,,cs competition was Sgt. Regina Sierra, paralegal noncommissioned officer, who competed in the Category 2 Division (E-5 & E-6.)
Aca,!A"All the nominated candidates are testimonials to the dedication and selfless service each has given to their country,Aca,!A? McGovern said. Aca,!A"AdamsAca,!a,,c board presence and nomination packet has separated him from the others as this yearAca,!a,,cs winner in the senior NCO category. He truly represents the quality of Soldiers in U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, the brigade and his company. This is truly an honor for him and Adams has set the bar high for all those he leads to follow.Aca,!A?
Maj. Timothy Dalton, commander, 1st Space Company Aca,!" and AdamsAca,!a,,c boss Aca,!" said, Aca,!A"I think it is a great honor for him. As a senior NCO for the organization I think Adams is a direct reflection of many of the NCOs and Soldiers that are within this organization.Aca,!A?
Aca,!A"It goes to show the level of commitment that if you do go through and hold a lot of the hard key jobs, take the time to be involved with your community, not only does the leadership here at SMDC/ARSTRAT Operations but the leadership within the community recognize the dedication, the hard work and the efforts that have been made.Aca,!A?
As for Adams, this honor is only a brief pause from the duties as first sergeant of 1st Space Company. Back in the office his Aca,!A"must doAca,!A? tasks on the wall board range from dealing with an upcoming quality training brief, NCO evaluations that are due, travel paperwork which requires straightening out, and staffing issues for the all the detachments within the company worldwide no less.
But a smile comes over his face when he reflects on those few hours of being in the spotlight.
Aca,!A"You know my wife (Maria) was just ecstatic! As a matter of fact the first thing she did when we were at Fort Carson afterwards was she walked right into her bossAca,!a,,c office and started bragging. I think she is more proud of the honor than I am.Aca,!A?
A native of East Pointe, Ga., Adams entered the U.S. Army in February of 1994.
Following graduation of Advanced Individual Training as a 14J Air Defense Tactical Operations Center Operator from the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School in Fort Bliss, Texas, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bliss, Texas.
Adams has participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Desert Storm and Desert Fox.
He has served in Korea and numerous stateside assignments. AdamsAca,!a,,c training assignments include the Joint Tactical Ground Station Initial Qualification Course; and the Advanced Individual Training Course 14J Air Defense Tactical Operations Center Operator.
Adams special duty assignments include selection by the Sergeant Major of the Army to be the single U.S. Army Senior Enlisted Soldier to perform the Secretary of DefenseAca,!a,,cs Aca,!A"Why We ServeAca,!A? program in 2007.