Photo By Spc. Rochelle Prince-Krueger | U.S. Army Spc. Marjorie Jennings, a human resources specialist assigned to...... read more read more
Subscribe
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Born in the Philippines, raised in Guam, and having graduated high school in England, Spc. Marjorie Jennings was immersed in multiple cultures as a child, who travelled around the world with her father while he served in the U.S. Air Force.
“There is good and bad from moving so much when I was younger,” she said “It is a challenge adjusting to the culture shock, and you have to make a lot of new friends. But, it also makes you more open-minded; which helps me with my job because you meet people from all walks of life. It broadens your horizons.”
Her travels eventually landed her at a U.S. Army recruiting station in 2009. Jennings knew then, at age 29, that she made the right decision when she enlisted in the Army as a human resources specialist.
“I joined the Army for a fresh start,” she said. “Before, I was working three jobs and going to school full time. I needed something better for my family.”
South Korea became Jennings’ first duty station where she was a mail handling clerk at Camp Humphreys.
“I got to travel a lot while I was in Korea, it was quite an experience,” she said. “That was also when I had the opportunity to start going to (soldier achievement) boards—and I won every one I went to.”
Jennings’ winning streak continued after departing Korea and arriving to Fort Stewart, Ga. There, she was named the distinguished honor graduate of her Warrior Leader Course class in November 2012, and won the Soldier of the Quarter Board for the 3rd Sustainment Brigade. More recently she became her brigade’s Soldier of the Quarter, yet again, only this time she won while deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan.
“I like the challenges and being tested,” she said. “The quarter board that I just won wasn’t because I studied on my own; it was from all of the soldiers’ (contributions) in my study group. I was helping people study for their board, and by doing that, they helped me without even knowing it.”
Since arriving to Kandahar Airfield in December 2012, Jennings has been helping fellow soldiers during her lunch hour—by studying and honing soldier skills to help further their military careers.
“Jennings took full control of the study group and made study books for those who wanted it,” said Sgt. Manuel Torres, fellow study group leader and HHC, 3rd Sustainment Bde. soldier. “I think she is more than ready to be a noncommissioned officer; she has so much potential. I can’t wait to see her get promoted to sergeant. It will be well earned.”
Jennings currently works in the strength section for 3rd Sustainment Brigade, but she doesn’t settle for doing just her job. She always strives to do more, whether it is volunteering for different tasks, helping teach combatives or putting together study groups for soldiers and NCOs alike to better prepare them for promotion.
“My main objective is helping my peers,” said Jennings. “It is rewarding to me because it helps me be a better person. But it is not just about me. When I see them do well, I think ‘great’ because they are getting one step closer as to where they want to be. We shouldn’t be greedy about knowledge, there is room for everyone. We want 360 soldiers in our Army, not one just good at one thing.”
Jennings says she is doing her best to live up to being a well-rounded soldier. Aside from her daily duties, she does anything she is asked to do.
“Jennings is the type of soldier that every NCO wants to have,” said Master Sgt. Sundi Ganaway, human resources noncommissioned officer in charge of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade. She is always volunteering just to help the team. She takes the initiative to make everything around her better; she makes my life easier. I am very proud; I never miss an opportunity to brag about my soldiers, and she makes it easy.”
Attention to detail is how Jennings says she achieves her goals. Her ultimate goal is to stay in the Army and become a senior NCO. She added that winning the brigade’s Soldier of the Quarter board is helping her move toward that goal.
“I think being a leader is a challenge, it tests your abilities at every level,” said Jennings. “It helps you become better, in all aspects of career and personal life.”
Jennings will move on to attend the upcoming 311th Sustainment Command- (Expeditionary) Soldier of the Quarter board in Afghanistan.
| Date Taken: | 02.18.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 02.18.2013 09:58 |
| Story ID: | 102161 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT WALTON BEACH, FL, US |
| Hometown: | SAVANNAH, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 343 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Selfless service sustains Soldier of the Quarter, by SPC Rochelle Prince-Krueger, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT