Fort Rucker's Sergeant Audie Murphy Club inducts new members

The Fort Rucker Sergeant Audie Murphy Association inducted its newest members during a formal ceremony at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum here Nov. 4.

The new inductees are Sgt. 1st Class Eric G. Pantoja-Torres, who serves as a 15W senior small group leader and course manager at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy; and Staff Sgt. Hak J. Rou, who serves an Air Traffic Control instructor-writer at C Company, 1-13th Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade.

The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is an elite organization of NCOs who have demonstrated the performance and inherent leadership qualities and abilities characterized by one of the most decorated American Soldiers of World War II, Sgt. Audie Murphy.

Ceremony host, Command Sgt. Maj. James T. Hall, commandant of the NCO Academy welcomed attendees to the event and congratulated the newest members who will be charged with upholding Murphy's mantra, "You lead from the front."

"I look at the Sergeant Audie Murphy Association as the shining example of what our NCO Corps should be and act like," Hall said. "It's not because they passed the Army Physical Fitness Test and made it through a board, but rather what they do day in and day out to earn the privilege to compete and earn induction, and continue to serve selflessly."

He also thanked the association for what the members do for Soldiers, units and the community.

Hall said the Army is going through exciting changes right now, and strong NCOs are needed at the forefront, but they must have a plan for their professional and personal path forward if they are to remain at the front in the future.

He reflected on his prior service in Germany as a staff sergeant when his battalion command sergeant major spoke about the importance of having a plan. Hall urged Soldiers to create and maintain a three, five or seven year plan that includes professional and personal goals, to write their goals into an Excel spreadsheet, set Outlook reminders for themselves, continue to edit and update the plan and make it their own.

"Be honest with yourself. Look at where you are in life at the time. Have you met all the prerequisites in your current rank and duty position? If not, how are you going to? That may be part of your one or two year plan in order to meet your three or five year plan," Hall said.

Rather than assume they will be promoted, Soldiers should ensure they have a plan either way. They should also share the plan with others, including their subordinates.

"Some things are achievable on an individual basis, like saving money, but some things take the team to achieve," he said, referring to professional goals.

Leaders should help their Soldiers create their own plans, and follow up with them on a regular basis, he explained.

Plans are dynamic, and will change over time with the introduction of new circumstances, and Soldiers shouldn't worry if it takes longer to achieve a goal sometimes.

During the ceremony, Hall presented the inductees with the Sergeant Audie Murphy medallion, a silver medallion suspended by a blue ribbon symbolic of the Infantry branch, which Murphy served in. They received a certificate of Sergeant Audie Murphy Club membership and a Training and Doctrine Command certificate of achievement. Each inductee was also presented the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement during the Fort Rucker Sergeant Audie Murphy selection board.

Both SAMA inductees said they were grateful to be part of the association, and for the chance to have an impact on Soldiers and the community.

Pantoja-Torres, who enlisted in 2010 as a 15W UAS operator, has logged 1,800 flight hours as a Shadow UAS operator. His deployments include to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

For him, the day was the culmination of hard work and study, and the induction is an opportunity to network going forward.

"I think it's just being in touch with other leaders that are looking to improve themselves and their organization, and improve their community," he said.

His priority is investing in people.

"What I'm most passionate about is having my students here. It's showing those junior leaders or future leaders that they can achieve more in the Army. So having my class here was really important for me because now they get to see that there's more out there and that they can continue to contribute in other ways besides just being a soldier," Pantoja-Torres said.

Rou, who was born in South Korea and raised in America, enlisted in the Army in 2014 to become a 15Q Air Traffic Controller. He said for him, the induction into the SAMA is an opportunity to join other good-hearted people who want to help others.

"It's a great day. I worked hard for this, it definitely paid off, and I give thanks to God for making this day possible for me," Rou said.

Rou said he enjoys coaching and training AIT students that are new to the Army and to Air Traffic Control profession, providing radar academics and simulator training.

"I'm trying to be a good example for them to look up to. I'm not perfect, but I want to keep striving towards success so I could positively influence my subordinates and the other leaders around me," Rou said.

Related Links:

USAACE and Fort Rucker