SPRINGFIELD, Va. -- A U.S. Army Europe Soldier brought home the gold at the
Secretary of the Army Career Counselor of the Year Competition here Jan. 24.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael E. Beaupre, a 1st Armored Division Retention Operations
noncommissioned officer, beat a field of 12 other retention NCOs from throughout the
Army.
"For me this is a big honor, I have competed twice before, and this is my first time
winning. It was special because I got so much support from my leaders," said Beaupre.
Beaupre feels career counselors serve an important job.
"It is important to have career counselors so Soldiers have a link to someone who can
enhance their career for the benefit of themselves and their families," he said.
"There are many programs and options that are available for Soldiers: to change their
military occupational specialty, go to school, request a specific duty assignment, even
advising them to enroll in the Thrift Savings Program," Beaupre said. "We link Soldiers
with subject matter experts for the benefit of the Army and the Soldier, and smooth their
transition to the Reserves if they decide to make that change."
In order to make it to the Army level, career counselors must compete and win rigorous competitions in
their respective commands.
Once selected as their major command representative they can vie for the title of Secretary of the Army
Career Counselor of the Year.
"We went before a board of sergeant's major, and were tested on our knowledge of the retention program
and our ideas for improving it," said Beaupre. "It's a unique board, totally focused on the Army retention
program and one of the Army Chief of Staff's stated goals is to retain quality Soldiers."
Beaupre will be recognized by the Secretary of the Army during a formal ceremony in Washington DC, at a
yet to be determined date.
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