USF-I names Career Counselor of the Year

Photo By Spc. Charlene Apatang Mendiola | Cabrera competes and wins bronze statue  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.28.2010

Story by Cpl. Charlene Apatang Mendiola 

305th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGHDAD - Staff Sgt. Manuel Cabrera was named the United States Forces-Iraq Career Counselor of the Year during a ceremony at Camp Victory Oct. 28.

Cabrera, a career counselor with the 141st Field Artillery Regiment based at Camp Victory, earned the title and was presented a bronze statue after competing during a board against other career counselors in Iraq.

The board members quizzed the career counselors on retention rules and regulations, current events and Army programs, said Master Sgt. Richard Culley, USF-I senior career counselor, assigned to III Corps, based out of Fort Hood, Texas.

“We put this out there for counselors who would stand out from their peers,” said Culley, who is a native of Denton, Texas. “We have 75 career counselors in theater, and wanted to see the best of the best.”

“As a career counselor, there are few times that you can test yourself,” said Sgt. 1st Class John Holt, a career counselor for the 1st Battalion 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, and a native of Dallas, Texas. “The only thing we have in our field is the career counselor of the year board.”

It was a great opportunity to not only reinforce some previous knowledge but also to learn something new, said Staff Sgt. Carlos Dubon, a career counselor for 1st Battalion 114th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division, out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

The board itself was very good with by-the-book questions that tested a person’s knowledge of the regulations, said Holt, who is also based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

“The hardest thing about going before this board is that you can be prepared, but this career field changes constantly,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Dever, career counselor for 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment based at Fort Carson, Colo. “If a counselor is not tracking the up-to-date information, they’re going to go in there and miss something.”

“It is an achievement for me and I am happy with the results.” Cabrera said. “The board was tough, but it goes to show what I am capable of.”

Cabrera has attended three career-counselor-of-the-year boards prior to this one. His previous board appearances made him more confident and determined to win this time around, he said.

“This job has its rewards. It is the best job in the Army because of the responses I receive from the Soldiers. They thank me and it feels good.”

“I want to remind people that we are out there, still doing a job. We take care of Soldiers and we represent our chain of command and our units,” he said.

“This is a great event because you have a winner, but there is no loser.” Culley said. “A soldier may have not won the board, but they must take what they’ve learned from this and move on to the next and keep going until they win.”

• Date Taken: 10.28.2010
• Date Posted: 10.30.2010 04:55
• Story ID: 59114
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ