FORT SILL, Okla. (Dec. 12. 2014) -- They couldn't have done it without the support from their leaders, supervisors, fellow instructors and administrative staff.
That was the recurring theme heard from the honorees as Fort Sill recognized its 2014 instructors and curriculum developers of the year Dec. 9, at Snow Hall.
The ceremony recognized Soldier and Marine commissioned officers, noncommissioned officers; an Army warrant officer; and two Department of Army civilians. Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, made the presentations in Kerwin Auditorium.
The curriculum developer of the year is Maycie Crozier, FCoE Professional Development Division. She was an instructor of the year in 2012.
Crozier's supervisor Dr. Casey Blaine, PDD chief, described her as "absolutely superb in all facets as an instructor and as a curriculum developer."
It was her initiative, inventiveness, risk taking, critical thinking and ability to get things done that made her stand out from her peers, Blaine said. He believes it is the first time at Training and Doctrine Command that anyone has been recognized as a curriculum developer of the year.
The Marine Artillery Detachment curriculum developer of the year is Gunnery Sgt. Joshua Kuhs, Marine Corps Cannoneer School course chief. Kuhs was the MARDET instructor of the year in 2012. He said all the Marine instructors are top-notch.
"I could not have done it without the help of a lot of the instructors that I work with and their input," said Kuhs, who will retire in August. "I think that 'together' is what makes us a strong team."
Capt. Sherwood Earle III, was honored for his ministrations as an Air Defense Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course -- B senior instructor.
"I believe the most challenging part (of my job) is just ensuring that they (lieutenants) sustain the doctrine that we teach," Earle said.
He said he was honored to be recognized, and he attributed it to God.
Marine officer instructor of the year Capt. Philip Turner, MARDET Gunnery senior instructor Field Artillery BOLC-B, Captains Career Course and Pre-Command Course instructor, has been here about 1.5 years. He said being a Marine on an Army fort isn't a big deal.
"The way we learn field artillery is the same. As a lieutenant when I first learned field artillery I came through this (Fort Sill) schoolhouse with Soldiers," he said. "It works well."
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Luis Martinez, WO Basic Course instructor/writer, said the recognition was an honor.
"I work with a lot of good instructors," Martinez said. "Any one of those guys could be here right now."
Martinez said he became an instructor to give back to the WO community. He said he always puts the student first, whether it's a block of instruction, physical training or mentoring.
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Castignanie, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and Multiple Launch Rocket System school chief and senior instructor, is one of the NCO instructors of the year. He said the best part of the job is working with young Soldiers.
"You're getting Soldiers at the very beginning of their careers," he said. "They're excited to be in the Army, they're excited to learn and train."
One of Castignanie contributions was that he updated 47 lessons within 13M10 Crewmember Course program of instruction, according to his bio.
NCO instructor of the year Staff Sgt. Brandon Douglass, Patriot (missile) Enhanced Operator/Maintainer instructor and writer, is assigned to B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th ADA
.
"The title of 'instructor of the year' is definitely an honor, and I really take it like as a group effort," Douglass said. "I wouldn't be able to make it happen without the professional Soldiers, leaders, instructors that I work with."
Douglass said he believes he was chosen because of his diligent instruction using the new Army Learning Model (ALM) 2015.
"Basically, it's using modern technologies and creating a learning conducive environment through critical thinking skills, making Soldier more adaptable and able to learn things on their own instead of just sitting there receiving information in class through lectures," he said.
Marine NCO instructor of the year Sgt. Robert Martin, MARDET Sensor Supportman instructor, teaches enlisted Marines about meteorological and survey data and acoustic tracking of enemy locations.
He said he was completly surprised, and being honored was humbling.
"Very easily one of the other guys I was up against could be here," said Martin, who is from Peekskill, N.Y. Martin is also the MARDET calibrations NCO, according to his bio.
Retired Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Haag, Patriot Master Gunner instructor, was recognized as the civilian instructor of the year; he also won the honor last year. He said he was an instructor while on active duty, and that he became a civilian instructor to stay in the ADA field. He has been a civilian instructor for about eight years, and he made the transition here from Fort Bliss, Texas, with the ADA becoming part of the Fires Center of Excellence.
"It means a lot to us when we see students graduate and they come back and thank us for all we do," he said.
The Fort Sill instructor of the year program began in 1989, to recognized outstanding educators. Today, those instructors are recognized from the FCoE, FA and ADA schoolhouses and MARDET.
Boards from those respective units select their winners. The overriding consideration for an instructor's nomination is that he or she has the ability to engage students in a meaningful way to enhance learning, according the ceremony's program. The honorees will move on to the TRADOC instructor of the year competition.
The FCoE curriculum developer of the year began this year to recognize individuals who create and write curriculum exemplifying the ALM into training. The goal was to recognize those who produce relevant, effective and efficient ALM learning products that foster thinking, initiative and provide operationally relevant context.
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