Army civilian lands two service awards for making a difference

By Ms. Rikeshia Davidson (AMC)September 26, 2013

Rickey Peer, Official Photo
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Rickey Peer is the Project Manager for Ammunition Depots at the Joint Munitions Command where he also serves as co-chair for the Minority College Relations Program. The MCRP affords students at minority serving institutions a chance to work on collab... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Rickey Peer awarded at 2013 Blacks In Government National Training Conference, Dallas, Texas
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Rickey Peer accepts his meritorious service award from Blacks in Government. Peer was presented the award during the National Training Conference in Dallas, Texas in late August. He was nominated based on his work with various organizations includi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Rickey Peer receives one star note from Brig. Gen. Kristin K. French
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Rickey Peer receives a one star note from Brig. Gen. Kristin K. French, commander, Joint Munitions Command. Peer has been employed with JMC for more than 30 years; he is the 2013 recipient of both the Blacks in Government Meritorious Service award a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- "A recruiter came to my school, Mr. Bob Henderson, from the Industrial Base section. He was on campus and I interviewed for the job. I started May 1980 with the Cooperative Program. I'm in my 34th year.

"And I guess the rest is history. That's how I started my government career. I was a junior so I was able to -- until I graduated -- alternate between school and work. So my very first tour was the summer of 1980."

Rickey Peer sits in his fourth floor office at Rock Island Arsenal recounting how he came to the Quad Cities. Today, he's a Project Manager for Ammunition Depot Automation at the Joint Munitions Command, where he oversees the automation of logistics for depot operations. And it all began following that interview at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

But there's more to the story. Since that summer, Peer has accomplished a great deal both personally and professionally.

Peer was recently honored not once but twice. He is a 2013 recipient of the Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award. The award, a part of the BIG National Prestige Awards program, provides the opportunity to recognize exemplary and outstanding contributions in the furtherance of BIG's goals and objectives.

His recognition came not for his daily efforts as a program manager but for the duties he undertakes for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and minority serving institutions.

In addition, Peer is also a 2013 recipient of the National IMAGE Meritorious Service Award. This award honors an individual civilian and military member who supported the Department of Defense mission or overseas contingency operations, or whose activities best demonstrate the core values of their respective military service or agency.

Personally, Peer serves on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley and is a Big Brother. He is an active member of the Mu Chi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and maintains ties to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where he is a professional member of the Youth Motivation Task Force program. And amid all of this, Peer serves on the Minority College Relations Team at Rock Island Arsenal. The all volunteer team serves as the oversight committee for the Minority College Relations Program. In this capacity, he does a host of things.

"Mr. Peer has personally contributed to the recruitment of 97 student interns throughout the command which has led to the permanent placement of eight interns in the headquarters (Joint Munitions Command) and the prospect of many more.

"Participating with 35 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions, Peer has traveled extensively to these sites, speaking with students, meeting with the respective Deans and promoting the MCRP program," said Toni McNeal, Director, Security Assistance Management Directorate, Joint Munitions Command.

As co-chair of the Rock Island Arsenal Minority College Relations Program, the program develops collaborative programs within the Army Sustainment Command and Joint Munitions Command, allowing minority serving institutions (Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Hispanic serving institutions) to participate in the program and enhancing the future readiness of each command through these partnerships.

Peer's interest in helping others, particularly college-aged students is no coincidence. While an impromptu interview launched Peer's career, former UAPB Career Placement employee, Glayton Johnson, was equally instrumental. As a matter of fact, he made sure Peer met with Henderson.

"He (Johnson) was the individual that said, 'hey, listen I have a recruiter on campus. I need you to come and take the interview,' recalls Peer.

"I said, nope, I ain't doing it.

But Johnson said, 'Peer, you gotta take the interview'."

Peer continues, "after I told him I didn't have the attire for the interview, he actually took the tie off his neck and said, 'give me a clean shirt, and I'll give you my tie'."

"So, he (Glayton Johnson) pushed me to take the interview and then he pushed me to actually come to Rock Island," said Peer.

"And he actually lent me the money to get to Rock Island and helped me find housing," he said. For Peer, Johnson's generosity meant a great deal at time when he came to the Midwest from a small town with no connections and never having left the state of Arkansas.

"So those folks in my life", said Peer, "gave me a stepping stone, they gave me a push."

Peer noted after his interview the rest was history but not quite.

Peer was urged to attend college by older siblings but once he got there, something was different.

UAPB was special.

"Historically Black Colleges and Universities: they mean going beyond the classroom. The draw is they have a job (professors and faculty) and…they are interested in you; in seeing you become a successful productive citizen. They were willing to go that extra step.

The dean of the Industrial Technology department and his administrative assistant were like a mother and father away from home.

"She (Barbara Grayson) was an administrative assistant then, but now is a doctor (Ph.d). She pushed me and pushed herself as well. And that wasn't just for me but (I could name some names)," he said.

Among those other names benefiting from the UAPB support system, his wife, Lisa Peer: now a successful division chief for logistics at Rock Island Arsenal.

Years later, Peer hasn't forgotten the impact of his college years.

"My experiences programmed me for who I am. I know I would not be where I am had I not had someone give me that extra push -- that guidance. That's who I am," he said.

"I'm driven by how/when I was programmed. No one can change that. I'm the same at home as work," said Peer.

"My family is supportive of what I do," he says. The married father often asks his wife, Lisa, her thoughts and opinion as he continues to find ways to make a difference. But more importantly, Peer's upbringing has deeply affected his desire to make a difference.

"Rickey is by nature a very giving person. A very important philosophy of his is to help others when you have the opportunity. Not to say that he hasn't experienced disappointment while trying to help others, but he looks past these experiences, learns from them and continues to do what he feels very strongly about and that is helping someone to do better no matter what their situation. His children and I are very proud of him for being the person that he is. These awards could not have gone to a more deserving person," said Lisa.

In addition to his time and efforts, Peer is willing to offer advice to students and young employees.

Oftentimes that advice lingers, becoming a tool for some, even years later.

Lawrence Woods began his career in 2004 as a Student Career Experience Program student--a cooperative program, similar to the one Peer entered years earlier. As a SCEP, a program that worked alongside the MCRP to attract a diverse group of student interns, Woods met Peer.

"I've taken Mr. Peer's advice; (he said) 'in whatever position you're in, learn as much as you can learn. Also while you're in that position, don't be too concerned or consumed in that realm. Diversify yourself; make yourself marketable."

According to Woods, he's taken that advice and crafted his own plan for success.

"In my government career I've changed jobs about every 2-3 years -- I've taken on various opportunities even if it involved deploying or relocating to make myself more marketable," said Woods.

A Mississippi native and Alcorn State University graduate, Woods is now a team leader for the M1A2 Turret & Fire Control Armored Maneuver Group at Detroit Arsenal. Starting as a GS4, Woods credits the MCRP with opening doors.

"The Minority College Relations Program basically offered me an opportunity that I wasn't aware of (or wouldn't have been aware of) outside of the Army. I think the MCRP is an awesome program. Since I've been in the program, it's been nothing but a great experience. It was a stepping stone for me to get to where I am today. Anyone offered the opportunity to put in for the position should put their best foot forward to get it," said Woods.

Woods took Peer's advice, modified and continues to pursue a successful government career.

Today, Peer offers this advice, something that goes beyond wanting to give back and diversify. His advice is basic at its core.

"Over my 34 years, coming at the lowest point of entry, I've come to learn the most important resource is people. If people know you care, they'll give 110-120 percent productivity because they know you care."

And with that, Peer makes no use of the standard elevator speech. His speech is the life he lives. With Southern roots, the backing of the HBCU experience and a passion for helping others, Peer's three decade career can simply be described as one where he realized people are the richest resource. So he gave back -- no more, no less.

***

Peer has previously been named "Arkansas Traveler" by former Governor Mike Beebe (2008), a NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Award nominee (2009) and two-time recipient of the Commander's Award for Civilian Service (2004).

Blacks in Government was organized in 1975 and incorporated as a non-profit organization under the District of Columbia jurisdiction in 1976. BIG has been a national response to the need for African Americans in public service to organize around issues of mutual concern and use their collective strength to confront workplace and community issues. BIG awarded Peer at the August National Training Conference held in Dallas, Texas.

National IMAGE Inc, a National Hispanic Organization, is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit, advocacy organization established in 1971. Its mission is to empower Hispanics through leadership development by advocating for Employment, Education and Civil Rights. This year's IMAGE awards were presented in September in Baltimore, Md.

Related Links:

Joint Munitions Command