U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charlie Ward, 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion commander, awards 1st Sgt. Edgar Zavala, 13th CSSB, Headquarters and Headquarters Company first sergeant, an Army Achievement Medal for supporting the Seattle Army Recruiting ...
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charlie Ward, 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion commander, gives 1st Sgt. Edgar Zavala, 13th CSSB, Headquarters and Headquarters Company first sergeant, his Army Achievement Medal certificate prior to a Zavala's change-of-r...
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Awards are important to Soldiers. Sometimes they represent achievement, courage or selfless-service. However, they all represent points; or more specifically, promotion points. There are a variety of ways to earn medals, but one new way to earn them at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. is by referring people who may be interested in joining the Army to Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion recruiters.
1st Sgt. Edgar Zavala, 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Headquarters and Headquarters Company first sergeant, found this out first-hand prior to his change of responsibility ceremony May 18. Before the ceremony, Lt. Col. Charlie Ward, 13th CSSB commander, presented Zavala with an Army Achievement Medal.
"I never had the intentions of doing this for that, other than just helping the recruiting command with their mission because I was there and I know how difficult it can be," said Zavala. "I never knew that this would come about," he said.
Ward coordinated with the Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion's leadership and awarded Zavala the medal in front of the company.
This is a testament to 1st Sgt. Zavala and his dedication to our organization and the Army, said Ward. "The guy's always looking at opportunities well above the local organization, to better the institution that we have and make sure that we have quality Soldiers in our organization," he said. "He's not looking to do something to get an award for it; he's looking out to do things because it's the right thing to do."
Lt. Col. Vylius Leskys, Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion commander, implemented the 'Soldier Referral Program' earlier this year as a way to reward Soldiers who provide the battalion's recruiters with referrals. Zavala's efforts yielded 4 enlistments, giving Leskys an opportunity to reward Zavala's hard-work and dedication.
"We promote the Soldier Referral Program under the umbrella of Total Army Involvement in Recruiting (TAIR) for Regular Army and Army Reserve Soldiers throughout our area of responsibility," said Leskys. "The program encourages Soldiers to operate as ambassadors of the Army in our local communities as they share their Army stories," he said.
Here is how the program works: if a Soldier provides five qualified leads (potential applicants must meet minimum qualification standards and requires a name, phone number, e-mail address and zip code of potential applicants), he or she will earn a Certificate of Achievement; if one of those referrals enlists, the Soldier will receive a Certificate of Achievement, a Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion coin and a battalion letter of recognition; if two of those referrals enlist, the Soldier will receive an Army Achievement Medal (contingent upon Soldier's battalion leadership's endorsement).
To get started, visit: http://goo.gl/forms/LdYSEDOWoY or the Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SeattleArmyRecruitingBn.
Social Sharing