COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (July 3, 2024) -- Scott Morgan, the top individual real estate sales producer for Napier Realtors ERA Tri-Cities in 2013, credits his success to the skills, discipline, teamwork, work ethic, enthusiasm and focus he experienced during 22 years in the Army.
"Everything that the Army was offering -- every piece of training -- I was taking it in all the time," Morgan noted while looking back at his range of military assignments. "The interaction with warriors and serving them was so important. It's much like what I am doing now -- helping and serving clients. It made me feel good serving them. I had a purpose and a sense of direction that I am able to draw upon today."
Morgan, a native of Virginia Beach, retired in 2009 as a sergeant major at the Kenner Army Health Clinic at Fort Lee. He also began his service at Fort Lee in 1989, but in between in PCSd 12 times. After basic training and advanced individual training, he joined the Rapid Deployable Military Police Company as a medic here. "We served the community here and made four operational deployments to Panama as part of Promote Liberty," Morgan said. "I was the only medic assigned to a group of military policemen. I was a young kid -- brand new with 150 warriors looking at me as 'Doc.' At first it was a little overwhelming, but became the pride and joy of my career.
"Being in the military police was the right fit and right start for me -- it was a very disciplined unit. This experience carried me through for the rest of my career."
Working in the medical field "helping people seemed to be my calling," he said. "Providing a needed service and being unique and different to a group of people also stayed with me."
One of the biggest aspects about the Army, he said, is learning to get along with people. "Understanding people -- adapting, the shifting and flexibility of adjusting at the last minute -- all were keys in helping me find success. The military is about motivation -- physical and mental. And the strength that they teach."
As he was moving through his Army career, Morgan always thought and prepared for what he would do next. "What skills do I have and what will I need in the future was all part of my process."
He said, "the military helped me come out of my shell. Early on, it put me in front of people -- helped with my communications skills -- the ability to speak in front of people. It exposed me to different cultures. The diversity was amazing."
He explained, "I always knew that this (the Army) was my mission now but eventually there would be a new mission. That new mission was going to be my civilian life."
Along the way he had some great mentors. First, his father who spent more than 25 years in the Navy was always close to him and provided valuable guidance and inspiration.
"My father taught me that you always have to be planning and have different plans. Even though you are not that far out in the Army, you need to start thinking about what is next," said Morgan.
He also credits Col. Gordon R. Roberts, a Medal of Honor recipient, with providing invaluable motivation and "leadership 101" while serving with him at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Roberts, brigade commander, and Morgan, brigade command sergeant major, were brought in to help consolidate and improve services.
"I had the honor and privilege of serving with Col. Roberts. Without question he is one of the wisest and the greatest man I've met in my life. He was very humble, sincere and honest and never wanted to brag or talk about his past."
Morgan said Roberts believes '"you're only as good as your next accomplishment. Everyday you need to wake up and try to do something better. You can't live with what you did in the past.'"
Roberts also impressed on Morgan to applaud the work of Soldiers and to be an example as a leader.
When he retired from the Army and moved into the private sector in real estate, Morgan brought a treasure chest of military experience including serving as a senior drill sergeant. "I understood right off the bat that you don't take your rank with you. It doesn't matter how high or at what level you achieved in the military, it doesn't transfer -- you can't take it with you.
"You have to get your hands dirty all over again. You have to start from the beginning and be willing to listen. You have to find a mentor. You have to humble yourself. You have to be hungry all over again," he said
About 10 years into his Army career, he believed real estate might be a future opportunity. When he bought his first house at Fort Stewart, Ga., Morgan worked with a real estate agent who was a retired military member.
"He helped me find a temporary place to live and knew all the details about how the military operates," Morgan said. "I knew then I could do this too and started doing a lot of research into this field."
He noted, "Soldiers should not wait too late to take courses and the necessary training. Don't put it off."
For his part, the Army Career and Alumni Program helped fuel his mind with valuable transition service. "Whether it's ACAP, Army Community Service or other support services, take advantage of what they offer."
He noted the Army helped him deal with complex issues many times. "The military taught me how to take complex things and break them down to simple, easy ways to understand."
All this experience has garnered him other achievements at Napier. In 2012, he received the Distinguished Achiever Gold Realtor Award for the office, and he is a graduate of the ERA Top Gun Real Estate Academy in which he was recognized as the overall top performer. For the first quarter of 2014, Morgan is the leader in individual sales for the Tri-Cities office.
"I am helping warriors at a different stage -- helping them achieve a dream of owning a home," Morgan said.
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