Photo By Spc. Michael Adams | Staff Sgt. Manuel Cabrera, a career counselor with the 1st Battalion, 41st Field...... read more read more
Subscribe
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq — Staff Sgt. Manuel Cabrera, a career counselor with 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, won the 3rd Inf. Div. Career Counselor of The Year Board Aug. 4 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher.
“It’s a relief,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been working on for awhile. I want to represent the division. I want to show my hard work in this type of environment. I’m definitely proud today.”
Cabrera, a New York City native, reenlisted 91 Soldiers in his unit. The battalion’s goal was to reenlist 49 Soldiers. He met his unit’s end strength by 186 percent.
Cabrera said even though he is honored to have won the award, his routine work as a career counselor is rewarding for him as well.
“A career counselor is being able to take care of the Soldier in every way,” he said. “It means following that Soldier to when he gets into the unit. It’s being involved. It’s something that I like doing. We’re caring for the Soldiers. It means a lot to do this on a daily basis and have that interaction with Soldiers and know that Soldiers always rely on me.”
Four career counselors competed on the board. They represented 1st AAB, 3rd Inf. Div.; 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div.; and 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div.
Each Soldier had to be in good mental and physical standing, be a staff sergeant or sergeant first class, meet their unit’s retention goal, and be recommended by the brigade’s senior career counselor to be eligible for the board.
Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Andrews, command sergeant major of 3rd Inf. Div., presided over the board. He addressed all of the participants and commented on their importance.
“You all are winners because you’re here,” he said. “We have some of the top-notch career counselors that the Army has to offer right here in 3rd (Inf. Div.). You Soldiers are the cream of the crop that allows us to maintain the Army’s strength.”
Preparation for the competing Soldiers entailed more than just studying. Some of the troops came from central and southern Iraq, taking numerous flights, travelling two or three days to compete for the title of best career counselor for the division.
“That speaks volumes of their dedication to want to compete on this board and do well,” said Sgt. Maj. Luis Rivera, command career counselor for the 3rd Infantry Division and Task Force Marne, who also sat on the board.
And out of this elite group of career counselors, Cabrera was the one Soldier who impressed the board more than any other.
“Staff Sgt. Cabrera did awesome,” Rivera, a Comerio, Puerto Rico, native, said. “He was able to articulate the answers to the questions, he was very confident and knowledgeable of not just retention, but current events and Army programs.”
Rivera added his thoughts on why being a career counselor is so important.
“You are the honest broker for the command in taking care of the Soldiers and their Families,” he said. “You are the person people come to for answers on their career options. The career counselor is one of the most important jobs in the Army, we help Soldiers make the most difficult decisions in their careers.”
It is that dedication that helped Cabrera obtain this award.
Cabrera will represent 3rd Inf. Div. at the Forces Command Career Counselor Board at Fort McPherson, Ga., in September.
| Date Taken: | 08.04.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2010 07:25 |
| Story ID: | 54266 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 131 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Raider wins 3rd ID Career Counselor of the Year Board, by SPC Michael Adams, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT