Photo By Sgt. Wesley Landrum | 1st Sgt. Connie Brannock of the 222nd Transportation Company stands in front of a...... read more read more
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By Spc. Wes Landrum
Desert Voice staff writer
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Connie Brannock has had many titles throughout her lifetime – singer, advocate, athlete, biker and first sergeant. Now Brannock can add another accomplishment to her legacy, award winner.
Brannock, first sergeant for the 222nd Transportation Company, was given the League of United Latin American Citizens Excellence in Military Service Award. She was given the award for her service to the Latin American community in her hometown of Tucson, Ariz. Brannock said winning the award is truly an honor for her.
"To be recognized by the Latino community in this fashion is a great accomplishment for me," Brannock said. "It means that you have been a positive force in the community and worked hard for what is right."
Known affectionately by her Soldiers as "Big Mama," Brannock was nominated for the LULAC award through her volunteer work. She has worked for over a decade with the Arizona National Guard Drug Demand and Reduction Program. She has also worked with friend David Kha on a bike repair program. The volunteer group brought bicycles for children and helped repair them. Then they gave the children the bicycles to use for recreation and transportation. An avid biker, Brannock was nicknamed "The Bike Lady" by the children in the area because of the bike program. Big Mama said she had submitted a packet for the LULAC in 2006 but did not win. Brannock said she thought it was over but her commanding officer had other ideas.
"She (Lt. Col. Leslie Montgomery) knew that I had the opportunity to interact with the Latino community and the African-American community through my Guard work or through the Human Relations Commission work or my volunteer work," Big Mama said. "So we're over here doing missions and all of a sudden, through technology, she e-mails me and asks me to submit a packet for this year. I did a little research and found some articles that had been written on me by the local newspapers. I submitted everything I had, and the next thing you know, I'm selected. I was shocked because there are so many wonderful volunteers out there."
Prior to her military career, Brannock was also a blues singer. She reached the mainstream blues genre when she signed a contract with MCA records. However, her career was short-lived.
"I had an MCA recording contract that did not amount to a hill of beans. I had a demo 45 (record) that was used as a Frisbee from the A&R director's office over to the coffee break area," she said. "That's about as far as I got promoted. You don't think about that when you're first signed, you're like 'Oh, contract!'"
Spc. Eloisa Lucero, 222nd Transportation Company, said her first impression of Big Mama was one tough, no-nonsense, non-commissioned officer. Lucero said that all changed in one meeting.
"Coming out of AIT (advanced individual training), you're taught 'Parade Rest when you're talking to an NCO' and 'Be respectful to your superiors.'" Lucero said. "We were cleaning up the motor pool and I went to talk to her and stood at parade rest. She smiled and said 'Knock it off.'"
Big Mama joined the Arizona National Guard in 1990, one week before she turned 35. When she took the oath, she entered a world where she was the oldest person in her basic training class and in many of her subsequent military classes. When she would run with her fellow Soldiers, she received the nickname "The Running Wrinkle." Her scores, however, would put anyone to shame.
"I've never scored less than a 272," Brannock said. "The instructors were not impressed."
Brannock said the instructors thought she could not make it in the military. However, it took one deed to show her younger platoon mates that she could indeed hack military life.
"We were on a battalion run and this girl fell out," Big Mama recalled. "The girl was ready to just pass out. I fell back to stay with her and one of the drill sergeants made a comment about me lagging behind.
"I told the girl to get on my back and I carried her the last two miles of that run," Big Mama continued. "After that, I never had a problem from anyone."
Lucero said there's no one more deserving of the LULAC than Big Mama.
"She's the heart of the company," Lucero said. "We have people from other units and battalions here with us. They're like 'oh, you guys have Big Mama. We love your first sergeant.' They love the fact that she cares, not just for her Soldiers, but also the Soldiers that are outside her company."
Big Mama is a friend to everyone, officer and enlisted, Lucero said. She said Brannock's hard work has paid off with the award.
"I'm pretty sure being a first sergeant is not easy, but the way she treats her (commander) and the people around her - if you're going to sit there and 'bust your butt' and accomplish the things she has, why not get rewarded for your hard work?"
Big Mama said she has tried to live by one simple rule her whole life.
"You have to treat everyone with respect," she said. "Never disregard their basic humanity and they will try harder for you. They will strive to perfect themselves when they see that you really do care about them and the unit."
| Date Taken: | 07.22.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2007 10:40 |
| Story ID: | 11392 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 61 |
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