FORT STEWART, Ga. – Two ‘Mustang’ soldiers were recognized for academic excellence at the Cavalry Advanced Leader’s Course at Fort Stewart, Ga., March 1.
Staff Sgt. Chad Manis, a cavalry scout with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division, was recognized as the distinguished honor graduate, and Sgt. Jose Longoria, also a cavalry scout with HHT, made the commandant’s list and was awarded the Draper Armor Leadership Award.
Twelve students from 3rd ID attended the month long course designed to instruct and test sergeants and staff sergeants on doctrinal tasks and skills, making them more proficient and versatile leaders. Examples of skills covered are route reconnaissance, demolitions and actions on contact. The student who scores the highest on all tests and assignments is awarded distinguished honor graduate, and students who graduate in the top 10 percent are recognized on the commandant’s list.
“Receiving distinguished honor grad makes me feel like I have taken a large step in becoming more proficient in my trade,” said Staff Sgt. Manis, a Carrollton, Texas, native. “It also feels like all of my hard work during the course has paid off.”
The Draper Armor Leadership Award was established in 1924 by Lt. Col. Wickliffe P. Draper as a means to competitively test the leadership of small cavalry units, and is given annually to promote, sustain and recognize excellence in leadership in armor and cavalry units. The award also recognizes individuals who exhibit excellence in leadership or training, or who make significant contributions to the force. The award is presented to the student in each cycle who exhibits the highest level of excellence in leadership.
“It means a lot to me that my continued efforts to help my fellow soldiers was not only seen but recognized,” said Sgt. Longoria, a Holland, Mich., native.
Staff Sgt. Manis has been selected by the Department of the Army to become a drill sergeant at Ft. Benning, Ga., and teach incoming Soldiers basic Cavalry tasks and skills. Sgt. Longoria is scheduled to deploy with the ‘Mustangs’ to Afghanistan. This is his third combat deployment.