With no deployments, and none on the horizon either, is there some advice to improve and become the leader my soldiers deserve?

This is what I expected from the E-5s:
1. You are where the rubber meets the road. Know your soldiers.
2. Treat them with dignity, respect, and compassion (although sometimes you need to be a hard ass) to foster trust.
3. Cross train them.
4. Appreciate them.
5. Fight for them.
6. Lead by example.
7. Help them grow professionally and personally.
8. Take care of them.
9. Teach them technical and tactical knowledge.
10.You might think of creating an SOP for the Stryker for different positions and tactical drills.
11.There is no leadership formula, however, I suggest you list what leadership traits you want to live by.

I wish the military would back off the "Deployment equates to Leadership" crap. The average time of service in the military is 15 years for enlisted and about 11 for officers. I imagine this has been skewed on the high side by career servers, and that a large percentage got out after their initial 8 years. After almost 18 years of combat status, we have more then cycled through this average career lifetime. While I don't have numbers to back it up, I bet more then half of the current troop have not deployed.

My point is, your deployment should not define your leadership skill. It can, and does, provide experience that folks can draw on to supplement their leadership styles and methods, but much of this collective experience has been distilled and incorporated into our training systems. Focus instead on the next deployment. Take another look at the NCO creed and really try to follow what is presented there. Be, know, and do basic Army Warrior Tasks. At your level, you are going to be the direct trainer of your squad and teams. Lead by setting the example and really "Strive to be tactically and technically proficient."

Stop worrying about awards, look at other E5’s and ask them for help. When you go do your team live fires and squad live fires ask your PSG to shadow other leaders and watch them on their lanes. Master the basics with your fire team through everything from weapons proficiency to all 14 battle drills. Don’t sit in the company area take your men to a field and do some work.