Photo By Lt. Col. Geoff Legler | Chief Warrant Officer 5 Melvin Murphy of Moore, Oklahoma, stands with his family after...... read more read more
Subscribe
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Oklahoma Army National Guard (OKARNG) made history this month with the promotion of the first African American to achieve the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5), the highest Warrant Officer rank.
Tampa, Florida, native, CW5 Melvin Murphy, now a resident of Moore, Oklahoma, celebrated his achievement among a room full of family, friends and colleagues, both past and present, and spoke honorably about being the first of his race within the OKARNG to reach CW5.
“That’s a position I do not take lightly,” Murphy said. “I want to be that inspiration to the subordinates and actually be that individual that they can look at me and say, ‘If CW5 Murphy can do it, I can do it as well.’”
Wearing his new rank for the first time, Murphy stood in front of the room to address his loved ones, leadership and peers. He spoke with pride and admiration, at times with a shaky voice in attempt to hold back his tears as he personally thanked individuals responsible for helping him get to the position he is in now.
In an interview with Murphy, he mentioned a few in particular, including God, his family and CW4 (Ret.) David C. Credell, who mentored Murphy and encouraged him to become a Warrant Officer.
“I’m a Christian man, so it always goes God first,” Murphy said. “Mainly, my support comes from my family. I think quite a bit of folks have something to do with me getting here.”
The word “achievement” isn’t one to use casually in Murphy’s scenario. According to the state command chief warrant officer for Oklahoma, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christopher Rau, only one out of 100 Warrant Officer Candidate graduates attain the rank of CW5.
“One must be properly prepared through military and civilian education, show great potential to serve with increased responsibility, but then stars must align and luck and timing does come into play,” Rau said.
Warrant Officers are considered master-level technical experts, combat leaders, trainers and advisors. In the United States Army, many Warrant Officers are pilots for rotary or fixed-wing aircraft.
In Murphy’s case, he is the subject matter expert of any and all things logistics and supply. More specifically, he is the full-time Consolidated Property Book Officer (PBO) in the OKARNG’s Joint Force Headquarters’ (JFHQ) logistics section. His duties include supervising PBOs throughout the state and property book managers, a crucial position that ensures the readiness of the force.
“Chief Murphy is one of the most professional Soldiers I have met,” Lt. Col. Steven Stanford said, supervisory logistics management specialist, JFHQ logistics section. “His willingness to assist, train and mentor Soldiers has greatly increased the readiness throughout all levels of the organization.”
Murphy’s military journey began when he enlisted Active Duty Army in 1986. Shortly after basic and supply training, Murphy was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, before serving as a supply clerk in South Korea for one year. When he returned from Korea, he was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he would later join the OKARNG.
Murphy stayed enlisted for ten years until commissioning as a Warrant Officer in 1996. He served as the PBO in the OKARNG’s 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, where he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Also in attendance for the ceremony were, Maj. Gen. Robbie Asher, adjutant general for Oklahoma and Command Sgt. Maj. Tony Riggs, state command sergeant major for Oklahoma.
| Date Taken: | 08.25.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2016 17:21 |
| Story ID: | 208230 |
| Location: | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, US |
| Hometown: | MOORE, OK, US |
| Hometown: | TAMPA, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 628 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, First African American promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 5 in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, by Leanna Maschino, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT