Space warrior receives prestigious NCO scholarship

Photo By Staff Sgt. Aaron Rognstad | Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Bellmore, platoon sergeant for Company C, 53rd Signal Battalion, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Landstuhl, Germany, marches in the Danish Contingent March, Rhein Ordinance Barracks, Germany, October 2019. He recently received the SGM Larry Strickland Memorial Fund and Scholarship by the Association of the United States Army, Sept. 23. The $4,000 scholarship is, awarded annually to a noncommissioned officer who best exemplifies the Army’s vision and influences others in shaping future leaders while practicing excellent stewardship. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Bellmore)  

GERMANY

10.20.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. Aaron Rognstad 

U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A U.S. Army Satellite Operations Brigade space warrior was awarded the SGM Larry Strickland Memorial Fund and Scholarship by the Association of the United States Army, Sept. 23.

Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Bellmore, platoon sergeant for Company C, 53rd Signal Battalion, Landstuhl, Germany, received the scholarship, which is awarded annually to a noncommissioned officer who best exemplifies the Army’s vision and influences others in shaping future leaders while practicing excellent stewardship.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to represent my command and receive this prestigious award. I owe my selection to the Soldiers in the 53rd Signal Battalion, especially those in C Company,” Bellmore said. “They are hungry for extra opportunities to excel. I helped them seek new opportunities and encouraged them to challenge themselves. They did an amazing job enhancing themselves through college courses and technical certifications.”

Bellmore plans on using the $4,000 in scholarship funds to finish his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Bellmore has spent nine of his 17 years of Army service with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, where he is currently assigned. His career highlights in space include coordinating the first Mobile Training Team to train 30-plus Soldiers and airmen from all across the United States European Command on Master Resiliency Training.

Additionally, he helped 300 service members from EUCOM earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge over the last three years.

He said his long-term goal in the Army is to achieve the rank of sergeant major.

Sgt. Maj. Larry L. Strickland had served in the Army for 30 years when he became a victim of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon, where he was serving as sergeant major to the Army’s deputy chief of staff for personnel. The scholarship was established in his name in 2003.

• Date Taken: 10.20.2020
• Date Posted: 10.21.2020 10:04
• Story ID: 381348
• Location: DE