SAMC members give back to community through local volunteering event

By Linda Lambiotte, ASC Public AffairsAugust 9, 2022

SAMC members give back to community through local volunteering event
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Rock Island Arsenal Sergeant Audie Murphy Club completed its third quarter volunteering event at the United Service Organizations at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, July 23. From left: RIA-SAMC president Master Sgt. Conchetta McCregg, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, RIA-SAMC vice president Sgt. 1st Class Mikaela Clark, ASC, Sgt. Maj. Jon Greer, First U.S. Army, Mrs. Margo Davis, RIA-USO, Command Sgt. Maj. Jorge Escobedo, ASC, and his son Derek Escobedo. (Photo by Andree Escobedo) (Photo Credit: Courtesy) VIEW ORIGINAL
SAMC members give back to community through local volunteering event
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Jorge Escobedo, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, participated in the Rock Island Arsenal Sergeant Audie Murphy Club’s volunteering event at the United Service Organizations-Rock Island at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, with his two sons, Andree (left) and Derek, July 23. (Photo by Master Sgt. Conchetta McCregg, ASC) (Photo Credit: Linda Lambiotte) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. – The Rock Island Arsenal Sergeant Audie Murphy Club completed its third quarter volunteering event at the United Service Organizations-Rock Island here, July 23.

This was an opportunity to help RIA-USO by decluttering, cleaning and reorganizing over 200 pieces of donated items in the USO storage rooms, in order to help provide a faster assistance to service members and their families both on RIA and the other locations supported regionally.

“The SAMC is an all-volunteer organization which is committed to giving back,” said Master Sgt. Conchetta McCregg, U.S. Army Sustainment Command Supply Chain Operations Directorate noncommissioned officer in charge and RIA-SAMC president.

The SAMC is an unofficial private organization inside the Army that was originally created at Fort Hood, Texas, in 1986, to honor Sgt. Audie L. Murphy, the most decorated combat Soldier of World War II. It spread Army-wide in 1994, with other installations retaining the selection process for their own NCOs.

Today, the SAMC raises money through innovative activities and projects and, at times, accepts various types of donations to support events either within the Army, the local community or both.

“The USO consists of only a few workers and, after noticing the large amount of donated items they receive from various organizations and stores, we seized the moment in providing some additional hands to assist in decluttering and organizing their storage room,” McCregg said.

Command Sgt. Maj. Jorge Escobedo, ASC command sergeant major, participated in the event with his two sons, Andree and Derek. Sgt. 1st Class Mikaela Clark, ASC provost sergeant and RIA-SAMC vice president, also joined them.

Currently, RIA has three active SAMC members – McCregg, Clark, and Sgt. Maj. Jon Greer, G-6 sergeant major, First U.S. Army.

“The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club members consistently strive to better themselves, others and everything around them,” McCregg said.

The opportunity they had to provide service was truly a grand pleasure, she added.

“Our pride is carried through our selfless service to those on and off the installation.”

McCregg said that, as an NCO, it is important for her to be part of the SAMC because of what the club represents and how that representation coincides with an NCO’s character, civic pride, and sphere of influence within the community.

“The SAMC represents NCOs who strive to not only continuously improve themselves and their Soldiers, but also the families of Soldiers and the local community,” she said.

According to McCregg, it is important for NCOs to seek improvement in all facets of the Army and life, which is what the SAMC does through an elite group of fellow NCOs.

“Being a part of the SAMC demonstrates the dedication and selflessness of an NCO, and directly reflects that they are a leader of character.”