Photo By Stephen Perez | Last month, U.S. Army Chief of Public Affairs Brig. Gen. Amy Hannah announced that six...... read more read more
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WIESBADEN, Germany - Last month, U.S. Army Chief of Public Affairs Brig. Gen. Amy Hannah announced that six U.S. Army Europe public affairs professionals were named in the 2019 Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Communications Awards Competition.
Named for Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware, the World War II Medal of Honor recipient and former Army Chief of Information who was later killed while serving in Vietnam, the annual competition has recognized excellence in achieving the objectives of the Army Public Affairs Program by Soldiers and civilian employees since 1970.
U.S. Army Europe had four Soldiers and two Department of the Army Civilians whose submissions were recognized while they were directly serving U.S. Army Europe.
Taking first place in his category, Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Sawyer, a noncommissioned officer-in-charge with 173rd Airborne Brigade, 7th Army Training Command, was named the John T. Anderson Military Videographer of the Year.
Upon hearing about his win, Sawyer said he was surprised.
“I didn’t think I was going to win,” Sawyer said. “I was just excited to put in for the competition itself.”
The category was named after Master Sgt. John T. Anderson, who served as a noncommissioned officer-in charge of the American Forces Radio and Television Service station at Hue, Vietnam, before being captured and held as a prisoner of war from February 1968 to March 1973.
In addition to submitting four video products, Sawyer also needed to meet Soldier specific requirements that included a score based on marksmanship, an Army physical fitness test and a 12-mile ruck march--requirements he was able to accomplish despite having just recovered from a serious injury he sustained during a past jump.
Army Sgt. Maj. Michelle Johnson, U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs Office Sergeant Major, said that completing these objectives are necessary because they help demonstrate that these uniformed public affairs specialists are Soldiers first.
“The addition of basic soldiering tasks to a formerly and exclusively creative competition demonstrates that, regardless of MOS, a Soldier has a responsibility to be tactically proficient first and foremost,” Johnson said.
Sawyer said that readiness is critical for his job because he is still a member of the unit and cannot slow the team down.
“We’re out there with the infantry; we’re out there with the artillery,” Sawyer said. “It’s proving that while we’re out with these Soldiers covering these stories, if they need us… we can perform these Soldier tasks while behind the camera.”
Johnson said that it is important to remember that the title of Videographer of the Year is an honor only achieved by a Soldier that exemplifies the same attributes as Master Sgt. Anderson.
“Master Sgt. Anderson’s will, conduct and resilience are qualities all public affairs mass communication professionals should strive to exhibit every day,” Johnson said.
Sawyer said it’s incredibly important to tell the Army Europe story because Soldiers don’t always get to convey what their average day is like to their loved ones back home.
Sawyer said, for him, the job is about “being able to tell these stories… to these family members so they can see what their kids are doing--so they can see what their moms or dads are doing. [Soldiers] can grab the video and say, ‘Look that was me right there! I was doing that!’”
However, Sawyer said one of the most important parts of his job is telling the world that the Soldiers he works with are highly trained and lethal.
“We’re showing these [potential adversaries], ‘Hey! We’re still here…. we’re ready whenever you're ready.’”
In addition to Sawyer, five other U.S. Army Europe personnel were recognized at the Army level:
1st Place:
Maria Cavins, U.S. Army Garrison Italy, Army Communicator of the Year
2nd Place:
Ashley Keasler, Training Support Activity Europe, Wiesbaden, Civilian Graphic Designer of the Year and Civilian Videographer of the Year
Staff Sgt. Kyle Larsen 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Military Writer of the Year
3rd Place (tied):
Pfc. Caleb Minor, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Rising Star Award for Outstanding New Military Videographer
Spc. Joseph Knoch, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Rising Star Award for Outstanding New Military Videographer
In an email congratulating the finalists, Col. Joseph Scrocca, U.S. Army Europe public affairs director, noted how fierce the competition has become and thanked them for their efforts.
“This competition seems to get harder and harder each year, thanks for a job well done. You make us all proud,” Scrocca said.
| Date Taken: | 04.13.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 04.13.2020 08:11 |
| Story ID: | 367214 |
| Location: | WIESBADEN, HESSEN, DE |
| Web Views: | 442 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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