FORT CARSON, Colo. - U.S. Army Sgt. Karli Jennings, Petroleum Laboratory Specialist, retention noncommissioned officer, 404th Air Support Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, wins III Corps Retention NCO of the Year, at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel, Houston, Texas, Feb. 6, 2024.
This yearly competition includes events in the Army Combat Fitness Test, standardized measurement of height and weight regulation, an eight minute public speaking presentation with a board of six U.S. Army Career Counselor Cmd. Sgts. Maj., and a written exam.
The public speaking portion grades the NCO on a multitude of items such as a board packet and a presentation. The board packet contains their professional profile, goals, background, and contributions to the retention field. The eight minute presentation is conducted in the Army Service Uniform where the NCO is scrutinized on cleanliness and presentation of their uniform down to the half inch. Other items of scrutiny are the uses of language and filler words in their speech.
“I spent all morning practicing how I was gonna say my speech because as soon as you get in front of there, you're going to be nervous,” said Jennings. “You're automatically going to speak faster and lose thought.”
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Alexander Kajfasz, Brigade Career Counselor, 4CAB, 4th Infantry Division, assisted Jennings with her preparations for the competition. “She is learning all of our retention policies and our processing guidelines,” said Kajfasz. “She has learned a lot.”
The competition itself along with the board is a military custom that enforces military bearing and discipline for Soldiers. “If I'm not practicing, practicing, practicing, then I have to make sure to keep practicing,” said Jennings. “Practicing builds up my confidence. I just have to take a deep breath and just think.”
Jennings arrived in Houston, Texas the night before the competition. “When I got there, I wasn’t going in there thinking, ‘oh yeah I got this in the bag,” continued Jennings. “Then I'm like, ‘do I have this?” The three day competition was arduous with the added anticipation of the winner being announced three days later.
Many Soldiers use various tools to help them with tackling boards and competitions to include advice, breathing exercises, mantras and mentors. “Another thing that helped me is before I walked into my board, Sgt. Maj. Bachman told me just be yourself because what you don’t know is what you don't know. Just go in with what you do know.”
In combination with her roles as a Retention NCO, SGT Jennings places emphasis on being a leader and helping soldiers whether they are looking to get out of the military or continue their service.
Jennings is ultimately focused on the wellbeing of the Soldier and their future both inside and outside the military. “I make sure they have a proper plan before getting out. The whole thing is to be an advocate for soldiers,” said Jennings.
Mentors and role models are essential in all career fields, and the military is no exception. It is important to have an ambition and find someone who is already aligned in that path to help make tangible goals a reality. Jennings found many along the way who helped her on her path. Sgt. 1st Class Yshayria Brown, career counselor, 4CAB, 4th Infantry Division, was just that for Jennings. She would visit Brown for weekly updates and kept learning more and more.
Jennings said, “She was there to help me so it’s helping people at the same time, and that really interests me. I like helping people.”
A career counselor is a military occupational specialty whereas a retention NCO is an additional duty. An additional duty is a job that is assigned to a Soldier who has another MOS. Career counselors only focus is that of the Soldier’s career. Having retention as an additional duty can be cumbersome. Jennings found passion in what she did leading Soldiers to approach her with any and all questions they had. With the intention of retiring out of the military, she found her passion. Jennings will be going to school in October to switch over to a full time career counselor.
Kajfasz, having assisted with the transition process, sees a prosperous career for Jennings. “When I first met her, she was doing the retention NCO job. Shortly after she was accepted to become a career counselor,” said Kajfasz. “She has grown and is now doing a more of a full time role.”
As a mentor, Kajfasz advises Jennings and all future career counselors, “Don’t be afraid to communicate with your peers who are already career counselors about what works. Different units have different ways they are successful. Be proactive with your career. Don’t sit back and have somebody else influence what you want to do. It’s your career.”
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| Date Taken: | 02.27.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 02.28.2024 09:39 |
| Story ID: | 464800 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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