Photo By Dottie White | 1st Sgt. Matthew Rouse appears before a Sgt. Audie Murphy board consisting of U.S....... read more read more
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PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – One Soldier put “leading from the front” into motion with his recent acceptance into the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club on Feb. 2.
1st Sgt. Matthew Rouse of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, appeared before a board of USASMDC sergeants major for a period of rigorous questioning on Army regulations and policy; legal, ethical and moral responses to hypothetical situations; and Sgt. Audie Murphy himself.
The club, established in 1986 at Fort Hood, Texas, honors Murphy’s legacy of service and excellence. It is a private U.S. Army organization for enlisted noncommissioned officers who display exceptional leadership achievements and performance with special concern for the needs, training, development and welfare of Soldiers and their families.
Command Sgt. Maj. John Foley, USASMDC command sergeant major, said that in his many years of conducting the board, Rouse was the first Soldier he had seen pursue membership as a first sergeant. Most candidates try for the SAMC as sergeants, staff sergeants or sergeants first class, and can use selection for the club as a tool for career progression. But as a first sergeant, Rouse has already ascended those ranks, and his decision to try for the board was a symbolic one.
“(Rouse) being the first first sergeant is remarkable for me because he’s able to inform and influence others and inspire them to come to be a member of the club, too,” Foley said. “He can use that as a platform to say, ‘Hey, I did it – now I charge you all to do it.’”
Rouse said leading Soldiers is an NCO’s “greatest honor” and that his timing for trying for the SAMC was meant to inspire them to follow suit.
“It is an absolute honor and highlight of my career,” Rouse said. “Leaders need to model what they want their Soldiers to be. I could not ask my Soldiers to do anything I was not willing to do myself first.”
In the month he had to prepare for assessment, Rouse said, learning and memorizing the details of Audie L. Murphy’s illustrious military and civilian careers was his greatest challenge.
Murphy was born in Hunt County, Texas, in 1925. He joined the Army in 1942 and was recognized as the most decorated combat Soldier during World War II for his service in the Mediterranean and European theaters of action in nine military campaigns. Murphy earned the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, the French Legion of Honor, French Croix de Guerre and Belgian Croix de Guerre. Not only was he highly decorated, Murphy also rose through the ranks and received a battlefield commission.
Murphy then took to Hollywood acting and producing – mostly westerns – and saw success as a poet and country and western songwriter.
Upon being selected for induction into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, Soldiers have the option of joining their local military community’s organization where members often perform community service and participate in projects geared toward helping their fellow Soldiers and military veterans.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2024 12:42 |
| Story ID: | 463422 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 1,062 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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