FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas — Sgt. 1st Class Cody Barratt and Sgt. Gerald Leith III, both of the 67th Military Police Detachment (Military Working Dog), Special Troops Battalion, were inducted into the Lamp Chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club during a ceremony June 18, 2025, in Grant Auditorium at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Barratt is the detachment’s kennel master, and Leith is a team leader and patrol explosives detection dog handler.
SAMC President 1st Sgt. Martin Alonzo, Army Corrections Brigade, said Barratt and Leith are very deserving of the SAMC induction honor.
“They are both committed to their local community, stewards of the profession, strive for excellence and serve the United States of America honorably,” he said. “Sergeant First Class Barratt and Sergeant Leith are dedicated, exemplary noncommissioned officers that are committed to the welfare of their soldiers and to our nation. … These NCOs truly lead from the front.”
Alonzo said that during their candidacy, Barratt and Leith assisted SAMC at several volunteer events, including color guard duty for Wreaths Across America, study groups for SAMC candidates, multiple Leavenworth High School JROTC events, and Leavenworth Veterans Affairs hiking trail maintenance.
Alonzo noted that, historically, SAMC membership has heavily been comprised of ACB-assigned NCOs, and he said he was glad to see NCOs from another unit on post become involved with the club.
“I am excited and thankful that the club is expanding beyond the Army Corrections Brigade. It is not an Army Corrections Brigade club, it is an installation club, and it is great to see these two individuals become part of that.”
Guest speaker Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility Battalion (Corrections) Command Sgt. Maj. Travis Huggard said he knows what it takes to become a SAMC member, having gone through the process himself in 2003. He said SAMC candidates either volunteer, which he noted is the preferred method, or by being told to go through the process by superiors who recognize their potential.
“Someone has looked at that NCO and that NCO right there, that’s an Audie Murphy member… because that NCO is exhibiting characteristics of an NCO that operates on an exceptional level,” he said, listing community involvement, working when they don’t have to work, volunteering when they don’t have to volunteer and helping people as some of the indicators. “They are doing everything that maybe the average NCO out there might not be doing.”
Huggard said SAMC is a way to recognize those exceptional NCOs for their extra efforts. The process from candidate to member, though, requires multiple levels of screening and advancement and lots of studying along the way.
“They are going to get screened at the company, they are going to get screened at battalion, they are going to get screened at brigade, and finally, a major command command sergeant major is going to sit on the board, along with some Audie Murphy members and some senior sergeant majors, and they are going to evaluate them to see if they actually, truly meet the criteria. Ultimately, the club is going to put their stamp of approval,” he said.
Huggard said that by the time SAMC candidates get to the point of induction, they are not the same NCOs they were several months ago when the process started.
“They are a whole lot better — this product that you see sitting in front of you right now, this is an elite,” he said, referencing the two new inductees.
Barratt said leaders should know the value of having SAMC members in their ranks and leverage their skills for overall improvement.
“That NCO has gone … to all the subject matter experts on this installation and tried to figure out how the Army really operates, they tried to figure out how the NCO Corps really operates, they tried to figure out how everything operates and try to find the answers to make them a better NCO. … It is impressive that these two have made it through and they are sitting right here.”
Since his own induction into SAMC, Huggard said he has supported and stayed involved in the club in various ways.
“What the club means to me… when I’m sitting with the club members, I’m sitting with a group of NCOs that are dedicated to their craft, that are dedicated to the community, and I feel like they can speak my language,” he said, mentioning that he has connected with the club and its members with every PCS move to continue being involved in the organization and act as a mentor.
Barratt said he became aware of SAMC while working with his first kennel master at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in 2012.
“He was an outstanding NCO and one that became my mentor throughout my career,” Barratt said. “From that point of working with him until now it has always been a goal of mine that I wanted to accomplish.”
As his career progressed, Barrett said he was taking notice of the type of NCO he wanted to become.
“I think the SAMC is full of those types of NCOs who go way above and beyond what is expected of them, not because they are told to but because of their drive and determination to be the best leader they can be,” he said. “I also value more and more each year that passes surrounding myself with great NCOs. It is something that keeps me driving forward and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.”
What SAMC provides for soldiers and the community is essential, Barratt said.
“Serving one’s community and being a positive image of the military community goes a long way with most communities, and SAMC makes it a priority to make that image and impact a positive one.”
Social Sharing