FORT SILL, Oklahoma (Nov. 15, 2018) -- A dual active-duty Army couple and their two children walked away with Fort Sill's Family of the Year title at the Patriot Club, Nov. 8.
Sgts. 1st Class Frank Citizen and his wife, Sara Citizen and their two children Steve 14, and Roxanne 12, spent a few minutes afterward expressing their thoughts.
Sara explained: "It's mind-blowing, an overwhelming honor. We knew we were nominated. There were emails about that, but I'm totally surprised."
She also said that their children take a lot of responsibility at home and elsewhere to make their active military lifestyle work.
"They do things that kids their own age don't do. They know how to do their own laundry and chores, Sara said. "It's very much all hands on deck to make our lives work."
She said it's also about communication and priorities. If it's important you'll find time to do it.
Frank works as a medical operations noncommissioned officer in charge at the 75th Field Artillery Brigade, while Sara serves as a sexual assault response coordinator at the 434th FA Brigade. She previously spent two years as a drill sergeant.
Maj. Gen. Wilson A. Shoffner, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, was the featured speaker. He and his wife, Carron, and Command Sgt. Maj. John Foley, FCoE and Fort Sill CSM, presented the awards.
"Military families face significant challenges that the average American tends to know little about. As an Army brat myself, I grew up with, 'this is my lifestyle and I didn't really think much about it,'" the general said. "I've come to learn that what we do and our way of life is not widely understood outside of military families. We're growing distant and distinct, especially the population centers in the United States.
"If you think about the constant deployments, the time in the field, changing schools sometimes on an annual basis, those are only part of the struggles that military families face," Shoffner continued. "All the families here today represent the best in our military families."
Shoffner explained the selection criteria, which included evidence of parental efforts to understand the needs and potential of each family member; encouragement and support of each family member for well balanced growth intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and socially; proof of accomplishments that have benefited Fort Sill and the surrounding community; honors and awards they have received; how family members share quality family time; how the families share responsibilities among themselves; how they've helped overcome adversity; and evidence of total family involvement.
"I'll be the first to say there are a lot of families out there we're not going to recognize tonight that are absolutely worthy of recognition," Shoffner said. "We have to choose 10. It takes all of us together to make this Army family work. Many families silently serve, tirelessly serve, selflessly serve and continue to do so without any expectation of reward or recognition. I think it's fitting that we publicly recognize at least some of them for the tremendous sacrifices and accomplishments they have demonstrated."
The nine other nominated families were: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Darrell and Cassie Arndt, Headquarters and Head-quarters Battery (HHB), 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery; 1st Sgt. Derek and Kaci Bennett, D Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th FA; Sgt. 1st Class Saturnino and Nya Cantu; HHB, 3rd Battalion, 13th FA; Staff Sgt. Elijah and Emma Deloach, Headquarters and Head-quarters Company, Garrison Religious Support Office; Staff Sgt. Joseph and Nicole Duarte, B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery; Sgt. 1st Class Anthony and Katie Hannasch, A Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th FA; Chaplain (Capt.) David and Vickie Ravenscraft, HHB, 3rd Battalion, 2nd ADA; Sgt. 1st Class Daniel and Kymberly Rios, C Battery, 1st Battalion, 19th FA; and Capt. Phillip and Brittany Sutton, HHB, 2nd Battalion, 4th FA.
All nominees received gifts. The Citizen family received an additional $200 gift card from the Fort Sill Main Exchange, a weekend cabin rental at Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area, a moon bounce rental and a blanket with the Artillery Half Section logo embroidered on it.
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