Most coveted military achievement

SSG Christopher Freeman — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 09:03:06 -0500

I am curious as to what you hold closest to you in regards to your military service. For me, it was Air Assault School. I was with highly motivated Soldiers and two Airmen. We helped each other out, no matter what the task. When we were getting smoked, we did it as a team. It was also a pride thing. It was the first class at Bragg, so the pressure was high, but that pushed me to perform even better. 

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 9 at 2014 9:04 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 09:04:30 -0500

For me it was graduating the Small Arms Master Marksman Course before they lowered the standard to address the high failure rate. At the time, it was a HUGE accomplishment.. You left with three certifications related to Small Arms Instruction, and just graduating earned you a COA.

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made Feb 24 at 2014 10:24 AM

SSG Kevin McCulley — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:24:11 -0500

Saving the life of a child in Iraq.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Feb 24 at 2014 11:14 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 11:14:40 -0500

Working as a Nursing Instructor for the Afghan Army School Of Nursing, and also working with the first ever Physician's Assistant Program (same place/time).

Response by SSgt Tim Ricci made Sep 3 at 2014 5:59 PM

SSgt Tim Ricci — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 17:59:13 -0400

RETIREMENT

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 6:15 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:15:27 -0400

At the moment, I would have to say my Joint Service Commendation Medal.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 6:25 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:25:45 -0400

ha ha ha.. great responses so far. I wanted to up-vote them all.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 4 at 2014 6:44 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:44:51 -0400

My first assignment - serving on the Korean DMZ with 1\506 INF, at that time the only active component of the famed 506th PIR from WWII & Vietnam.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 6:45 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:45:23 -0400

SSG Christopher Freeman - In our school (Wx Fcst) we had Marines, Navy and Air Force and the Marines were ordered not to fail. One of the Navy guys was a master artist and we all harassed the instructors and kicked their butts in softball too.

Our washout rate was 55% but always the team effort was stressed and made it through. The hardest part was the Skew-T upper air analysis and physics were the easiest for me. Go figure, right?

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Sep 4 at 2014 7:16 AM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:16:54 -0400

Number #1- When I was a Captain, a Staff Sergeant Squad Leader who was not in my current unit, but was a Private in my Platoon when I was a Platoon Leader came up to me and thanked for making him "do his job" when he was in my platoon and he then said I was the "only PL in my career that had done so".

Number#2- As a Company Commander, when a former SGT in my unit thanked me for helping him get into USC. Back story, due to an incident, I had recommended him for a Field Grade Article 15. The night before we were to go in front of the Battalion CDR, I sat up with him most of the night helping him prepare for his defense, because he was accepting responsibility for his actions. The next day, he successfully survived the FG Art 15, with everything suspended except the off duty restriction to quarters. Since we were deployed at the time, the restriction did not really mean anything. After the Art 15 Proceedings, he asked me to help him write his essay for his application to USC and also to write him a letter of recommendation, which I did. Six months or so after the deployment, after he had ets'd, he sent me a letter letting me know he had got accepted for attendance at USC.

Number#3- When I was a Lieutenant. A former Private in my Platoon who was from NY State and I had really worked hard to get Chapter-ed out of the Army for misconduct and sent home to NY, came back to California on his own six months later and tracked me down to thank me for "finally setting him strait and getting him to see what he was doing to his life so that he could fix it for the better". Of Course, when I initially recognized him and saw that he was walking directly at me with a dedicated purpose, my first thought was he was about to "kick my butt"! At the time, I was 5'8" a buck 170 and he was 6'3" and 230-240 range.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Sep 4 at 2014 7:50 AM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:50:12 -0400

Being selected at SFAS. The entire time you're there, you get no real feedback. When you hear your name called at the end, man, that feels great.

Response by 1SG Mark Colomb made Sep 4 at 2014 12:29 PM

1SG Mark Colomb — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 12:29:04 -0400

1. As the Platoon Sergeant for the Nuclear Surety Platoon at APG, MD (523rd MP Co) having NCO's from the other platoons ask to transfer into my platoon because "You are the only one who gives a damn about Soldiers."

2. As I was leaving my position as 1SG at Ft. Carson (A Co USAG/148th MP Team) I recieved a letter from one of my NCOs who expressed his thanks for setting (yea I had to set standards, we went through 4 commanders) and maintaining standards in the company and how I had not initially been on the short list of people who were a positive influence on his career, but I ended up at the top.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 4 at 2014 1:54 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 13:54:59 -0400

While attending the Brigade Pre-Command Course at the US Army Military Police School several years ago, I was asked to be on a panel, with the other brigade command selectees, to address the MP Officer Advanced Course that was in session at that time. I was asked a question by one young captain about what I felt my greatest achievement was, to date, and what my definition of success was.

My response was that I had just seen the Battalion Command selection list that morning and was very pleased to see that, of the eight MPs selected, seven had "worked for me" in the past. That, to me, was a great achievement and, for me, defined my success. While I know that they each earned that selection on their own merits, leadership, promotion potential, etc., I would also like to think that my leadership and mentorship of those officers had some small part in their success. I shared in their pride, happiness and success as if each were my kids.

Response by MAJ Bill Whitman made Sep 5 at 2014 11:45 AM

MAJ Bill Whitman — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 11:45:55 -0400

Squad leadership award in PLDC in 1986. Having my peers honor me as a leader meant and means a lot. Other awards for academic achievement in schools, medals/ribbons etc. don't mean as much. Similarly in OIF1 we had a paralegal from the 82nd ABN assigned to us at CFLCC SJA who said of all the officers he would only trust me outside the wire. We argued over who got the 240B though since I was a 60 gunner as an MP in the '80s. He won though but I used an M-4 while all the other officers only wanted M-9s. Fools.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 12 at 2014 1:41 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 01:41:34 -0400

My DD-214 with Retired; Honorable Service.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Sep 14 at 2014 6:39 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 18:39:06 -0400

For me, it was getting an E-6 billet, while being an E-5. Also, I had an E-6 working FOR me, because he refused to take the billet.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2014 5:59 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 17:59:44 -0400

#1 - Being able to salvage my military career after coming out of the gate with a very poor start and ending up getting chaptered for misconduct.

#2 - Working my way back up through the lower enlisted ranks and getting to where I am now.

#3 - Finally being able to reclass to Aviation and getting my crew wings.

#4 - Helping new or young soldiers not make the same mistakes I made.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2014 10:58 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 10:58:21 -0400

1) I was activated in 2002 and sent to Kuwait where I worked as Intelligence Officer for one of the C-3 cells. I wrote an analysis of the 51st Mech Division, which was opposing us in Umm Qasr. I suggested retargeting to the 10th Armored Division, which was the unit holding them in place. The cell OIC told me the plans wouldn't be changed, and I said, "That's OK. You told me to do analysis and this is what I have done. It's up to you and the CG what happens to it."

We did strike the 10th instead, which saved the lives of the 51st, and I'm proud to have made such an impact.

2) When I was HHC 1SG of a Tank unit in the National Guard, I used to have to inspect the area on Sunday, then round up the PSGs and tell them to clean everything up. I got tired of that one day, and didn't tell them. I held them over after final formation, took them on the 45 minute tour, then told them to let me know when everything was done. We left an hour later.

The good point was that after I left, one of those PSGs replaced me. 4 months later he told me, "I really hated you for what you did to us, but I had to do the same thing as you did. Thanks for one of the best lessons I ever got."

3) Something has to be for me, and that's my Master Parachutist's Badge. Not even having achieved E-9 means as much to me as that.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 1:01 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 01:01:37 -0500

Earning the Expert Infantry Badge as a PFC.

Response by TSgt David Marti made Jul 16 at 2019 2:47 PM

TSgt David Marti — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 14:47:37 -0400

For me it was seeing so many of my former troops at my retirement ceremony. I didn't know but my friend who worked in the orderly room had tracked them down and invited them. Quite a few had gone on and gotten commissioned because the other shift supervisors and myself coordinated schedules to allow folks to Go to school while in garrison. Long story short, to hear the kind words and how they had gone on to be successful in their military careers meant more than anything else!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2020 2:21 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 14:21:38 -0500

IDK
A couple years ago, I earned the senior Space Wings.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 24 at 2020 5:11 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 17:11:53 -0500

Being a tactically proficient tank officer.

Creating a culture where the whole chain of command took care of soldiers, the soldiers provided world class finance support, and we had fun. An example is I talked to the MEDEVAC pilots and all my soldiers got the opportunity to fly with them. I have to give most of the credit to the NCOs. I only gave the azimuth.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2020 6:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 18:17:51 -0500

For me, I was assigned to an Observer-Controller/Trainer Unit in 2003. The unit was mobilized less than a year later. For the next 10 years, 6 of them mobilized, I was the NCOIC of the team. My team had AC, AGR, NG, and Reserve members. The team rank structure was primarily E-6, E-7 and O-2, O-3
In short, it seemed crazy at times. We constantly received short notice missions as teams and individuals to do things that most of us had either never done before or had done seldom. We had to train up quickly, develop the required training materials, etc. There were no pre-packaged training kits to use. In many ways, we were doing something that hadn't been done in recent history.
We traveled throughout the USA, PR, and individually into Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc. We trained, tested, and qualified Reserves, NG, Air Force, Navy, civilian LEOs, etc on firearms, infantry and vehicle tactics, conducted use of force and IED courses, mandatory in-country courses, worked at NTC and JRTC, and more. We worked as OPFOR, role playing as in country natives during active scenarios, we were attached to deploying units as mobilization assistors (ensured everyone's paperwork was correct and that everyone attended the required training), mentored unit leaders,. and far more
If I had my choice, I would do it all over again

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Dec 24 at 2020 6:34 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 18:34:10 -0500

Graduating Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Special Operations Combat Dive Supervisor Course.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2020 2:59 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 02:59:45 -0500

For me, I have two:

1) Competing in a Soldier of the Year board where I was the only PFC amongst the competitors (the rest comprised of about 7 SPCs). I won that board. It was because I was asked a question, answered it incorrectly...then about 4 questions later I went back to the CSM that asked the question I got wrong and provided the correct answer.

2) Mentoring and preparing my Soldiers for the Promotion Boards and their respective PMEs. I can say that I have a 100% success rate in getting my troops recommended and 100% success rate in having NONE of my Soldiers fail out of their NCOES.