FORT SILL, Okla. (Nov. 20, 2014) -- Fort Sill honored 14 caring families who were nominated by their units and agencies during a ceremony Nov. 13 at the Patriot Club. At the end of the evening, the Scott family was recognized as the post's 2014 Army family of the year.
"This is one of those days where there was no wrong answer -- any family here would have been more than deserving of this," said Capt. Ryan Scott, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery gunnery instructor.
The captain, his wife of 17 years Brook, and daughters Lily, age 12, and Sadie, 8, were recognized for their numerous contributions to the community.
At Western Hills Church of Christ, Ryan served as a church committee member responsible for hiring the youth minister; he also taught adult classes and led singing. Brook taught Bible classes for young children at the church, according to their nomination packet.
Ryan volunteered at the Veterans Center where he led worship events. Brook also volunteered at the center where she made quilts. She also volunteered at Elgin Public School as a chaperone for field trips, and in the library.
Brook said the honor was overwhelming.
"I knew one of the other families (the Childers), and I was rooting for them," she said.
The Scott children participated in extracurricular music activities, and Lily performed 50 hours of community service making pillow cases for an orphanage. She also collected items and assembled backpacks for distribution at community schools.
Families were nominated by units and agencies across the post, said JD Famoly, Fort Sill Army Volunteer Corps program manager. A battery could nominate one family, and the battalion commander was designated as the overall nominator.
"They nominate families they believe are deserving those who volunteer their time and are active in their community and just looking out for each other," Famoly said.
The nomination packets were presented to a six-member panel of post leaders, including the garrison chaplain, FMWR director, housing chief and garrison command sergeant major. Panel members individually graded the family on individual growth, family teamwork and friendship, and community service. The scores were tallied to determine the family of the year. Every family who was nominated was recognized at the ceremony.
In his invocation, Chaplain (Col.) Matthew Pawlikowski, Fort Sill Garrison chaplain, said: "Family is especially vital to civil life for it is the primary building block of society."
Ceremony host Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, said families are an important part of Total Army Strong.
"We are going to recognize the unique sacrifices that Army families make: ... moving every two years, putting the kids in schools, making new friends, getting houses set up, dealing with movers, and that's not even talking about dealing with deployments," Rossi said.
The Army is committed to continue the system of family programs that it created since the Army Family Covenant was initiated several years ago, he said.
"We need to look at military families all year, every day, every minute of the day, and not just make it a one-month event," the general said. "You have my commitment that that's certainly in place because understanding family is important to me as the commander, but it's also important to me as a dad and as a husband."
Sgt. Jorge Cotty, his wife, Theresa, and sons Alex, 10, and Eryx, 5, family enjoyed appetizers and refreshments before the ceremony.
The sergeant is a human resources sergeant at Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. He is a member of the local Canine Motorcycle Club, whose members volunteered with many battalion, brigade and post events, including the Special Olympics.
Theresa, who is the unit's family readiness group leader, said it was "really cool and an honor to be nominated." She volunteered on the PTA at her sons' school, Sullivan Village Elementary, and is an education student herself.
Second Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery nominated the Earle family: Capt. Sherwood Earle, his wife, Regan; and daughters Yasmine, 13, Aolani, 11, and Aubrey, 3.
"I'm surprised we were nominated, but it feels good to be acknowledged for some of the things that you do behind the scenes," Sherwood said.
Sherwood started the Community Caring Officer Program at Headquarters A Battery, 2-6th ADA, where Basic Officer Leader Course students volunteered in the community. In one partnership, the officer taught MacArthur High School seniors how to fill out college applications. Another activity they conducted was a 9/11 Flag-to-Flag memorial run and remembrance at Fort Sill, as well as a recycling program.
"My wife and I are also youth directors at our church (The Christian Center), so we spend a lot of time laboring amongst the youth," he said.
During the ceremony, Rossi presented each family a framed congratulatory letter with his coin of excellence. The Scotts received a 42-inch flat-screen TV and two $200 gift certificates from the program's sponsors: Corvias Military Living, USA Living and the Fort Sill Federal Credit Union.
Nominated families
Staff Sgt. and Mrs. Joshua Carbiener, 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery
Captain and Mrs. Matthew Childers, 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery
Sgt. and Mrs. Jorge Cotty, HHB, 30th ADA Brigade
Capt. and Mrs. David Dens, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery
Capt. and Mrs. Sherwood Earle, 2-6th ADA
Capt. and Mrs. Justin Eckhart, HHB, 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade
Sgt. 1st Class and Mrs. Geoffery Landon, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery
First Sgt. and Mrs. Ramon Ortega, 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery
Master Sgt. and Mrs. Stephan McQueen, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery
Staff Sgt. and Mrs. Michael Miller, 1-14th FA
Capt. and Mrs. Ryan Scott, 1-30th FA
Spc. and Mrs. Gary Semelka, Fort Sill Cub Scout Pack 183
Staff Sgt. and Mrs. Patrick Teixeira, 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery
Staff Sgt. and Mrs. Pavlino Veracruz, 1-14th FA
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