FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. John P. McDwyer, III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos command sergeant major, celebrated the exceptional contributions of the warfighter and civilians Nov. 25 at the Phantom Warrior Awards ceremony at the Community Events and Bingo Center.
The two recognized Soldiers and civilians for their leadership, volunteerism and selfless service to the community. The 27th year of the Phantom Warrior Awards ceremony highlighted the dedication of individuals who embody the Army values and warrior ethos.
“Each Soldier and civilian that we honor today, stands on this stage not by chance, but by their unwavering personal commitment to excellence,” Admiral said. “Many of the awardees gave their time and energy to the community through volunteer work, to forge partnerships between this installation and the members of the Central Texas community, and, finally, several of our awardees today prioritized caring for Soldiers, civilians and their families.”
The ceremony recognized 45 Phantom Warrior individuals and teams who were nominated by their leaders and peers and selected as award recipients for the third and fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024. From military units and community organizations to Soldiers and civilians, awardees were honored for a range of initiatives that fostered professionalism, leadership, teamwork, mission readiness and community.
“When I first took command of the III Armored Corps, I designated four enduring priorities — warfighting, developing leaders, partnership and Soldiers, civilian and family care,” Admiral said. “These enduring priorities, which guide everything we do in the Phantom Corps and on this installation, are a testament to our commitment to excellence.”
The first awardee to be recognized among the 45 honorees was Pfc. Christopher Desir, a junior paralegal at the Fort Cavazos Client Legal Services Office, who was cheered on by his peers for his excellence in customer service. Highlights of his accomplishments include processing 1,316 virtual inquiries for legal assistance, offering in-person support to an additional 1,000 clients and participating in community service initiatives, like the Adopt-a-School program and food drives.
“Receiving the Phantom Warrior Award made me proud of the work I’m doing and grateful for the support of my team,” Desir said. “Their presence and encouragement reminded me of the strong camaraderie we share, and I deeply appreciate how they have helped me grow both professionally and personally.”
Several Directorate of Public Works staff were recognized for 15 awards that included Customer Service Excellence; Individual Quality; Team of Excellence; Volunteer in the Communities; Outstanding Commitment to a Job; Community Support to Fort Cavazos; Employee of the Quarter; and Customer Service Warrior Awards.
DPW individuals and teams who went above and beyond their duties to be recognized included Deborah Frith, staff actions control assistant; Pollution Prevention Services and Bioremediation Team; Roads and Grounds Shop; Michael Clark, lead environmental protection specialist; Monte Reed, facilities maintenance superintendent; Tommie Driver, management analyst/security manager; Glenn Johnson, engineering technician; DPW Safety Office and Unit Safety officers; Dr. Amber Dankert, wildlife management supervisor; Michelle Lenis, branch chief of the Management and Outside Oversight Team; Shawn James, environmental protection specialist; Fort Cavazos Recycle; Kandice Hines, recycle operations manager; Tracey Foster, housing manager; and Earl Hawkins, environmental protection specialist.
A few highlights include Dankert and Lenis who collectively volunteered 350 hours to organize and host a community mermaid-themed children’s event; Johnson, whose actions contributed to the safety of over 350 individuals during two consecutive emergencies — a tornado warning and a diabetic student in distress; Hines, who enhanced the operational efficiency of the installation’s recycle program and ensured a safety-first mindset; and Hawkins, who took on the role of Special Program Operations and fosters a culture of empathy and respect that delivers exceptional customer service at the Classification Unit and Bioremediation Site.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our incredible DPW team,” said Brian Dosa, director of DPW. “Those who were recognized are making a difference for our Soldiers, units and families. Each of them demonstrated exceptional dedication, hard work, teamwork and commitment to making a positive impact on Fort Cavazos. I am thrilled to see these teammates receive public appreciation for their amazing work.”
The ceremony concluded with Fort Cavazos’ recognition as the winner of the 2024 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence. On behalf of Rep. Pete Flores for Texas State House District 24, Chip Howell, district liaison, joined Admiral and McDwyer in presenting Col. Lakicia Stokes, U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Loyd A. Rhoades, U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos command sergeant major, with a certificate of recognition.
“This installation is The Great Place because we focus on mission excellence and standards, teamwork and caring for each other,” Stokes said. “That focus is exemplified by the accomplishments of today’s awardees. Individually and collectively, they represent a passion for service, a steadfast purpose of ensuring the Army can fight and win our nation’s wars and an unwavering commitment to the people, our Soldiers and their families who willingly sacrifice to support and defend our nation.”
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