Staff Sgt. Nimia Normandin, 1st Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery S-1, and Sgt. 1st Class Albert Kelly, 30th ADA Brigade S-1 noncommissioned officer in charge, chat during Final Friday July 27 at the Fort Sill Patriot Club. The monthly event was ...

FORT SILL, Okla. -- After enduring a record-hot-month of serving your nation with pride, what could be better than sitting down to a refreshing beverage, indulging in some free food and spending time with old friends while making some new ones?

The 75th Fires Brigade hosted the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill Final Friday July 27 at the Patriot Club.

Final Friday is a chance to get Soldiers and civilians together to build camaraderie within Fort Sill, said Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general.

The postwide event takes place the last Friday of every month to help build personal and professional relationships and further the concept of Team Sill-Oklahoma PRIDE. A different brigade or command hosts Final Friday each month.

Final Friday is an example of how the FCoE and Fort Sill leadership branches out to its people and units of Fort Sill. It was established in 2011 to allow Soldiers and officers a chance to get to know one another, and build stronger cohesion for Team Sill in a social environment.

"You can work on post for months and months and never meet people from the other brigades," said McDonald. The reason for that is because people get so focused on what they are doing.

Final Friday also provides an opportunity for participants to meet new people and take in the learning experiences that others have to offer. There is even a possibility that you may be reintroduced to individuals whom you knew earlier in your career.

"Around 2004, I meet, then-Col. Mark McDonald," said 1st Lt. Latondra Paoli, B Battery, 95th Adjutant Battalion (Reception)."I had the chance to reconnect with him and Connie McDonald, his wife, during Final Friday."

Final Friday has continually improved as a social forum.

"I have been to other Final Friday events, but normally you just see the noncommissioned officers there and the environment is not fitting," Paoli said. "This event had more officers who interacted with the NCOs than the other Final Fridays that I have been to."

Final Friday is an outstanding event, said Paoli. The installation needs to keep it around.