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1st Infantry Division Recognized 14 Families, 9 Soldiers during VOQ Ceremony

By Sgt. Jared SimmonsNovember 9, 2022

1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
1 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Zachary Manteghi (middle) receives a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Manteghi received the medal for his volunteer work with the United Service Organization. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
2 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Tanner Villasenor (middle) receives the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Villasenor received the medal for his volunteer work with Kansas State University. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
3 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Tracey Phillips (middle) receives a Volunteer of the Quarter Award from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Phillips received the award for her work in 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment's Soldier Family Readiness Group. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
4 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lillian Bowers and Ezmeralda Niewenhuis receive a Volunteer of the Quarter Award from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Bowers and Niewenhuis received the award for running the Hope Charity Club. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
5 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Taylor Winborn (middle left) receives a Volunteer of the Quarter Award from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Winborn received the award for her volunteer work with the 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment's Soldier Family Readiness Group. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
6 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Ashley Jarvis (middle left) receives a Volunteer of the Quarter Award from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Jarvis received the award for her work as a volunteer with the United Service Organization, Soldier Family Readiness Group and Cub Scout Pack 260. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
7 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Toni Serra (middle left) receivies a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Serra received the award for her work as a volunteer in numerous positions within her brigade. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
8 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Amber Exler (middle) receives a Volunteer of the Quarter Award from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Exler received the award for her volunteer work with her company and battalion Soldier Family Readiness Groups as well as the Historical and Archaeological Society of Fort Riley. (U.S. Army by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
9 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sherry Wright (middle) receives a Volunteer of the Quarter Award from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Wright received the award for her volunteer work with multiple veteran organizations in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
10 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Guadalupe Castillo (middle left) receives a Volunteer of the Quarter Award from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Castillo received the award for her work in her company's Soldier Family Readiness Group. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
11 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Autumn McGuffey (middle left), receives a Volunteer of the Quarter Award from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. McGuffey received the award for her volunteer work with her battalion's Soldier Family Readiness Group. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
12 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Nix (middle), receives a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal from from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Nix received the medal for his volunteer work as a coach for a Kansas travel softball team. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
13 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gracie Lipscomb (middle left) receives a Volunteer of the Quarter Award from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Lipscomb received the award for her work with her battalion's Soldier Family Readiness Group. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
14 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Savvanaly Melo (middle), receives a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Melo received the medal for her volunteer work in a rest care home in Manhattan, Kansas. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
15 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Cpl. Liam Crawford (middle), receives a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Crawford received the medal for his volunteer work with the United Service Organization. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st ID holds Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony
16 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Davies (middle), receives a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal from Maj. Gen. John Meyer III (left), commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax (right), the command sergeant major of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall in Fort Riley, Kansas. Davies received the award for his volunteer work with the American Red Cross and Fort Riley Morale, Welfare and Recreation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jared Simmons) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jared Simmons) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RILEY, Kan. — The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley held a Volunteer of the Quarter Ceremony on Nov. 7, 2022, at Victory Hall.

The ceremony was held to recognize Big Red One Soldiers and local Fort Riley community members who have invested countless hours and resources into the installation and community through volunteering within the last 3 months.

"It’s really important to take the opportunity while we’re home to recognize these individuals," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John V. Meyer III, the commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley.

During the ceremony, 21 Soldiers and community members were recognized and awarded either the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for Soldiers or the Volunteer of the Quarter Award for civilians.

"At the end of the day, the Army is not made up of tanks or bradleys or paladins," said Meyer. "The Army is made up of Soldiers, civilians and family members who volunteer- that’s the United States Army. That’s our community."

Those receiving the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal at the ceremony were 2nd Lt. Tanner Villasenor, Sgt. Zachary Manteghi, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Toni Serra, Cpl. Liam Crawford, Spc. Savannaly Melo, Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Nix, Sgt. Michael Davies and Spc. Owen Barnett.

Those receiving the Volunteer of the Quarter Award at the ceremony were Erin Gallatin, Jamie Oakley, Tracey Phillips, Stephanie Fodness, Taylor Winborn, Lillian Bowers, Ezmeralda Niewenhuis, Amber Exler, Guadalupe Castillo, Ashley Jarvis, Gracie Lipscomb, Autumn McGuffey and Sherry Wright.

"It feels nice to be recognized," said Gallatin. "I’m appreciative to all the people who made sure it happened."

Gallatin’s work directly supports the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley. She currently volunteers as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div. Soldier Family Readiness Group leader, while simultaneously serving as the president of the Fort Riley Spouses Club. She also works as the Stroller Warriors coordinator and regularly volunteers for Operation Home Front.

"I like to be able to help other people" said Gallatin. "Wherever I go, I like to leave that place better than I found it. It’s always nice to make sure to volunteer and provide that support that communities need.”