Many recruiters worry when the boss calls. But for Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ellis of the Muncie, Ind., recruiting station, there was no reason to be concerned.
"When Command Sgt. Maj. Marcus Robinson contacted me and told me I was selected as the Indy Battalion Station Commander of the Month for January, I laughed and said, 'Wow!' It caught me totally off guard," Ellis said.
Ellis' selection may have been a surprise to him, but according to Robinson, it was well deserved.
"Ellis is one of my most dependable station commanders," Robinson said. "He deserves the honor, and I am very proud of him."
The fact that Ellis didn't anticipate becoming a recruiter and initially assumed the role of station commander for the Muncie Recruiting Station on a temporary basis makes his accomplishment even more noteworthy.
"I'm actually a military policeman. I came down on orders for recruiting and came to the station to work as a detail recruiter back in 2008. I ended up assuming the duties of station commander when my leader fell ill," Ellis said.
Taking on his new role meant Ellis had to step up to the plate and make his mark, despite his self-admitted apprehension about taking over as station commander.
"At first I was overwhelmed a little mentally, but the support of the battalion leaders, in particular the CSM, took away any fears I had," he said.
Immediately Ellis dove headfirst into every book about leader ship he could find.
"I looked at everything I had ever been given, including USAREC manuals I studied from in recruiting school and regulations. You name it, I read it," Ellis said.
He even found inspiration from a book on a list of "must reads" compiled by the previous 3rd Recruiting Brigade commander, Col. James Iacocca. "I read 'Once an Eagle' by Anton Myrer, and it taught me how to choose a leadership style that would position me for success," Ellis said.
One of the first leadership initiatives Ellis took was to establish a strong physical training program for recruiters and Future Soldiers.
"I knew if I established a solid exercise program for the Soldiers in the station and our Future Soldiers, everything else would come together," he said. "I pushed myself and I pushed them. I also monitored my Soldiers' progress very closely."
That monitoring proved instrumental for one of Ellis' recruiters, Sgt John Dotson.
"My PT score went to the best it has ever been in my career," said Dotson, "but the biggest thing is how Sgt. 1st Class Ellis holds us accountable for everything we do."
The mindset Ellis instills in his Soldiers mirrors his own outlook on leadership accountability.
"It's not just about being responsible for yourself. We also have to be accountable to the community we live and work in," he said.
Since joining the Muncie Recruiting Station, Ellis has made it a point to be actively involved in the community and not only share his leadership skills, but also his love for physical fitness.
"For the last two years, I've coached the Monroe Central Junior High cross-country teams," he said.
Under his tutelage, the girls' team took top honors in the county.
Students and civilian members of the community see past the uniform and don't just view him as a Soldier.
"I'm part of their family," Ellis said. "I'm not Sergeant Ellis. I'm Coach Ellis."
The acceptance and support of Ellis by his Muncie family mirrors the support he gets from his number one source of inspiration, his wife, Shauntae.
"It's kind of funny that people don't realize how important the woman behind the man is. If it wasn't for her helping me and supporting me, a lot of what I've accomplished may not have happened," he said.
Shauntae is the first person Ellis called when he received word of his selection as Station Commander of the Month.
Getting that phone call from Robinson hasn't changed the way Ellis thinks about himself. He's still his own worst critic and constantly strives to be the best.
"The toughest challenge thus far for me in all of this is the amount of pressure I put on myself to perform, but that's both a good and bad thing," he said.
Now that he's been honored for being the best station commander in Indy Battalion for January, perhaps next time the phone rings, he'll be more confident about taking a call from Robinson.
"To hear a Soldier praise you for your leadership, mentorship and training is humbling," said Ellis.
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