Soldiers earn awards for volunteer support and mission excellence

Photo By Rebecca Nappi | Spc. Dale Felker was honored with an Army Achievement Medal for selfless service while assisting the APG Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day event, a Meritorious Outstanding Service Medal for his 390 volunteer hours in support of APG's Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, and an Impact Army Achievement Medal for competing in the top 15 percent during the 35th Annual Army 10-miler. Spc. Emily Vega-Maldonado was also honored with n Army Achievement Medal for selfless service while assisting the APG Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day event and an Impact Army Achievement Medal for exceptional achievement while assigned as an information technology specialist during the Combined Joint Task Force - Elimination and the 8th Army training event.  

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, UNITED STATES

12.20.2019

Story by Clemens Gaines 

20th CBRNE Command

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Twenty Soldiers from the 20th CBRNE Command earned the Army Achievement Medal and other awards at a Dec. 19 ceremony in the atrium of the command’s new headquarters. Two Soldiers earned multiple awards.

APG Senior Commander Maj. Gen. Mitchell Kilgo presented the Army Achievement Medal to 13 Soldiers for their volunteer support of the Oct. 6 Gold Star Families event. They also received the Gold Star Family coin. “I thank you for taking your time to support this event. You contributed heavily to its success,” Kilgo said as he pinned on the blue, green and white-striped medal.

The term "Gold Star" describes a family member who has lost a loved one in military service. The ceremony honored 27 Soldiers.

The Soldiers honored at the ceremony are: Master Sgt. Todd Wilson; Staff Sgt. Stevie Wallace, Jr.; Sgt. Haker Apolinaris; Sgt. Thomas Burris; Sgt. Jose Diazcruz; Sgt. Bria Robinson; Spc. William Ball; Spc. Dale Felker; Spc. Donovan Rodriguez; Spc. Heathcliff Rubio, Jr.; Spc. Emily Vega Maldonado; Pfc. Innocent Folly; and Pfc. Mia Sapone.

In addition, Brig. Gen. James Bonner, commanding general for the 20th CBRNE Command, was joined by Command Sgt. Maj. Henney Hodgkins in presenting Certificates of Achievement to five Soldiers for their performance and support of the command’s text exercise held on APG Nov. 18-22. The Soldiers are: Staff Sgt. Ian Turner; Sgt. Breanna Smith; Spc. Sylvan Louisien; Sgt. Bria Robinson; and Spc. James Robinson.

Felker also received two other awards which were the Meritorious Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for exceptional volunteerism in support of the APG Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program (donating more than 390 hours of his time), and another Army Achievement Medal for training and competing in the 35th Annual Army 10-miler race where he finished in the top 15 percent of the runners.

Vega Maldonado also earned the Impact AAM, her second award of the ceremony, along with Spc. Matthew Redic for exceptional achievement while assigned as information technology specialists during the Combined Joint Task Force-elimination and 8th Army Training Event.

More than 100 Soldiers and civilians from the command congratulated the Soldiers.

• Date Taken: 12.20.2019
• Date Posted: 12.20.2019 13:56
• Story ID: 356727
• Location: ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, US