Speech - Essay Example

1SG Kittles-Joyner epitomizes the phrase moral courage, as she lets nothing stand in the way of what she believes to be right. She acted first and foremost in the best interest of the soldiers, and demonstrated a remarkable tenacity to get missions accomplished. For the past four years, 1SG Kittles-Joyner was in charge of the senior leadership course. During her tenure, 1SG Keyshun Kittles-Joyner won the admiration and respect of the cadre and students of the Academy. Her SLC team supported four ALC mobile training teams and supervised execution of Camp Semaphore for the Fiscal Year 2010.

1SG Kittles-Joyner was also selected as Vice President of the prestigious Fort Gordon Sergeant Audie Murphy Club in consecutive years due to her superior knowledge and leadership abilities. Additionally, she was selected by the Garrison CSM to be the First Sergeant for the Military Police Detachment. However, the Signal Corps needed her more and so she was selected over 27 MSGs to be the Branch Chief of the senior leadership course, where she oversaw preparation and execution of the 25B, E, S, P, U, and the 25W CMF quality assurance assessments, in which all received an Institution of Excellence rating.

She mentored, prepared, and coached five NCOs, one of whom won instructor of the quarter and another Post NCO of the quarter. She also developed a study group program that resulted in five students being inducted into the SAMC; this was the highest number inductees of any unit on Fort Gordon. She was awarded the Bronze Order of Mercury during the Signal Ball for her dedication to soldiers within the Signal Community and assisting seven of the cadres to be selected as Bronze Order Recipients. She was awarded the Presidential Volunteer Award by President Obama and the Appreciation Award from the Georgia National Youth Challenge Academy in recognition of more than 3,000 countless hours of community service supporting Augusta and its surrounding communities through mentoring youth.

She received accolades as the guest speaker for several 447th Signal Battalion Graduation ceremonies, Pre-Command Briefs, and also a coin of Excellence from the French Signal Commanding General and the TRADOC CSM during command briefs. Her SLC team was commended by the Inspector General for its management of the Structured Self-Development Program. Her SLC team was also instrumental in returning the Army Physical Fitness Test for Height and Weight back to the NCO Education System. She was selected for the Dean's list at Strayer University in consecutive years for maintaining a GPA average of 3.84. She is also a devoted mother to her son, Tyrome Joyner Jr.

1SG Kittles-Joyner will be joining the 1st SC Army BDE in South Korea, where she will continue to serve others. She will be sorely missed, but it is now time for her to move onto bigger and better things.  Her presence will be missed here at the Academy, and we wish her and her family the very best as she heads out to South Korea and her next army adventure. However, as we say goodbye to one great 1SG, we welcome another in the form of 1SG Jiggets. He has come to the RNCOA with an excellent resume.

Also, he is no stranger to Fort Gordon, having served as a 1SG for the C Company, 551st Signal Battalion. He, his wife Jennifer, and their son Robert and daughter Sheila will move across post into what I expect will be one of their most rewarding assignments. 1SG Jiggets is known throughout