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FORT RILEY, Kan. - “It was the most anxiety-filled, stress-induced board I have ever gone to,” said U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Jason M. Wright, the 1st Sgt. of 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley’s Reception Company. “It was the best thing to have ever happened to my career.”
When he was a newly-promoted Staff Sgt., Wright was informed that he could run for Sergeant Audie Murphy Club membership. At the time, his master sgt. took him to an induction ceremony where he saw the medallion the noncommissioned officers wore as a result of their accomplishments. Wright felt instinctively called to be a part of this club.
“I stopped checking my phone, I stopped playing video games, I stopped watching T.V., and I worked out only once a day, ” said Wright. “I put my life on neutral and pause.”
Wright prepared for the board by practicing basic tasks and battle drills such as physical training, writing skills and written tests. Some warrior tasks, like throwing a grenade, needed to be polished up, but Wright said he was happy to get the practice.
“I usually don’t feel this unprepared to go to a board,” Wright said. “How can I tell my Soldiers what to do when I am out of practice?”
In a surprising twist, however, Wright was not asked questions regarding specific regulations. Instead, the members of the board challenged him regarding hypothetical situations.
Wright passed the board, despite the intellectually challenging questions.
“They’re not asking ‘what is AR 670-1,’” said Wright. “They’re asking what Sergeant Wright would do if this, that and the third happened… and that’s realistic. Everything is not so clear cut.”
After his selection by the rigorous board, Wright met with the president and the vice president of the SAMC to have a conversation about becoming the SAMC President, Ft. Riley Chapter.
As the SAMC President, Ft. Riley Chapter, Wright wanted to showcase what the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club membership was about. He also said that he wanted other junior Soldiers to join and expand the club, helping other leaders become better leaders. He said that it means a lot to him to be the face of the organization, which translates well while he serves as the first sergeant of Victory Reception Company.
Wright encourages Soldiers new to Fort Riley to ask for help, and he uses his position as a leader to make the first impact on Soldiers, and also recruit NCOs into SAMC.
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2023 16:23 |
| Story ID: | 450376 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, An NCO's Impact on the Big Red One, by SPC Dawson Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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