Fort Sill honors instructors, curriculum developers

By Jeff Crawley, Fort Sill TribuneDecember 17, 2015

Receiving line
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Instructors
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Sill recognized its Instructors, and Curriculum Developers of the Year Dec. 10, 2015. From left, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Giroux, Staff Sgt. Aaron Shugard, Dwight Thurman, Staff Sgt. Daniel Smith, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Osman Lima, Marine S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla. (Dec. 17, 2015) -- Fort Sill recognized its instructors, and curriculum developers of the year Dec. 10, at Snow Hall. Honored for excellence were:

Air Defense Artillery Officer Instructor of the Year, Capt. Jason Roberts, Headquarters A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 6th ADA.

Field Artillery Officer Instructor of the Year, Marine Capt. Alan Bock, Marine Corps Artillery Detachment (MARDET).

FA Warrant Officer Instructor of the Year, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Giroux, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery.

FA Noncommissioned Officer Instructor of the Year, Staff Sgt. Aaron Shugard, 428th FA Brigade staff and faculty.

ADA NCO Instructor of the Year, Staff Sgt. Daniel Smith, 2-6th ADA.

MARDET Instructor of the Year, Marine Sgt. Timothy Shoaf.

MARDET Curriculum Developer of the Year, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Osman Lima.

Department of the Army Civilian Instructor of the Year, Dwight Thurman, B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th ADA.

Roberts, who is the ADA Captains Career Course manager, is responsible for the curriculum development and execution of each class, which averages four a year with 60 students in each class. He said the recognition was great, "but it's more a validation of the instructor certification program we have at the Fires Center of Excellence which really sets us up for success."

Shoaf, teaches artillery meteorological operations to enlisted and officer Marines. He said he wanted to be an instructor so he could make a difference with both entry-level and career Marines. He said he stresses two-way communication in his class, and that he works closely with his fellow instructors as well as mentors.

Thurman teaches Advanced Individual Training students in the military occupational specialty 14E Patriot (missile) fire control enhanced operator/maintainer course.

"I feel honored to be selected," said Thurman, who retired as a sergeant first class in 2007. "It's a great thing that they recognize civilians along with their military counterparts."

James Jones, 3-6th ADA supervisory instructor, described Thurman as an outstanding instructor, who trains Soldiers for realistic environments.

"He makes sure Soldiers know what they need to know when they go into combat," Jones said. He added its Thurman's friendly, outgoing personality and professionalism that sets him apart from other instructors.

Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, told the honorees that what they do is critically important to the military's number one priority: readiness.

"We have an obligation to give the best product possible in the form of a Soldier or a Marine that is ready to go," Rossi said. "What you're doing is extremely important."

The general said instructors today are faced with creating better service members, while having less time, dollars and instructors to do so, than when he was a young lieutenant 32 years ago.

"There's only one way you're going to do it, and that's where your innovation comes in and how you teach," the general said.

Despite all the technologies available in a modern classroom, the students will only get what the instructor puts into the classroom, he said.

"That product (students) is only going to be as good as how much you put into it," Rossi said. "How much heart you put into it, how much thinking you put in being innovative and creative."

All the honorees received a two-star note of commendation. The Soldiers also received the Army Commendation Medal. The Marines received the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Thurman received the Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service.

The instructors will move on to the Training and Doctrine Command's instructor of the year competition.