FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- A Fort Rucker firefighter bested 600 of his peers to become firefighter of the year, and was awarded an Army Commendation Medal at the installation firehouse earlier this week.
Brig. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general, presented Sgt. Josh Seligman, the Army's 2009 Military Firefighter of the Year, with the award, during a brief ceremony Sept. 20.
"If you've ever wondered what the standard is, it's (Seligman)," Crutchfield said. "What he's done is very difficult to do."
Crutchfield praised Seligman for not stopping at winning a single award, but continuing to push himself toward new goals and making efforts to help his fellow firefighters.
"He wants to continue to be the noncommissioned officer of the year, everywhere he goes," he said. "He wants to lead Soldiers as a sergeant major. I believe he'll make that goal and continue to set the standard."
Seligman said he was honored to receive the medal from Crutchfield.
"I was humbled to see (Crutchfield) here giving me the medal," he said. "I know he's very busy and wears a lot of hats here, so it means a lot to me that he would take the time to deliver the award personally."
As a driver/operator and rescue specialist, Seligman responded to more than 100 precautionary landings in the past year, according to a June 2 Installation Management Command release.
Seligman voluntarily supported the South Carolina National Guard with live fire and driver operator training.
Having worked on numerous types of aircraft assigned to USAACE, he used his technical knowledge to mentor and enhance the skills of other firefighters. He also provided more than 60 hours of classroom instruction to fellow firefighters on various subjects, including aircraft familiarization, hose and pump testing, building constructions, first aid and CPR, ladder operations, wild land firefighting and hazardous materials training.
Installation Fire Chief Steve Collins said Seligman has done a great deal for the department and his fellow firefighters.
"It's not the department, but the individuals that make it possible for us to write up the nominations for these types of awards," Collins said. "The effort they put forth is what gets us the recognition. In the time (Seligman) has been here, he's shown his competency in everything he does. He's a well-rounded Soldier and strives to do the absolute best he can."
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