SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Illinois (08 April 2016) -- Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin McKeller, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's (SDDC) top enlisted Soldier, recently hosted a rigorous virtual examination board for entry into the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club.
McKeller typically conducts the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club board quarterly, Entrance is determined by a Noncommissioned Officer's leadership characteristics, as well as their commitment to the welfare of fellow Soldiers and their families.
"An NCO selected to be a part of this group of elite enlisted leaders in our Army is someone who develops, inspires, and motivates everyone he or she works and lives with," McKeller said.
"The Audie Murphy Club is a society of Soldiers with a tenacious yearning to give back to the Army, their community, and fellow Soldiers and Family members," added McKeller. "They care not only about the Army community, but about the community as a whole."
With SDDC's subordinate brigades are located throughout the world, McKeller decided that instead of bringing nominees to the SDDC headquarters for the board, it would be prudent to have those participants participate via video teleconference (VTC).
Asked whether an interviewee gained an advantage by not being in the room with senior-level Army NCOs, board member Sgt. Maj. Torrance Braswell adamantly insisted "not one bit." Braswell serves as the Sergeant Major for SDDC's Operations directorate.
McKeller said he hand-picked the board of Senior NCOs that best exemplify the Club's commitment to excellence and dedication.
The board interviews are a laborious test of memory and require each Soldier to identify how they have, and will, fit the standards set to become a club member," he said.
And by all accounts, the queries from the board came fast and furious.
Responding to questions not only about themselves, their families, and their career and life goals, interviewees also had to answer questions about Sgt. Audie Murphy himself -- beginning each sentence with the title of the questioner and a restatement of the question, thus ensuring that substantial attention to detail was being followed.
The questions about the World War II hero were wide ranging and varying in difficulty, such as "What year was Audie Murphy orphaned?" and "Where did Audie Murphy fight during WWII?" to "Name five of the U.S. awards that Audie Murphy earned during WWII?" and "How many movies did Audie Murphy act in?"
Recognizing the length of the selection process, .McKeller emphasized to the board how important it is to select those Soldiers with the stamina to prove they are perfect for admittance into the club.
"We have been charged with selecting NCOs who understand that this organization honors one of our Army's finest Soldiers," noted McKeller, adding "it is vital that this board selects Soldiers who will not only carry on the legacy of Audie Murphy, but also continue to help it grow and progress for many years to come."
Established at Fort Hood, Texas in 1986, the original club has evolved from the local level to an esteemed organization recognized as a preeminent enlisted organization throughout the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves.
The Club was created to honor the memory of a man who was a war hero, actor, country and western music star, and poet, and abides by the words of Murphy himself - "You lead from the front."
Murphy was assigned to the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, where he served in Northern Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. He earned a battlefield commission as well as citations and decorations that included every medal for valor that America awards. He was also awarded one Belgian and three French medals.
Murphy has the distinction of being the highest decorated soldier in American history. He was killed in a plane crash near Roanoke, Virginia in 1971.
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