WIESBADEN, Germany -- Four Soldiers and one Department of the Army civilian were recognized here, Jan. 28, for their excellence in human resources at Army Europe's 6th Annual Frederick E. Vollrath Awards ceremony.
This year's winners are:
--Officer of the Year: Capt. Sean Raleigh, company commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army NATO Brigade
--Warrant Officer of the Year: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Enrius Collazo, human resources technician, 21st Theater Sustainment Command
--Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Stephens, human resources noncommissioned officer, 173rd Airborne Brigade
--Soldier of the Year: Spc. Travis Chenette, human resource specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Signal Command
--Civilian of the Year: Dustin Oakes, information management specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army NATO Brigade
The program was named after retired Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Vollrath and developed to recognize human resource personnel for their quality service and leadership. Vollrath was a 45-year professional in the human resources field and the second adjutant general officer to be promoted to lieutenant general.
Larry Gottardi, deputy chief of staff of Army Europe's personnel section and key speaker at the event, emphasized the importance of the program and its role in helping recognize excellence among human resource professional.
Gottardi said the reason U.S. Army Europe human resources personnel are the best in the Army is because they "have no pride."
He explained his statement quickly as confused faces appeared on many of the audience members' faces.
Gottardi said the individuals have no problem asking for help or learning about things they were unsure about.
One by one the awardees came to the front of the crowd to receive their awards and spoke about their individual reasons they believe they were selected for this award.
"This means a lot to me," Stephens said. "I am accepting this award for all of the Soldiers (who) have helped me to be where I am. If it were not for those below me and those I have had the opportunities to be in charge of, I probably would not have gotten this award."
Gratitude, honor and pride were a common theme as the participants explained why they believed they were here.
"I am very grateful for the honor to be here," Oakes said. "I am really proud to share the honor with these guys. I really enjoy my job because I am able to give support to so many Soldiers, help them in their careers and in their daily work."
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About us: U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned in its 51 country area of responsibility to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships we build during more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnerships and enhance global security.
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