Photo By Lt. Col. Sara Morris | Congratulations to Staff Sgt.'s Brian Tomassi and Victoria Kane on their induction...... read more read more
“You lead from the front,” is the motto for the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club, and the Fort Knox MEDDAC’s two newest members of the club do just that.
The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is a private organization for enlisted non-commissioned officers only. NCO’s whose leadership achievements and performance merit special recognition. Members must, "...exemplify leadership characterized by personal concern for the needs, training, development, and welfare of Soldiers and concern for families of Soldiers,” U.S. Forces Command Regulation 600-8, paragraph 1.
Staff Sgt.’s Victoria Kane and Brian Tomassi are the first Fort Knox MEDDAC SAMC members in over a decade. In order to get into the club you have to go through an exhaustive process that starts with a nomination.
Kane and Tomassi were nominated by Command Sgt. Maj. Johnnathan Quaye, Fort Knox MEDDAC Command Sgt. Maj. Quaye, a member of the SAMC himself, saw the potential in them.
“Having watched them for over a year, I’ve seen their qualities, performance, and how they take care of soldiers,” said Quaye. “I thought that they hold all the qualities that a distinguished member has.”
“I was surprised to be nominated as one of the military personnel here to attempt the long road between receiving a nomination and the possible induction into SAMC,” said Tomassi. “The initial process is, in my opinion the most difficult part, as you have a great deal of information that you have to review and memorize.”
Potential members of the SAMC have to memorize Murphy’s biography and lifework, and recite it verbatim to a board. Nominees should also be able to respond to questions on their own service, and how they would proceed with hypothetical situations.
“If you want to be a member of SAMC, you need to find effective ways to study and verbalize the material,” said Kane. “I would not have made it without the help of my fellow NCOs allowing me to recite Sergeant Audie Murphy’s biography to them.”
Kane and Tomassi would work together to prepare, and would question each other whenever they had a moment to study the material. They knew if they could answer those questions confidently when caught off guard, then performing it in front of a board without distraction was possible.
Sgt. Audie Murphy Club’s participate in many community events throughout the year, in support of on post and off post activities. Members are expected to be involved in their community through volunteering and mentorship with other organizations.
“I am hoping to make meaningful impacts in the Fort Knox community through the opportunities SAMC offers,” said Kane.
“This is not a check the block organization,” said Quaye. “I’m very proud of them for going through it, and couldn’t be happier for them to take this step outside their area of expertise.”
Both Kane and Tomassi expressed their gratitude for their fellow NCO’s here at Fort Knox MEDDAC, for their time and patience during the entire process.
”Thank you to everyone that gave me their assistance,” said Kane. “Whether it was pushing me to try out, mock boards, listening to me recite information, or being an ear as I tried to cope with the stress of it all, I couldn’t have done it without your support!”
Tomassi expressed similar sentiments, “I am proud of both SSG Kane and myself to have received induction into the club. As NCO’s we constantly supported and encouraged each other to keep going and fight on.”
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2021 12:58 |
| Story ID: | 409589 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Hometown: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 477 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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