Fort Sill Sergeant Audie Murphy Club adds one member

Photo By Ygal Kaufman | Maj. Gen. Ken Kamper, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, congratulates Senior Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Shanika Haws on her induction into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, Oct. 15, 2021.  

FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA, UNITED STATES

10.20.2021

Story by James Brabenec 

Fort Sill Public Affairs

FORT SILL, Oklahoma (Oct. 20, 2021) -- The Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill Chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club added one noncommissioned officer to its ranks during an induction ceremony Oct. 15, here.
Senior Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Shanika Haws, B Battery, 1st Battalion, 31st Field Artillery joined the revered club during the ceremony in Snow Hall’s Kerwin Auditorium.
Witnessing her inclusion to the club were the FCoE and Fort Sill command team of Maj. Gen. Ken Kamper and Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Burnley, along with family, friends, co-workers, and fellow SAMC members.
In her eighth year as a 35F Intelligence Analyst, Haws is likely an early arrival to the club having made it on her first attempt.
“I was mentally prepared to come back the next quarter,” said Haws.
Instead, selection board members confirmed her selection, verifying that she correctly answered their grilled her with tough questions.
Haws’ connection with the club started shortly after her arrival here in November 2019 when she met Senior Drill Sergeant (Sgt. 1st Class) Tamika Wilcox at a club charity event.
Wilcox, the SAMC vice president, said Haws’ intent to join the club were immediately apparent to her.
That membership interest manifested itself as Haws continued to volunteer with the club while waiting for a selection board. But then the pandemic arrived and put a halt on membership opportunities until recently.
Wilcox said the pandemic diminished club activities, but even through that she could see Haws determination. She said she “provided the tools” for Haws to grow and be worthy of the club.
“As long as you do the work, you will be rewarded with the opportunity to become a member of the club, and that’s what (Staff Sgt. Haws) did,” said Wilcox of the club’s first induction since 2019. “For her to be the only NCO on the installation selected, I think, shows her work ethic.”
Throughout, Haws said she learned a lot from Wilcox.
“She is the kind of drill sergeant I want to be and someone to emulate,” said Haws. “She is disciplined and knows how to take charge, but she’s also the most respectful NCO.”
2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Command Sgt. Maj. Michael McLaughlin, also a SAMC member, served as the ceremony guest speaker.
He said Haws, “epitomized professionalism and selfless service setting the example for others to follow.”
Sgt. 1st Class Justin Engle, SAMC president, said it’s very rare for NCOs to gain admittance to the club on their first try. He added it’s not unusual for individuals to go before the board three, four, or even five times before they are selected.
Board questions revolve around leadership aspects of military life and are presented as situational-based questions, said Engle, a small group leader for the Senior Leader Course at the Fort Sill NCO Academy.
“Questions are intended to allow the candidate to show he or she is a solid leader,” he said.
Military and community programs, first aid, marksmanship, physical fitness, and mission command are some of the topics candidates may face.
“Really (they include) pretty much everything we do in the Army,” said Engle.
He said the club is now in recovery mode from the pandemic and recently participated in the 9/11 Remembrance Run in Fletcher, Oklahoma. Club members have also placed “Sock-tober” collection boxes around post to gather donated socks that will be given to less fortunate people, such as those in veterans’ homes or homeless shelters.
Engle said the next selection board will be in December or January.
The highly selective SAMC membership process requires weeks of study and practical tasks. Candidates begin at battalion-level SAMC boards, then go before their respective brigades, before finally facing post-level SAMC boards.
The Fort Sill SAMC Chapter was established in April 1998. It participates in many community activities ranging from cleanups to winter clothing drives to working with Junior ROTC programs. The chapter is always looking for more members. Interested Soldiers can learn more on Facebook by searching Fort Sill SAMC.
Sgt. Audie Murphy was one of the most decorated servicemen in the U.S. military. He had a tough life as a child, growing up in a poor family with 11 siblings, a deadbeat dad, and a mother who died when he was a teenager. After his military service, Murphy was a major advocate for veterans who were experiencing battle fatigue, or who were shell-shocked, which today is known as post-traumatic stress disorder.

• Date Taken: 10.20.2021
• Date Posted: 10.20.2021 12:23
• Story ID: 407616
• Location: FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA, US