The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command named its top Retention Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for 2013. Staff Sgt. Floretta G. Sample, a respiratory specialist (68V) at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center, was selected for this honor from among eight other retention NCOs from USAMRMC subordinate commands.
"I feel blessed to be considered for such an honor, let alone to be selected," said Sample.
Nominees from each command submitted a packet with their updated Enlisted Record Brief; physical fitness test results; a recommendation letter from their commander, sgt. major, or senior enlisted advisor; their biography and portrait; and an essay with a response to the question, "If I was able to make policy for retention, what is the one policy I would make and why?"
Sample, a 14-year Army veteran, has been at the Burn Center for four years where she has been assigned to the Clinical Operations and Education Office. For the last couple of years, Sample has also served as the USAISR Retention NCO "assisting Soldiers and civilians to make life-changing decisions easier," she said.
During the last two years, Sample has processed 89 reenlistment packages with 34 of those packages being processed during FY13. She said she enjoys her duties as the command retention NCO despite some of the challenges.
"Some challenges include changes in the Army's retention policies and the constant changes in soldier's lives that affect their decisions," Sample said.
Sample is scheduled to transfer in 2014 to the 115th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Polk, La., where she plans on continuing to work on her short- and long-term goals. "Some of my short-term goals include earning my registered respiratory therapist certification and master's degree in education," she said. "Some of my long-term goals include retiring from the Army as a 1st Sergeant and becoming a college professor."
Social Sharing