FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- As he reminisces upon his Army career it is clear that Staff Sgt. Jason C. Boyd is passionate about what he does. Being a career counselor carries an unexplainable amount of responsibility and maturity.
Boyd, with the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, proved his dedication by beating out five retention noncommissioned officers and being named the Forces Command Career Counselor of the Year here, Sept. 25.
A native of Hershey, Pa., Boyd entered the Army as a food service specialist with the intention of serving his country while seeing the world. He served for three years and decided to take a short break, but returned to active service as a combat medic.
While assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, and after a deployment, Boyd was placed in a retention position for his battalion. During his time as a retention noncommissioned officer he decided to attend a retention board, and he won. In the fall of 2011 Boyd was given the opportunity to attend the Army's Recruiting and Retention School and he gladly accepted. Upon completing training he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment to serve as the unit's career counselor.
"It's a challenging job that constantly changes, and I get to help make soldiers dreams come true" said Boyd. "A big part of my motivation for winning is moving closer to my children who live in Florida."
To be chosen as a competitor in the Career Counselor of the Year competition a counselor must have shown their level of commitment, and performance on the job weighs in heavily. In order to compete and win a soldier must be a technical expert, and must have contributed to the program in many ways.
Boyd said that he was extremely proud of his achievements, and was inspired by his own victory. He is slated to compete in the Department of Army competition this winter.
"Once I won … I had a very strong feeling that I was going to win the Department of the Army [competition]," he stated.
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