FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. -- U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College and Military Officers Association of America officials inducted the Order of the Eagle Rising Society's 25th member during a ceremony July 7 in the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
Retired CW5 John A. Robinson was posthumously inducted into the society by Col. Kevin E. McHugh, commandant of the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College, and retired Air Force Col. Jim O Brien, Military Officers Association of America executive vice president and chief operating officer.
The two presented the award to Karen Robinson, spouse of the inductee, with O’Brien saying, “Please accept this award for your husband’s dedication and commitment to our nation and to the warrant officer community. His selfless service and leadership serve as an example to all those who follow him. He was truly larger than life.”
Karen responded by saying that “John would be both humbled and very honored to accept this award. Thank you all so much.”
O’Brien said Robinson displayed the highest levels of integrity, moral character and professional competency, and served the warrant officer community and the Army with distinction.
“He retired with 31 years of service to our nation, during which time he moved through the ranks as a non-commissioned officer to a warrant officer,” the retired colonel continued. “He began his Army career as an aerial observer in 1989, and in 1995 he had passed through the Warrant Officer Candidate School and Warrant Officer Basic School as a distinguished graduate.
“During his military career, his work as a scholar, mentor and teacher is what truly defined his working achievements,” O’Brien said, adding that Robinson was a role model and actively demonstrated how much a warrant officer could achieve.
He also touched on Robinson’s time with the Warrant Officer Career College faculty where the newest member of the society helped to modernize the curriculum and served as a mentor to many students.
“He proudly helped shape the next generation of leaders of our country,” O’Brien said. “He continued this work as command chief warrant officer of the Field Artillery where he mentored warrant officers and advised on technical matters in respect to modernization.
“With even more to contribute after his retirement, CW5 Robinson helped establish the Warrant Officer Historical Foundation as a non-profit organization,” he added. “He continued mentoring through the WOHF and he raised funds to advance the organization’s educational efforts.
“CW5 Robinson embodied the old mantra of never stop serving. He broke barriers, opened better opportunities for others and gave back to the warrant officer community,” he said. “His dedication to others was evident through every phase of his life and career. I think we will all agree that CW5 Robinson is deserving of this recognition. It is my honor on behalf of MOAA to present this award posthumously to CW5 Robinson.”
Established in 2004 as a joint venture between MOAA and the USAWOCC, the Order of the Eagle Rising Society annually recognizes one individual who has contributed significantly over his or her lifetime to the promotion of the warrant officer community in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient’s seniors, subordinates and peers, according to MOAA and WOCC officials.
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