TNARNG Soldier thought of as mentor home, abroad

Photo By Spc. Jessica Haney | Sgt. Fredericko Moore, a gunner for Troop R, 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard, performs a function check on his M240B in his turret at the maintenance yard in preparation for a convoy to Joint Base Balad to escort Kellogg, Root  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IRAQ

03.27.2010

Story by Spc. Jessica Haney 

135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq — On a dark, spring Iraq night, Soldiers from Troop R, 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard, convoyed to Joint Base Balad to securely transfer Kellogg, Brown & Root employees and their supplies from Contingency Operating Base Speicher.

During the ride back from JBB, Sgt. Fredericko M. Moore's truck was full of conversation on life lessons and what people should learn from them. Pvt. 1st Class Nickolas Proctor, driver for the truck, said that Moore has great advice to give to people and knows how to connect with them.

"He's down to earth and a good guy," said Proctor.

Ever since Moore, a gunner on the convoy, could remember, he wanted to make a difference. Raised by his grandparents in the projects of Chattanooga, Tenn., he saw his family always make time for their neighbors.

"It was always tough," said Moore, a patrol officer with the Chattanooga Police Department, about growing up in the projects, "but we always had enough time and food and money to do something for somebody else.

"My great grandparents always had time for kids, who maybe didn't have parents who had enough time for them," said Moore. "I try to model myself after them — how they showed care and concern for the kids when most of the time they didn't even know their names."

Moore, 38, gives his great grandparents credit for inspiring him to make a difference. He enjoys mentoring young men and women just as his grandparents did.

Moore is involved in more than five organizations in his hometown. He is a deacon at the Greater Pilgrim Baptist Church, a past master for the Prince Hall Masonic Family, a Girl Scouts of the United States of America assistant leader for Troop #40029, a patrol officer with the Chattanooga Police Department, and in his spare time, Moore enjoys mentoring, and coaching softball and wrestling at Tiger High School, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Between all of those activities, Moore plays the role of husband and father to five children: Demetrius, 22, Ashley, 18, Amber D., 13, Nevaeh, 8, and Nia, 3. Sergeant Moore's wife, Tyceia Moore, is an assistant manager at the Bank of America in Chattanooga, Tenn. The whole family participates in all of the organizations he is part of.

"I have a strong obligation to not only serve my country but also to serve my community," said Moore. "My wife is supportive of all of our activities. They don't take away from our relationship or family time. It's part of it."

His roommate, Sgt. Gregory Cosby, also with Troop R, 3/278th ACR, says that Moore is the guy to go to if anyone needs help.

"Sergeant Moore and I go back five years, when I first started my career," said Cosby, 23. "He took me under his wing. We talk about everything from family to military, to our civilian careers.

He's like my dad for the military."

Cosby says that Moore has a big influence on him.

"He instills a lot of motivation," he said. "He's a very motivational type of speaker. If he sees something good in someone, he will try to bring that out of them. If he sees something wrong, he's going to try and get them on track. He's a mentor to me."

Moore said that when he talks to Soldiers, he tries to establish with them that they are the "controller of their destiny."

"It's not what happens to you that determines your worth, but it's how you react to what happens to you," he said.

Even though Moore is on deployment, he is still involved in the community here. He attends the Masonic lodges on COB Speicher, is registered for the base softball team, makes time for Soldiers who need to talk, and finds time for a little salsa.

"Over here, you need to stay busy and involved," said Moore. "The four walls in your room close in pretty quick. There's multiple ways to stay busy, and the Morale, Welfare and Recreation organization helps with that."

• Date Taken: 03.27.2010
• Date Posted: 03.27.2010 04:59
• Story ID: 47296
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ