SAMC candidates compete at USARCENT board

Photo By Sgt. Ryan Hallock | Staff Sgt. Leilani Caracciolo, a direct signal support team noncommissioned officer in charge, 160th Signal Brigade, puts her military knowledge and experience to the test at the U.S. Army Central Sergeant Audie Murphy Club board at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, March 31. Candidates averaged nearly an hour in front of the board, where they were tested on their military knowledge and experience as well as their ability to strive under pressure. (Army photo by Sgt. Ryan Hallock)  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

03.31.2014

Story by Sgt. Ryan Hallock 

U.S. Army Central   

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Only days remained before the quarterly Sergeant Audie Murphy Club board at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and Staff Sgt. Leilani Caracciolo wasn’t in the country. She wasn’t even in the same time zone.

After working 12-hour days, she found the time to study for the board in Afghanistan, where she’s deployed to with the 160th Signal Brigade. The distance, however, didn’t deter her from the goal she’s had for more than seven years.

“The distance is nothing, because the opportunity is there,” said Caracciolo, a direct signal support team non-commissioned officer in charge. “My current chain of command was very supportive of me going.”

The challenge originated at Fort Hood, Texas in 1986 in honor of Audie Murphy, the highest decorated Soldier in American history. Since its inception the SAMC has grown throughout the Army, where corporals through sergeants first class compete.

Weapons; promotions and reductions; Comprehensive Soldier Fitness; Army leadership; and that’s just scratching the surface of the range of topics candidates are expected to be proficient in, not to mention the situational questions whose answers rely solely on time and experience.

“Only the top two percent of non-commissioned officers get inducted into this club,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Wells, newly selected U.S. Army Central SAMC president. “Last USARCENT board we had 14 candidates; one made the cut.”

The odds are daunting to say the least, but that didn’t stop candidates from showing up at the USARCENT SAMC board March 31.

“I think it’s great they narrow it down to two percent,” said Caracciolo. “Not everyone can be the best.”

To make it the final USARCENT board, candidates must first achieve 80 points in each event on the Army physical fitness test as well as pass a brigade level board. Their board packets must be pristine, up to date, and most importantly, include every piece of information on the Soldiers they lead.

“We’re always looking for qualified candidates to come forward and take this challenge,” said Wells.

Inside the door to the conference room was the final stage, the summit of the SAMC selection process, which most likely feels like the atmospheric conditions of Mount Everest to the candidates. Lined with six sergeants major, to include the board president, Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen, of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Intimidating to say the least!

After briefing the board members on their past, present, and future, candidates recited the biography of Audie Murphy, not an easy task considering it is longer than the Creed of the Non-Commissioned Officer.

Then it was off to the races.

Scenario: Your Soldier is on quarters for 48 hours, but you see him out drinking at a bar. As a leader, what do you do? Go!

Hesitate for too long and it’s on to the next question. It’s referred to as a “shotgun style” board where board members fire off questions rapidly to test how candidates perform under pressure.

For Staff Sgt. David Allan Jones, the pressure didn’t faze him. The 4th ID infantryman, deployed to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, began to answer a situational question when a command sergeant major asked him to stand and recite the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

Jones remained calm and confident, which is a major attribute board members and SAMC members look for when making their final selections. Jones was inducted into the SAMC after spending nearly an hour in front of the board.

It’s not uncommon, however, for candidates to appear before the final selection board two, sometimes even three times prior to being inducted into the SAMC. This was the case for Caracciolo.

“Even though I didn’t make it this time, I know what to expect next time,” said Caracciolo. “It was very hard to swallow, but I’ll get there soon. I’ll come back again, because I firmly believe I am part of the best.”

• Date Taken: 03.31.2014
• Date Posted: 03.31.2014 13:45
• Story ID: 123325
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW