FORT RILEY, Kan. - U.S. Army Capt. Kyle D. Fitzgerald and 1st Sgt. James W. Hallaway, the command team for Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, received awards for having exhibited the most excellence in leadership, training and contributions to the force over the course of a year on Fort Riley, Kansas, March 21, 2023.
The Armor and Cavalry Leadership Award was established in 1924 as a leadership test for cavalry units. This historic award is prevalent in the armor community and is awarded to the top performing companies in the Army. When competing for this award, a company’s accomplishments throughout the previous year are taken into consideration.
“It feels good to earn the Armor and Cavalry Leadership Award,” said Fitzgerald. “I really think the junior-enlisted Soldiers and noncommissioned officers in my company have earned this symbol of their hard work.”
Maj. Gen. John V. Meyer lll, the commander of the 1st Inf. Div., visited Alpha Company in their battalion conference room to personally present them with the ACLA. Meyer then presented a challenge coin to Staff Sgt. Ryan H. Seward, Sgt. Holden J. Pressey and Pvt. Keshawn M. Gordon, from A. Co., as a result of their participation in key exercises.
“We were lucky enough to have the Commanding General here to present the award,” Fitzgerald said. “To have him personally congratulate my Soldiers will hopefully have a lasting impact on their careers.”
Throughout the year, Alpha Company conducted missions alongside NATO allies in Lithuania, led their Soldiers on multiple crew gunnery ranges and conducted redeployment operations. During numerous hours spent dedicating themselves to extra-curricular activities, the noncommissioned officers trained and mentored Soldiers to shoot some of the highest gunnery scores the battalion has seen.
“Everything they have done over the past year has been phenomenal,” said Sgt. Bradley J. Witt, an armor crewman also assigned to A. Co. “I think they are especially deserving to represent the company with the Armor and Cavalry Leadership Award because they have an outstanding ability to train Soldiers at every level to be the best.”
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