The Fort Jackson Victory Chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club inducted Staff Sgt. Levi J. Miller, a drill sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, as its newest member during a ceremony Sept. 27 at the Soldier Support Institute auditorium.
“Becoming a member of the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club is no easy task. While you live by the Army Values, you truly demonstrated the Army Value of Selfless Service,” said Command Sgt. Maj. John A. Blyler, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment. “You absolutely put the welfare of the nation, the Army, Soldiers, civilians and the community above your own. Understand that the hard part is not over. You wear that medallion because you are a part of the top 2% of noncommissioned officers in the Army. You set yourself apart by your leadership, professionalism and care of others.”
Also speaking on behalf of Miller was Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Kubat. Miller and Kubat met while assigned to the 112th Signal Air Battalion in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where Kubat became a mentor to Miller. The two shared a passion for running ultramarathons.
“The first thing I noticed about Staff Sgt. Miller was how much he cares. He is very focused on doing the right thing, which is doing things morally and ethically correct. At that moment, I knew I had an asset on our team,” Kubat recalled. Anytime I observed Sgt. Miller in action, he was able to execute at the highest levels and was also able to train everybody around him.”
“Next year you will be eligible to become a senior noncommissioned officer and I know you will give it all back in a higher level. I see unlimited potential and I know you will do great things in the Army for hopefully the next 20 years. My Sgt. Audie Murphy is Staff Sgt. Levi Miller,” Kubat concluded.
With Kubat’s final words, Miller crossed the auditorium to the stage with Col. Mark E. Huhtanen, Fort Jackson deputy commanding officer, and Post Command Sgt. Maj. Philson Tavernier. Huhtanen placed the Sgt. Audi Murphy medallion around Miller’s neck and Tavernier presented him with a coin and certificate.
“The noncommissioned officer you see before you has exhibited superb quality and attributes highly recognized by his leadership. He exceeded the 8-mile ruck march during the physical assessment test, proved his mental toughness during the land navigation and rifle marksmanship assessment, an endured a grueling scenario-based question oral board consisting of sergeant majors and SAMC board members,” said the master of ceremonies.
Miller, no stranger to pushing himself during competitions, won the 2022 Fort Jackson Drill Sergeant of the Year competition earlier this year and competed in September for the Army’s 2022 Drill Sergeant of the Year competition.
After being presented his medallion, Miller concluded the official portion of the ceremony by leading attendees in the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer.
Leadership, coworkers, friends and Family members congratulated Miller on his induction and wished him well in his future before enjoying a piece of cake.
“Who wants a piece of cake,” Miller asked before slashing into the cake with a noncommissioned officer’s saber and with a smile.
Social Sharing