MSCoE leaders highlight Fort Leonard Wood retention successes at awards presentation

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Maneuver Support Center of Excellence senior leaders hosted the fiscal year 2021 Commanding General’s MSCoE Retention Recognition Ceremony Nov. 10 in the Command Briefing Room.

According to Sgt. Maj. Walter Martinez, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood Command Career counselor, the awards represent a lot of hard work by a dedicated team of career counselors and retention noncommissioned officers.

“Career counselors and retention NCOs coach, mentor, listen and are there to guide our Soldiers into making the best choices for themselves, their families and their country,” he said. “Ultimately, they help maintain the end strength of the Army. Without that, we can’t accomplish our missions.”

Martinez said there are three distinct retention awards — Top Production, Early Bird and Excellence in Retention for units and individuals.

The Unit Excellence in Retention Award is given to the brigades and direct reporting units that completed the assigned retention mission in all categories and demonstrated excellence in retaining the Army’s greatest asset — its Soldiers.

This year’s award was presented to representatives from the 14th Military Police Brigade, 3rd Chemical Brigade, 43rd Adjutant General Battalion and the MSCoE NCO Academy.

The Early Bird Retention Award is given to the brigade and battalion that first completed the retention mission in all categories.

This year’s award was presented to representatives from the 1st Engineer Brigade and the 2nd Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment.

The Top Production Retention Award is given to the brigade and battalion with the highest aggregate on retention mission accomplishments in all categories.

This year’s award was presented to representatives from the 1st Engineer Brigade and the 84th Chemical Battalion.

The MSCoE Career Counselor and Retention NCO Excellence in Retention Award is given to MSCoE career counselors and retention NCOs, who demonstrated excellence in their retention program and completed the assigned retention mission during the fiscal year.

This year’s award was presented to Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Brooks, 3rd Chemical Brigade; Sgt. 1st Class Robert Christensen, 1st Engineer Brigade; Staff Sgt. Steven Henderson, 14th Military Police Brigade; Staff Sgt. Stephanie Rojas, 3rd Chemical Brigade; and Master Sgt. Claire Wood, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood senior retention operations NCO.

For Rojas, who can measure her career counseling experience in months, having a team to help lead her to success was critical.

“I would not have been able to complete this without them,” she said.

Christensen has been his brigade career counselor for more than two years, and is a back-to-back retention awardee. At the ceremony, he was also presented with the Heavy Hitter Award for the highest number of retention actions here in the fiscal year. He said he enjoys assisting the Soldiers and families of “the greatest brigade in MSCoE.”

“When we are able to align both a personal goal for the Soldier and the family to a need of the Army, and it works out for both, that is what brings me excitement,” he said. “This is often a thankless job, and to see a Soldier’s face light up when a small request is made and we are able to accommodate, that is what I strive for.”

Henderson also picked up the MSCoE Career Counselor of the Year Award. He is competing at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command-level Career Counselor of the Year competition this week in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to the awards presented to the retention team here, the Retention Support Award is given to individuals who demonstrated excellence in retention by providing exceptional support and dedication to the MSCoE retention program.

This year’s award was presented to Nancy Gregory, secretary of the MSCoE general staff; Patti Niebruegge, MSCoE administrative assistant; and Lt. Col. Angel Vega, MSCoE G-1. Vega’s award also noted that he conducted the most retention ceremonies on the installation during the fiscal year.