ARLINGTON, Va. (May 25, 2012) — Seven Soldiers from the Army National Guard were among the 27 Army-wide recipients of the 2011 General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award during a ceremony May 24 at the Pentagon Auditorium.
The award recognizes company grade commissioned officers and warrant officers in the three Army components who demonstrate the ideals of duty, honor and country — all of which MacArthur stood for.
Capt. Audrey L. Fielding, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 437th Military Police Battalion and a Hudson, Ohio, resident, was one of the Army National Guard officers to receive the award from Gen. Ray Odierno, Army chief of staff, during the ceremony. Fielding won the award for her outstanding achievements as commander of the 135th Military Police Company (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), and as commander of the Ohio Homeland Response Force security element.
"So our nation stands in good stead with young leaders such as yourselves so obviously living up to his tenets of duty, honor, country," Odierno said. "Gen. MacArthur is undoubtedly one of the greatest military leaders that our nation has ever produced, and it is an honor to be here amongst some of our greatest and strongest assets — our talented young leaders."
Before presenting each of this year's recipients, Odierno noted the role in which each Soldier served in as a leader came with its own set of unique challenges.
"Company grade leadership is about leading our nation's sons and daughters at the tip of the tactical spear … and as company grade (leaders) you have the most impact on our young Soldiers," Odierno said.
This year marked the 25th year of the award, with 622 recipients to date, he said.
In his closing words, Odierno said it was ironic that the strategic depth of the all-volunteer force of the Army was not in the hands of senior generals, but directly in the hands of the junior officer corps.
"I am frankly humbled to be in your presence," he said. "We need leaders like you to be at the forefront … guiding our transition to a leaner, more agile force that remains adaptive, innovative, versatile and ready as part of the Joint Force 2020.
"You are the future of our Army, the future of our nation." |
