Photo By Sgt. Jennifer Sardam | Sgt. Timothy Barnhouse of Saginaw, Mich., a night battle operations non-commissioned...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD – Out of the predawn darkness the competitors entered, one by one, filing into a room that was slightly reminiscent of a high school gym with its surplus of colored mats.
Drowsy expressions began to awaken as tense, knowing looks were shared. The time had come and soon the murky silence faded, replaced by the irregular sounds of heavy breathing, groaning and the steady, deliberate rhythm of voices counting repetitions of push-ups.
Ten candidates, all non-commissioned officers from United States Division-Center, kicked off a day of challenges with the Army Physical Fitness Test, pushing to achieve a required standard of 90 percent in each fitness event, as they vied to become members of the elite Sgt. Audie Murphy Club in a competition held recently at Camp Liberty, Iraq.
Named after Sgt. Audie Murphy, widely regarded as the most decorated NCO in U.S. Army history, the SAMC was created in 1986 at Fort Hood, Texas, to honor Murphy’s service and to highlight the best among the NCO Corps at Fort Hood. By 1994, the club had spread Army-wide.
Competitors have to first be nominated by someone in their chain of command, before they can take part in the selection process.
“The Audie Murphy Club is a select club,” said Sgt. Maj. Matthew McCoy, president of the SAMC at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and operations sergeant major for Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, USD-C. “The service member has to be selected by the chain of command, specifically the NCO Support Channel.”
When her battalion sergeant major recommended her to be a candidate, Staff Sgt. Latayna Orama, a career counselor with HHBN, 25th Inf. Div., USD-C, was excited. She had first heard of the SAMC as a private first class and had always wanted to be a part of it.
“It made me feel a little bit good about myself, but then I realized I needed to buckle down and do some studying and make sure I made her proud,” said Orama, who is from Fort Myers, Fla.
Even before the inductees were announced, it was evident that being chosen to participate held great meaning for many of the NCOs.
“It would be an honor to follow in the footsteps of some of the most elite NCOs in the non-commissioned officer corps,” said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Judd of HHBN, 25th Infantry Division, USD-C. “Sgt. Audie Murphy was a very caring leader. That’s what it means for me.”
Following the APFT, competitors did pull-ups then hit the dusty roads of Camp Liberty for an eight–mile road march they needed to finish in a little more than two hours while wearing full combat gear.
Some competitors found this physical part of the day’s testing to be the most grueling.
“We had to do a PT test in full ACUs, and then we rucked eight miles in full gear with assault pack, and that was brutal,” said Judd, an Olivehurst, Calif., native. “It’s more physical than most people get a chance to do on a daily basis.”
Candidates were then called upon to display their tactical skills as they took to the range to qualify on individual weapons and test in map reading, first aid and other Army Warrior Tasks. Following this, they appeared before a final selection board comprised of sergeants major from throughout the division that are SAMC members.
Although many of the Warrior Tasks were familiar, potential SAMC inductees were expected to demonstrate an above-average degree of proficiency.
“What we’re looking for when we’re evaluating is not only do they know the tasks, but do they know them to the level that they can train [others],” said McCoy, a Clearwater, Fla., native who has been a SAMC member since 1998. “We can tell that by the way they perform the tasks.”
Some soldiers had limited time to ensure they were ready for the evaluations.
Judd said he had three weeks lead time to prepare for the competition alongside fellow NCOs.
“We quizzed each other on the history of the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club, as well as NCO duties and subject matter that would be asked during the board,” he said, adding that they continued to refresh their skills on basic Army Warrior Tasks.
Candidates were given a number of tasks to study, but were not made aware of which ones they would encounter in the testing. Even hours of study time couldn’t fully prepare them for the unknown.
“For an Audie Murphy candidate, either they have it or they don’t,” said McCoy. “Really, I would say they spend a lifetime—meaning an Army lifetime—training for the Audie Murphy Club and selection. It starts the day they come into Basic [Combat Training]…so not only the day you come in the Army, but the day you put on those stripes.”
Once a candidate is chosen to join the SAMC, the hard work doesn’t end there.
“These tasks are just a small part of what it takes to be in Audie Murphy,” said Sgt. Timothy Barnhouse, a night battle operations NCO with HHBN, 25th Inf. Div., USD-C. “You can make it into this club one day, but you need to continue living that motto, ‘lead from the front,’ every day.”
McCoy was pleased with the caliber of the NCOs, even before knowing the results of the day’s evaluations, and stressed the importance of all their efforts. At the end of the day, six of the 10 were welcomed into the ranks of the SAMC.
“These candidates have done an outstanding job today,” McCoy said. “It’s a huge honor for them to come and compete, and represent their units and themselves, and the skills that they have. These are our future leaders, so I feel very confident that we’re leaving the Army in good hands.”
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2011 03:08 |
| Story ID: | 66523 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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