ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Staff Sgt. Edith Canada, the property book noncommissioned officer in charge, assigned to the 22nd Chemical Battalion (Technical Escort),
was inducted into the Audie Murphy Club Sept. 23 at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
In order to become a part of this time-honored military organization, which is for enlisted NCOs only, she studied the club's namesake, exhibited leadership skills and used a Soldier's common sense.
"I studied Audie Murphy, what he did, why he's considered the greatest combat Soldier," said
the staff sergeant and Los Angeles native when pressed to talk about her accomplishment.
During a three-step process Canada met prerequisites that her higher headquarters, Forces Command, cited as, "exemplify leadership characterized by personal concern for the needs, training, development, and welfare of Soldiers and concern for Families of Soldiers."
She was then recommended by her NCO toparticipate in a rigorous board examination process at battalion, brigade and division levels.
The 20th Support Command (CBRNE) top enlisted leader was a member of one of the several boards Canada faced.
"The board was geared toward situation scenarios rather than what regulation it's in," Command Sgt. Maj. Sean Burke said.
As an example, he said rather than ask what regulation haircut standards came from, board members would ask a leadership question about how the NCO would handle a Soldier who continuously did not meet standards.
"That board was the most difficult one," Canada remembered. "Questions were coming from left and right. I didn't even have time to answer one question and they fired another one at me."
But Canada's first sergeant knew she could handle the pressure and her military bearing would not be hampered. She spoke on behalf of the candidate to the board regarding her character.
"She's the best NCO I have in my formation," said Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Sgt. Rebeca Franco of 37 year old Canada. "She's extremely competitive in everything she does --physical fitness, winning the NCO Board, volunteering, anything. She sets herself apart from her peers and she's very hungry for more responsibility. The level is immense. I can't really say it any other way than she's hungry."
The audience at the induction ceremony included Canada's peers and supervisors, former mentors in her life and fellow Audie Murphy Club members, all distinguished by wearing a silver
medallion on a light blue ribbon around their necks.
At age 46 Audie Murphy died in a plane crash in 1971. He's recognized as the most decorated soldier in U.S. history. In addition to his Army accomplishments fighting on battlefields in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany, he was also a movie actor, country music composer and poet.
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