FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Some people are born to lead. Many times this puts them in the spotlight, and they are often lauded for the role they play in the success of the team.
Other leaders prefer to work behind the scenes -- quietly inspiring those around them to achieve and exceed expectations, unconcerned with being rewarded for their efforts and the first to recognize the achievements of others.
Staff Sgt. Jason Thomas, a support operations officer for 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, aspires to be the latter -- an encouraging supporter of Soldiers who truly "leads from the front."
Thomas said that he seemed to fall into leadership roles from a young age.
Born in Dallas and raised in Houston, Thomas spent summers with his grandparents in the country.
"It was very rural and very different from where I grew up," he said "The summer before my junior year, I felt led to move there, and I spent my last two years of high school with my grandparents."
Little did he know, this move would be the first in a series of choices that would guide him, again and again, along the path to leadership.
"I went from a class of 1,000 to a class of 84," he said. "I was really able to devote my time to school, (my faith) and the activities I was involved in."
Thomas very quickly became involved in leadership roles within these extracurricular activities.
"I was the drum major in our marching band, I was the head of the saxophone section in band and I also played basketball and ran track," he said. "I was outgoing, and people kept suggesting that I take on leadership roles."
Thomas enjoyed having the opportunity to lead his peers and to bring attention to their ideas and opinions. He recognized that while many of his peers had valuable insight to offer, they were often reluctant to provide their input.
"I had always wanted to be in a position where I could impart change," he said. "Everyone has a voice, but sometimes they don't voice their opinions because they don't feel like they are in a position to do that. I've always voiced my opinion no matter where I fit into the mix."
During his senior year, Thomas and some of his friends began meeting with an Army recruiter. After careful consideration, he decided to enlist in the Army.
"I did the delayed entry program -- I signed up around January," he said. "I decided that it would help me to get on my feet, pay for college and I'd get to travel."
In June 2003, just after graduation, Thomas left for basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. After basic, he went on to Fort Gordon, Ga., where he was held over until he received orders to Camp Hovey, Korea. From 2004 to 2005, Thomas was deployed to Iraq with his unit. Rather than returning to Korea, the unit redeployed to Fort Carson, Colo.
Thomas said that one of the things he enjoyed most at each duty station was learning from his peers -- sharing his insight and experiences with them and listening as they shared their own unique perspectives.
"I really enjoy interaction with other Soldiers who think differently than me," he said. "I think it makes me stronger -- hearing what they say and absorbing some of the positive things they have to offer. I think I've become a better person because I've been able to meet so many people."
Thomas made getting to know his Soldiers one of his top priorities -- proving to them that he was invested in their success and striving to set an example of what it meant to truly live the Army values.
"Even as a junior NCO, I really wanted to make sure I was leading by example," he said. "You don't have to be a certain rank to lead others."
While stationed at Fort Polk, La., in 2008, Thomas said he felt he was led to take an active role in giving back to the local community.
"I wanted to leave an imprint, not just on the Army, but on the world," he said. "I didn't want to affect just a small circle -- I was thinking of the bigger picture."
Thomas initiated a local soup kitchen, and many of his Soldiers volunteered to serve. He mentioned the effort to his command staff, and he said what happened next was an encouragement to him.
"My commander and first sergeant showed up at the next one," he said. "They put on aprons and we served people together. We didn't go in uniform. We weren't doing it for any sort of recognition. We just saw a need and said 'let's fill it.'"
In addition to continuing to serve in the soup kitchen, Thomas' command staff and members of his unit worked together to organize visits to local nursing homes and even arranged special fishing trips for veterans residing in these facilities.
One day, Thomas heard mention of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
"I had done a few boards before and I always encouraged my Soldiers to do them," he said. "I heard about the Audie Murphy club and started reading more about it."
The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club was started in 1986 as a tribute to the club's namesake -- one of the most decorated American combat Soldiers of World War II. For his exemplary service, Sgt. Audie Leon Murphy received every U.S. military combat award for valor, including the Medal of Honor, in addition to French and Belgian awards for heroism.
The purpose of the club is to highlight noncommissioned officers whose performance and achievement as leaders merit special recognition. To be considered for induction into the club, an NCO must be nominated by his or her chain of command and participate in a rigorous board examination.
"I thought becoming a member would be a great way to get even more people involved in helping out in the community, so I decided to go for it," he said.
Thomas would compete for the board three times before being accepted into the club.
"The first time I showed up I was a sergeant and all the other Soldiers I went through with were sergeants first class," he said. "I didn't make it, but they called me in to tell me 'we think you're going to do a lot with the club, but the vote wasn't unanimous this time.'"
Thomas competed a second time and, again, he was told that he possessed leadership potential but the vote had not been unanimous. Thomas refused to give up.
"The third time I went to the board, I thought 'I've got this,'" he said. "I had already been working with members of the club prior to the board process. I had decided that -- no matter what -- I was going to keep working with them."
This time the vote was unanimous. Rather than boasting about his achievement, Thomas changed his clothes and immediately went back to work.
"It was important to me for my Soldiers to see that this achievement wasn't going to make me slow down or become lax," Thomas said.
"I want to be one of the first ones to clock in and one of the last ones to clock out. I also want to make sure that I'm always doing the most qualitative -- not quantitative -- work that I can with the 24 hours I have each day," he added.
To Thomas, it is every bit as important to be an example of integrity and compassion to his six children. He and his wife are committed to "practicing what they preach," and they strive to raise their Family to be strong in their faith and to give their time in service to others -- leaving behind a lasting legacy.
He said that this was an idea that hit home with him when he attended the funeral of his uncle.
"To see how many people showed up for that funeral was amazing," he said. "He touched so many lives. That's what I want for myself and for my Family. I want to be able to touch as many lives as possible."
Currently serving as the vice president of Fort Drum's chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, Thomas continues to mentor Soldiers and encourage them to strive for excellence.
"I really try to impress upon my Soldiers that they should always try to do their best," he said. "Always try to excel in everything you do. Put everything you've got into it and see how much better you can come out of it."
Thomas also continues to look for more outreach opportunities for the club to participate in.
"We in the Army can do a lot within the community," he said. "It just takes leadership coordinating the time to figure it all out. There are a lot of organizations in the area doing good things, and we want to be the nucleus that pulls everybody together."
He said he hopes that the club can be a part of showing members of the community that the Soldiers appreciate their support and are there to provide their service here in the local area -- not just in war-fighting missions.
"We've got Soldiers who like to do good things for others because it makes them feel good, too," he said. "We're not just people who wear a uniform and a medallion -- we're people who are seeking to help others and improve the relationship between Fort Drum and the people of the community."
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