Fort Sill NCO, SoY named for 2011

FORT SILL, Okla.-- Two air defenders were selected as the Fort Sill 2011 Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year during a ceremony Feb. 1 at the Patriot Club.

Staff Sgt. Robert Brower and Cpl. Jonathan Woodfield are the NCO, and Soldier of the Year respectively.

Brower, who was the NCO of the fourth quarter, said he hopes his selection as NCO of the Year inspires his Soldiers.

"I feel it's an honor because it allows me to show my Soldiers that as long as you have pride in yourself, in your unit, in your country you can achieve anything," said Brower, 25, a Patriot missile system launcher and maintainer section chief assigned to D Battery, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery. "I hope it inspires them to do the best that they can do all the time."

As Soldier of the Year one represents the entire community, said Woodfield, 22, a Patriot missile system enhanced controller and maintainer with A/4-3rd ADA.

"It's nice to be recognized for the positive influence you have," said Woodfield, who is from Naugatuck, Conn.

The two will move on to the III Corps NCO and Soldier of the Year competition this summer at Fort Hood, Texas.

The awards ceremony also recognized the installation's NCO and Soldier of the fourth quarter for calendar year 2011, and the induction of three NCOs into the Fort Sill Chapter of the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club.

Keynote speaker Command Sgt. Maj. Sam Young, Field Artillery School CSM, said all the recognized Soldiers have earned the right to be called professionals, and they are a good example of more dooah than hooah.

"As fires professionals we have to capitalize on our (individual) strengths, but we have to deal with our weaknesses," Young said. "We deal with them through training and leader development."

Quarterly and SAMC boards give Soldiers the tools to evaluate their ability to become Army professionals, he said.

"Don't be in the Army to have a job, be in the Army to become a professional," Young said. The difference is that professionals pursue excellence throughout their careers.

Fourth quarter Soldier

Pfc. Eavian Allen, 4-3rd ADA, was the Soldier of the quarter. Allen distinguished himself by certifying as the third best missile crew in the area of responsibility and the second best crew in the battalion, said Staff Sgt. Kristopher Carnes, 31st ADA, who introduced Allen.

Allen outperformed many of his peers by winning his battery's board competitions while still completing his daily duties as a force protection guard, Carnes said. His willingness to train Soldiers far exceeded what was expected of him. He represents what all Soldiers should emulate.

Sgt. Audie Murphy Club

Drill Sergeant (Sgt. 1st Class) Robert Jones, Staff Sgt. Khristan Brading, of A/4-3rd ADA, and Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Ryant Bell became the newest members of the elite SAMC.

"It's an honor to be inducted. It's something that I've been working at since I got in the military seven years ago," said Bell, who is assigned to E Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery.

Each inductee was introduced by one of his subordinate Soldiers. Pfc. Rebecca Schug introduced Jones, who works at B/1-40th.

"According to his colleagues in Bravo Battery, he (Jones) produces the best Soldiers ... respects others, their pasts and their goals," Schug said. "He is a drill sergeant who spends long frustrating hours molding Soldiers into the best that they can be."

Army wife Jessica Brading attended the ceremony to see her husband, Khristan inducted.

"I'm very proud of him. It's a very distinguished club," said Jessica, who brought their children, Bianca, 17, and Kiani, 14.

Maj. Gen. David Halverson, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, congratulated the awardees, and presented them each with an Army Commendation Medal and his coin of excellence.

He also thanked the numerous sponsors who gave the Soldiers gifts.