CG recognizes FLW's best career counselors at awards ceremony

By Mr. Brian Hill (Leonard Wood)January 8, 2020

CG recognizes FLW's best career counselors at awards ceremony
Maj. Gen. Donna Martin, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, left, presented awards to the MSCoE retention team during the Commanding General Retention Awards Ceremony Tuesday at Pershing Community Center. T... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The retention efforts of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence's career counselors were recognized Tuesday during the Commanding General Retention Awards Ceremony at Pershing Community Center.

Maj. Gen. Donna Martin, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, presented awards MSCoE received from Training and Doctrine Command, including recognition of the command's highest retention numbers for fiscal year 2019 and the accomplishment of retention missions.

"Retention keeps our Army strong, and it's a crucial building block of a future Army," Martin said. "We must retain our best trained, most talented Soldiers. They are the centerpiece of our Army and our No. 1 priority."

In addition, Staff Sgt. Ian Adams, a MSCoE career counselor, was singled out by Martin as TRADOC's top performing retention noncommissioned officer.

Adams said he loves what he does for Soldiers and the Army.

"I'm very passionate about taking care of Soldiers, taking a Soldier's needs, wants and desires and matching those up with the Army's needs," he said. "There's nothing more rewarding than a smile and a handshake from a Soldier when I'm able to tell them, 'yes, I am able to get you what you want.' There's no better feeling than that."

In addition to the TRADOC awards, Martin also recognized the MSCoE units who met their retention goals for FY19.

"Our ability to retain our best people is critical to creating an Army that's ready to deploy, fight and win decisively against any adversary, anytime, anywhere," she said.

Martin also performed a reenlistment ceremony for five Soldiers -- Staff Sgts. David Dawsey, Jared McShan, Jahaira More, Austin Peyton and Kevin Wells -- and spoke on the importance of retaining the Army's "best and brightest."

"As recruiters are out on the streets of America each day struggling to find the less than 1 percent of the population that is qualified to serve, our retention team is preserving the strength of our nation," she said. "Retaining the best and brightest Soldiers in our formation has never been more important for end strength and readiness than it is today."

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