US Army Central recognizes volunteers

By Staff Sgt.Christal CrawfordApril 11, 2017

US Army Central recognizes volunteers
Lt. Gen. Michael X. Garrett, commanding general of U.S. Army Central, takes a group photo with volunteers recognized at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., April 6, 2017. Volun-teers from across the command were presented awards during the annual Volunteer Re... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

U.S. Army Central honored volunteers from across the command during its annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, April 6 at Patton Hall.

The ceremony included volunteers from locations in the United States as well as those overseas who participated via teleconference.

"You're a special group," said Lt. Gen Michael X. Garrett, the commanding general of USARCENT. "Thank you for the support you give to our families and what you do for our community to make our units better and make life better for all of us."

Volunteers support the command and its mission in many ways.

"Our volunteers support our military mission by providing support, outreach and information to our family members, Soldiers, and DA civilians," said Maj. Kemau A. Whittington, the event's master of ceremony. "(They also have been) advocating, referring and developing relationships between members of our USARCENT family and our community."

Twenty-two volunteers were recognized for their dedication, integrity, selfless and outstanding volunteer service. The volunteers were recognized for their efforts in increasing USARCENT participation in various communities by providing mentoring and tutoring to students at local elementary, middle and high schools both in the United States and abroad, as well as their roles as coaches and volunteers in the other youth organizations.

"We describe a true volunteer as any person who offers himself or herself for service or undertaking and performs a service willingly and without pay or reward; modest, yet passionate; resilient and adaptable; sensitive and selfless," said Whittington.

Volunteering in any capacity is an activity that truly requires a calling and the volunteers deserve to be celebrated for their work.

"I always tell them (the volunteers) that we all have 24 hours in a day and even though volunteers may not have the time, they have the heart, so when they make time to do things for the betterment of Soldiers and families, I really like to show appreciation to them," said Cynthia Jacobs, the family readiness program manager for USARCENT. "We all can do something to change the lives of Soldiers and families and that is what we strive to do."

Sergeant First Class Bradford J. Livingston, the operations noncommissioned officer in charge with the protection division at USARCENT, was awarded the military outstanding volunteer service medal for his volunteer service as the head coach for the Fairbanks Hockey Association from Sept. 1, 2011 to Oct. 12, 2014, providing more than 600 hours to the Fairbanks community. He also volunteers as a youth hockey coach in Charleston and Columbia.

"It's good to volunteer," said Livingston "I do it for the young kids."