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GRAFENWOEHR, Germany, - A native of San Antonio, Texas, Sgt. 1st Class Jesus Serrano, who serves at the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command, also known as the JMTC in Grafenwoehr, Germany, received the coveted Sgt. Maj. Larry L. Strickland Educational Leadership Award during the Association of The United States Army conference in Washington D.C. October 22.
“I’m really honored and fortunate to have been nominated and selected for this award,” said Serrano. “To know that there’s senior leadership out there who will take the time to thank you is big for any NCO.”
Serrano, an Army veteran of 14 years, was nominated for the prestigious award for his outstanding service to the soldiers and NCOs of the U.S. Army, as well as his unparalleled dedication to community service. Among the numerous other reasons Serrano was nominated, he is a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club and the Sergeant Morales Club. He has deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Serrano, also, was hand-selected to help establish a Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Kosovo—a selection based on his superior ethics and his devotion to Army values.
He is a leader among leaders, said Command Sgt.Maj. Dennis Zavodsky, the senior enlisted advisor for the JMTC. He is willing to sacrifice his own time and resources to ensure young soldiers and NCOs are better equipped to develop themselves. The future of the army depends on well-trained and well-lead people. “He’s going to take it to the next level,” said Zavodsky. “He’s a great role model for young Soldiers and young NCOs.”
The SELA is: “Awarded annually to a noncommissioned officer who best exemplifies the army’s vision and influences others in shaping future leaders while practicing excellent stewardship of the nation’s most precious resource - our soldiers,” according to official SELA guidelines.
Each recipient will receive a bronze eagle and a cash award to help cover costs not covered by tuition assistance; such as instructional fees, laboratory fees and books. Also, Serrano’s name will also appear on a permanent plaque at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Sgt. Maj. Larry L. Strickland, the senior soldier for whom this award commemorates, was serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at the Pentagon until Sept. 11, 2001 when he perished along with so many in the terrorist attack. Strickland’s 29 years of dedication to the army and soldier-education programs are something Serrano recognizes and strives to emulate. “You can’t just sit back and become comfortable with yourself,” said Serrano. “You have to do what’s right, do it well, challenge yourself and always take care of others.”
| Date Taken: | 10.31.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 10.31.2012 10:53 |
| Story ID: | 97055 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, AUSA rewards San Antonio native, highlights values and ethics, by Denver Beaulieu-Hains, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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