ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- Six Aberdeen Proving Ground Soldiers were inducted into the Aberdeen/Edgewood Area chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club during a ceremony at the Myer Auditorium, Nov. 18.
The inductees included Sgt. 1st Class Kamara T. Generlette-Shaw, a material management noncommissioned officer and activity equipment manager with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command; Sgt. 1st Class Justin J. Bates, a force modernization division NCO in charge with CECOM; Sgt. 1st Class Gene H. Lucas, Jr., senior religious affairs NCO at the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Center; Sgt. 1st Class Phillip K. Durham, executive assistant to the CECOM command sergeant major; Staff Sgt. LaRita M. Fullwood, CECOM religious affairs NCO; and Sgt. Jakerea L. Stowers, primary funds technician NCO for the Garrison religious support office.
Founded in 1986 at Fort Hood, Texas, SAMC is an elite organization of noncommissioned officers who have demonstrated performance and inherent leadership qualities and abilities characterized by those of Sgt. Audie Murphy. The APG-based chapter started in 2013.
Audie Murphy was a NCO who, as a squad leader, consistently demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership, professionalism and regard for the welfare of his Soldiers. Members of SAMC exemplify leadership characterized by personal concern for the needs, training, development and welfare of Soldiers and concern for families of Soldiers.
To be selected into the club, candidates must pass through a commander's nomination, an initial selection board and a final selection board. The final selection board will determine through a question-and-answer system if the candidate has reached a level of knowledge in a range of subjects and can handle themselves under pressure in a manner that warrants induction into SAMC.
The ceremony's official party consisted of CECOM and Installation Command Sgt. Maj. Frank C. Gutierrez; SAMC AEA chapter president Sgt. 1st Class Gary R. Killiebrew, Sr. and SAMC AEA chapter vice president Staff Sgt. Benjamin Line.
Gutierrez said the six new SAMC members represent what is inside the concentric circles of faith and hope for the Army of tomorrow. He said less than 0.25 percent of Army NCOs are accepted into the club.
"You are not only a Soldier for life, you are the torchbearer for life as you now become a member of the SAMC legacy of excellence," he said.
During his remarks, Killiebrew said the inductees were "a very special group" and he went on to detail the strengths of each inductee.
He added that the chapter was in danger of being shut down earlier this year, but the induction of the new class allows the club to live on at APG.
"Just six months ago, we were being faced with the possibility of closing down the club," he said. "Now we have half of a starting football team."
The ceremony was Killiebrew's final event at APG, as he received his permanent change of station orders and is expected to leave APG later this month. It was announced during the ceremony that Generlette-Shaw will take over as president after Killiebrew's departure.
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