Courtesy Photo | First Sgt. Christopher Champion, deputy commandant for the Judge Advocate General’s...... read more read more
FORT LEE, Va. (Feb. 1, 2018) -- A Fort Lee staff sergeant was recognized as the top instructor for the Judge Advocate General Corps during a Jan. 19 ceremony at the JAG Legal Center and School in Charlottesville.
Staff Sgt. Duffie Ascher – assigned to Juliet Company, 262nd Quartermaster Battalion, and a cadre member for the QM School’s Paralegal Specialist Course – received an Army Commendation Medal, an award plaque and command accolades for the top-scoring performance in early December that earned her the title of 2017 JAG Corps Instructor of the Year.
“It’s a mixture of surprise and feeling deeply honored,” said Ascher in reaction to the win. “The individuals I competed against (one from the NCO Academy and another from the Court Reporter School in Charlottesville) are at the top of our career management field, so to stand amongst them as a nominee, let alone the overall winner, is incredible.”
The eight-year Soldier further acknowledged her six fellow instructors here who ensure she’s at the top of her game as an advanced individual training course facilitator. “To be put in a position where I’m able to demonstrate the training and mentorship they provide to me on a daily basis is a tremendous honor,” Ascher said. “We’re good at what we do because of each other; that’s what this win means to me.”
Describing the thought process that convinced her to compete in the first place, the New Port Richey, Fla., native said, “I genuinely care about this business of training Soldiers to standard both as paralegals and as individuals completing the second phase of their transition to military life. I was motivated to show them they can achieve anything they set their minds on.”
The importance of honing their craft as Soldiers and paralegals daily also was part of the intended message, she continued. “Sometimes, they have to step out of their comfort zones to excel. Additionally, I wanted them to see they truly are being led by standard-bearers in our corps. The effort was really about the Soldiers and this outstanding organization.”
To further support her interpretation of the competition’s significance, Ascher recalled a moment from the Dec. 4 classroom evaluation by a quality assurance officer from the JAG Legal Center and School. It served as the centerpiece of the challenge – an opportunity for nominees to demonstration their knowledge of lesson plans and ability to conduct practical exercises and after action reviews. Other areas of examination included Army Physical Fitness Test scores, height and weight compliance, and recommendations from organization leaders.
“On the day of my classroom evaluation, we were discussing non-judicial punishment and Article 15s,” she said. “While I was obviously nervous about doing the best I could to win, what I told the Soldiers when the evaluator was sitting in the classroom was not to focus on him because that was my worry. What was relevant to them was understanding the material, passing the test at the end and being able to successfully employ the lessons learned out in the operational Army.
“When you really think about it, that’s what this all adds up to,” Ascher observed. “What you do as a trainer makes a difference, and I think these competitions recognize that fact.”
Ascher said she anticipates continued service as an AIT instructor here through at least 2020. Other near-term career progression marks on her wall include promotion to sergeant 1st class and a follow-on assignment as a brigade legal NCO, which presents the opportunity of applying the full range of knowledge and skill sets she has acquired thus far.
“I’m very appreciative of the opportunities I have been given,” Ascher concluded. “I have my family to thank for their unconditional support throughout my military career. I really appreciate the leaders and mentors who helped me achieve my long-held Army goal of being an instructor. I have and will continue to express my deepest appreciation for my fellow cadre members at Juliet Company who have helped build me up as an NCO and allowed me this opportunity to succeed.”
| Date Taken: | 02.01.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.01.2018 13:43 |
| Story ID: | 264300 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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