FORT SILL, Okla. (May 9, 2013) -- A human resource specialist has been chosen as the 75th Fires Brigade Soldier of the Quarter, first quarter calendar year 2013.
Spc. Alkeem Duncan, age 21, has worked as a strength managment specialist at Headquarters and Headquarters Battery since June 2011.
"It's an honor to be recognized as Soldier of the Quarter, and I'm really looking forward to advancing," Duncan said.
The young specialist is responsible for assigning new personnel to positions, and overseeing shortages and strengths of military occupational specialities within the brigade's battalions.
Duncan, originally from Columbia, S.C., has been in the Army two and one-half years. He attended Basic Combat Training, and Advanced Individual Training as a 42A human resource specialist at Fort Jackson, S.C. Duncan said he joined the Army becuase he "wanted to experience the adventure."
Duncan's supervisor Sgt. Nilsa Gonzalez, HHB strength managment noncommissioned officer, described him as a superb Soldier.
"He excels at PT, he excels at his job and at pretty much any task you put in front of him," Gonzalez said. "He is being trained to take over the strength management NCO position because I am PCSing."
Duncan brings knowledge, motivation and the ability to meet all deadlines to the office, she added.
Before he was named Soldier of the Quarter, Duncan first had to go through the 75th's rigorous Soldier of the Month battalion board against 12 others.
"It's very competitive and a challenge because you have to set yourself apart from your peers," Duncan said. "There is a lot of studying on during your personal time."
He said his strategy going into the competition was staying focused on the prize.
Confidence was one of his strong points throughout the board process, he said.
"I was confident in everything I did: Saying the NCO Creed, the Soldier's Creed. I believe in them," he said.
Duncan said he is scheduled to attend the Warrior Leader Course here in May, and he expects to make sergeant shortly thereafter. He received an Army Certificate of Achievement as Soldier of the Month, and an Army Achievement Medal as SoQ.
Social Sharing