Sgt. Tanjie Patterson 3rd Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs
For many Soldiers, standing in front of a board of seven command sergeants major can stir up some anxiety. The hardened faces of those senior enlisted non-commissioned officers is enough to make even the most confident Soldiers a little jittery, but for one 3rd Sustainment Brigade Soldier this was just another stepping stone on the road to a successful Army career.
“To me, these boards are an instrument to better oneself as a Soldier,” said Sgt. Charles Robin—who was recently named the 3rd Infantry Division Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter.
Robin, a power equipment generator mechanic with the 632nd Maintenance Company, 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, competing against six others Marne Soldiers, Oct. 17, and came out on top.
“It feels good and I’m very appreciative that I won, but I haven’t reached my goal yet, which is to make it to and win the Army Forces Command board,” said Robin.
Robin, who is not new to NCO of the Quarter boards, has competed in eight battalion, six brigade and two division-level boards prior to this one, and he has won them all with the exception of one.
Competing in these boards is no easy challenge for most because Soldiers compete against the best-of-the-best. It takes a lot of studying and hard work to come out on top, but according to Robin, this task was too easy.
“I don’t study much because I know (the Army) regulations” he said. “I also have a photographic memory. The most studying that I do is the three days before the board. I (don’t) get (any) sleep during that time.”
For Robin, this is another step on his long road to success.
“I want to continue to strive for the best, that includes continuing to score a 300 on my (Army Physical Fitness Test) test, obtain a master’s degree in business administration, going to Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder and Free Fall school,” said Robin.
I see myself as a sergeant major one day or maybe evening crossing over to the officer world,” Robin said. “Either way I go, I will continue to put my best foot forward.”
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