'Congratulations, welcome to the club.'

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is an organization of Army noncommissioned officers whose leadership, performance and abilities merit special recognition.

The U.S. Army Central chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club welcomed its newest member, Sgt. Tiffany Smith, of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Nov. 4.

After graduating high school in Raleigh, North Carolina, Smith planned to attend college and pursue a career in the medical field. Instead she chose to join the Army because she was drawn to the military for its way of life and wanted to serve.

"I enlisted as a medic with plans to do a few years and get out," said Smith. "However, I was influenced by outstanding leadership. Specifically my [unit] first sergeant in Germany, who made me realize that I really enjoyed the Army and wanted to stay in to be a leader of Soldiers."

Making it to the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club selection board is and honor in itself for Smith. She said she worked hard to make sure she was ready for the board.

The process for joining the club itself can be intimidating for candidate. After all, Audie Leon Murphy is known as the Army's most decorated Soldier, earning every medal for valor the Army has.

Candidates seeking membership to the club face demanding tests of their leadership abilities, various soldiering tasks, the Army Physical Fitness Test, a written test and a board appearance before senior enlisted members of the club.

"Going through the lanes, I felt I was doing well," said Smith. "I had a few slip-ups mainly because of nerves. I was pretty confident for the most part."

Some of the soldiering skills that Smith was tested on in the weeklong process were Army physical readiness training, assembling and disassembling military weapons and evaluating a casualty.

"I practiced articulating the things I wanted to say," said Smith. "I just learned to take it slower and break down the scenarios in my head."

While Smith is still a young NCO, her performance at the events was enough to convince the members on the board of her drive, willingness and ability to learn, said Staff Sgt. Lemisha Green, of 1st Theater Sustainment Command, 175th Financial Management Support Center and the president of the USARCENT SAMC.

"I was really relieved when I came back into the room and heard Command Sgt. Maj. Kelley, senior enlisted adviser for USARCENT, say, 'first of all congratulations, welcome to the club,'" said Smith. "It was pretty humbling, I was very relieved and excited that I made it."

Smith gives a big credit to her success to her sponsor 1st Sgt. Dustin Woodcock, HHB, 1-7 ADA.

"He played a major role in me wanting to become a member," said Smith. "He has always challenged, mentored, and had faith in my abilities as a leader. He kept me calm and motivated throughout the events and didn't allow me to doubt myself one bit."

A big part of the club is developing the leaders of tomorrow. Members stay involved in the community, making it better for Soldiers and their families.

In Murphy's biography, it states he was a legend in his own time. A war hero, movie actor, writer of country and western songs, and poet. His biography read more like fiction than fact.

He served his country, and was heavily involved with volunteer work, helping Soldiers and bettering the community, said Green

"I want to spread the importance of the club within my unit and identify future candidates," said Smith. "I also am looking forward to learning from other members within the club. I want to better myself, and use all the tools available to become a better NCO and leader."