ALEXANDRIA, Va. (July 28, 2014) -- Seven Soldiers made Army history when they became the first instructors to receive the Army Instructor Badge during a recognition ceremony in Alexandria, July 17.
The instructors were recognized by the Army chief of staff and sergeant major of the Army for their participation in U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's Instructor Development and Recognition Program.
The purpose of the IDRP, designed by TRADOC's Institute for Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development, is to coach, mentor and train instructors who teach at non-commissioned officer academies throughout the Army.
"Our Soldiers are the best at what they do because of the training they receive from world-class instructors," said Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey, TRADOC's senior enlisted adviser and narrator for the IDRP ceremony. "These first seven Army Instructor Badge recipients represent the thousands of dedicated professionals in our Army who teach, coach and mentor tomorrow's future leaders."
In addition to recognizing the first Soldiers to participate in the IDRP, the ceremony served as a foundation on which the Army can promote instructor achievement through personal and professional growth, inspiring others to do the same, said Master Sgt. Elsi Inoa-Santos, IDRP manager.
"This award codifies and recognizes hard work," said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Ditzler, an Army Instructor Badge recipient from the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Ditzler, who currently has 16 years of service with two years as an instructor at the Henry Caro NCO Academy, said the badge is more than the individual recognition; it symbolizes the team effort of developing the backbone of America's Army.
"This is not just for me, but for my team and all the hard work they have been putting in to develop NCOs who come through the NCO academy," he said.
The first seven instructors to receive the Army Instructor badge are:
- Sgt. 1st Class Michael Brown, U.S. Army Quarter Master Corps, Fort Lee, Virginia
- Sgt. 1st Class Brian Ditzler, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Georgia
- Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Johnson, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Eustis, Virginia
- Staff Sgt. Justin Scott Ross, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, National Guard, Starke, Florida
- Sgt. 1st Class Jacqueline Sauve, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, Fort Huachuca, Arizona
- Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Villareal, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
- Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Vann, U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence Fort Gordon, Georgia
Related Links:
STAND TO!: Instructor Development and Recognition Program
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