FORT SILL, Okla. -- The first advanced individual training (AIT) instructors at Fort Sill to receive the Basic Instructor Badge were pinned in a ceremony at Snow Hall, May 26. Twenty-one noncommissioned officers out of 156 from the 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery met the requirements to earn the badge, which was authorized by the Army in 2014 to recognize the professionalism of the NCO cadre and previously only given to those in the Noncommissioned Officers Academy.
Col. John Delaney, 428th Field Artillery Brigade commander, told them, "It's good that the Army has finally recognized what you do." He said a Soldier's initial experience in the Army is shaped by his drill sergeants and by his AIT instructors.
"You have the opportunity to mold the future of the Army the way you choose to," he said. "That is the power of an instructor. You have brand new Soldiers, and all they know about the Army is what you show them. What this badge represents is that you're doing a very good job. You don't get the fancy (drill sergeant) hats, you don't get extra pay, but you have just as much impact on the future of the Army. You have just as much influence, maybe even more on these Soldiers. Depending on your MOS there would be anywhere from hundreds to possibly thousands of Soldiers in the Army that you've trained."
The NCOs receiving the badge teach military occupational specialties such as 13B cannon crewmember, 13F fire support specialist, 13M Multiple Launch Rocket Systems specialist, and 13J Fire Direction Specialist.
"My hat's off to you for accepting this challenge and doing it extremely well," said Delaney.
To earn the badge, instructors must meet certification requirements and teach "on platform" for a minimum of 80 hours, being evaluated twice by certified personnel from the Institute for NCO Professional Development.
The badge was pinned by Lt. Col. Michael Anders, 1-78th commander, and the certificate was presented by 1-78th FA Command Sgt. Major Jason Mullennix.
The high scorers were: Staff Sgt. Alton Moore, Sgt. 1st Class David Parker, and Sgt. 1st Class Hugo Rodriguez.
The AIT instructors who received the badge are:
13B Cannoneer Schoolhouse
Sergeants 1st Class: David Parker, Hugo Rodriquez
Staff sergeants: Francisco Alcala, Jesse Blas, Samuel Chaplin, Christopher Daly, Kory Griffith, Thomas Leblanc, Alton Moore, Michael Prater, George Saenz, Jeremy Truelove, Mason Woods
13J Artillery Fire Direction Schoolhouse
Staff sergeants: Edward Flores, Dean Hurd, Jonathan Moore
13F Fires Support Schoolhouse
Staff Sgt. Adam Aikey
13M Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems Schoolhouse
Sergeants 1st Class: Christopher Castignanie, James Reddick
Staff Sgt. Freddy Albor
25U Tactical Communications Schoolhouse
Staff Sgt. Natalie Davis
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