SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Master Sgt. Melinda T. Talley, the Equal Opportunity adviser for the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade, was inducted into the prestigious Sgt. Audie Murphy Club at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.
To her, SAMC means taking care of soldiers and their families, representing the Noncommissioned Officer Corps every day, and contributing to the local community.
“I wanted to become a member because I knew the SAMC board was hard and I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could do it,” said Talley. “A positive effect to the whole process was meeting great NCOs at Fort Hood and becoming a part of what the SAMC club did there for the soldiers and the local community.
For her, the most memorable SAMC event she participated in was back in 2011 at the Institute of Human Services in downtown Honolulu.
“We assisted the organization in executing their annual holiday give-away and gift-wrap,” she said. “Some of the 500th MI brigade soldiers came out, and we met many families in need who were able to get Christmas gifts for their kids, which made it worth the time and effort spent.”
Her advice to soldiers thinking about joining SAMC was to not put off until tomorrow what you can accomplish today.
“The SAMC board is hard, but it's a small achievement compared to what you can actually accomplish in the club if you stay active,” she said. “If you're thinking about becoming a member, sooner is better than later. Don't put it off thinking that now is not a good time. The Army won't give you time to prepare for the board. You have to make time. If the board is too hard to work towards, don't think being a member will be any easier.”
Note: This is an ongoing series designed to highlight the members of the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club - Hawaii, their accomplishments, and their feelings toward SAMC, the Army, and the community.