7th Group Career Counselor named best in Special Forces Command

Photo By Staff Sgt. Bryan Henson | Sergeant First Class Jill Thompson, right, speaks with a soldier in her office in the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)’s Group Support Battalion. Thompson was recently recognized as the in the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (Provisional)’s Career Counselor of the Year.  

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL, UNITED STATES

12.16.2015

Story by Maj. Thomas Cieslak 

7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - A senior noncommissioned officer assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) recently distinguished herself in a vocation where she and her peers serve as subject matter experts in the development and continued service of their fellow soldiers and directly impact the Army’s readiness for its current and future missions.

After a rigorous series of boards and evaluations, Sergeant First Class Jill Thompson, a native of Ontario, California and a Career Counselor assigned to the 7th SFG(A)’s Group Support Battalion, was named the 2015 First Special Forces Command (Airborne) (Provisional)’s Career Counselor of the Year.

“Career Counselors are a force multiplier for the Army; we ensure the Army is manned with the right soldiers in the right locations” said Thompson about the role of a Career Counselor in a unit. “We have a direct pulse on the atmosphere and morale within the unit … and provide a trusting environment which allows soldiers to truly express their thoughts and concerns.”

Career Counselors possess two equally important missions. They work to maintain the readiness of the unit and the Army as a whole by ensuring soldiers with the desired skills and values remain in the service. Equally as imperative, they assist in the professional development of soldiers in their unit by advising them on education and assignment opportunities open to them.

“Sergeant First Class Thompson does an amazing job, both in assisting commanders in retaining incredibly experienced soldiers and helping those soldiers further their careers,” said Lt. Col. Tandy Brown, commander of 7th Group’s GSB. “Career Counselors must understand a myriad of regulations, MILPER [military personnel] messages and have a passion for both the mission and the soldiers they assist. Sergeant First Class Thompson is the epitome of these qualities and the 7th Group Support Battalion is very proud of her.”

There is no definitive guide to study in order to prepare for the Career Counselor of the Year board. Soldiers serving in the position and competing for the board must know every aspect of the Army Retention Program and be knowledgeable of the current policies in place concerning soldier reenlistment and education. To be successful during the board, competitors must devote their free time to studying the regulations and policies in place and learn every day while assisting soldiers in their reenlistment and education opportunities.

“The ability to impact a soldier’s career in a positive way and assist the leadership in accomplishing the unit’s mission by retaining the best qualified soldiers and NCO’s [noncommissioned officers] is a big motivating factor and highly rewarding,” says Thompson about the highlights of being a Career Counselor. “Becoming a Career Counselor was the best opportunity for me to impact change in my unit and in the Army. I was given the opportunity to do something that I genuinely enjoy doing and I wanted to help other soldiers do the same.”

• Date Taken: 12.16.2015
• Date Posted: 12.16.2015 11:13
• Story ID: 184665
• Location: EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL, US
• Hometown: ONTARIO, CA, US