80th Training Command selects 2012 Instructors of the Year

By Staff Sgt. Deborah Runkles-Jenkins, 80th Training Command public affairsOctober 14, 2012

80th Training Command selects 2012 Instructors of the Year
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pike, an instructor with 1st Battalion, 31st Regiment, 102nd Division, assists a student during a mine sweeper class at Fort Knox, Ky., Oct. 13, 2012. Pike taught the class as part of the the 80th Training Command Instructor of... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
80th Training Command selects 2012 Instructors of the Year
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Major James Wills, senior enlisted leader of the 80th Training Command, congratulates Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Landsperger, an instructor with the 13th Battalion, 108th Regiment, 94th Division, 1st runner-up at the 80th Training Command Ins... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
80th Training Command selects 2012 Instructors of the Year
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Major James Wills, senior enlisted leader of the 80th Training Command, congratulates Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pike, an instructor with the 1st Battalion, 31st Regiment, 102nd Division, for winning the 80th Training Command Instructor of t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
80th Training Command selects 2012 Instructors of the Year
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Michael Morris, an instructor with the 10th Battalion, 80th Regiment, listens to a student's response during an Intermediate Level Education class at Fort Knox, Ky., Oct. 13, 2012. Morris conducted the class as part of the 80th Training Com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
80th Training Command selects 2012 Instructors of the Year
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
80th Training Command selects 2012 Instructors of the Year
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Michael Morris, an instructor with the 10th Battalion, 80th Regiment, stands ready to accept the the 80th Training Command Instructor of the Year award in the officer category from Command Sgt. Major James Wills, the command's senior enliste... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Lt. Col. Michael Morris and Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pike won the 80th Training Command Instructor of the Year competition in the officer and enlisted categories, respectively, at Fort Knox, Ky., Oct. 13, 2012.

Morris, an instructor with the 10th Battalion, 80th Regiment, teaches intermediate level education to Army Reserve, National Guard and active duty majors as a gateway for promotion to lieutenant colonel.

Pike, an instructor with 1st Battalion, 31st Regiment, 102nd Division, has taught all levels of the combat engineer career field during his four years in the Army Reserve.

"I love it; it's a lot of fun," said Pike, who beat out seven other competitors. "It's our job to get the students excited enough to not just do the basics, but to advance their knowledge in their MOS and get them excited about it like we are."

Lt. Col. David Pressley, an instructor with the 11th Battalion, 108th Regiment, and Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Landsperger, an instructor with 13 Battalion, 108th Regiment, 94th Division, were the 1st runners-up in the officer and enlisted categories, respectively, and will serve as alternate competitors if the first place winners are unable to compete at the next level.

Morris and Pike will represent the 80th at the U. S. Army Reserve Command Instructor of the Year competition in the officer and enlisted categories. The winners of the USARC event will move on to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command level.