By Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
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Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Kadavy, Director of the Army National Guard (left) presents 1st Sgt. Charles Miller with the 2018 Expert 7 award during a ceremony in Potomac, Md., Jan. 31. The award is Miller's third, recognizing the top recruiting and retention non-commissioned officers in charge in each region or the country. (Photo courtesy of National Guard Bureau)
FRANKFORT, Ky. – First Sgt. Charles Miller already has the hardware to prove he’s one of the best recruiting supervisors in the country. He has been awarded twice before as the best recruiting non-commissioned officer in charge in Kentucky’s region.
Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Kadavy, Director of the Army National Guard presented Miller with his third Expert 7 award Jan. 31 during a ceremony in Potomac, Maryland.
Miller serves as the NCOIC for Alpha Company, Team 3, Kentucky Recruiting and Retention Battalion in the Louisville, Kentucky region.
“An NCOIC in recruiting has to be in the fight with their team,” said Miller. “Being told what your Soldiers are doing isn't a plan for success. This is a position where being close to the action isn't going to cut it. You have to be in the fight with them at all levels.”
The National Guard Bureau is made up of seven regions across the country. Each year they award the most outstanding recruiting NCOIC from each region as an Expert 7. Miller was selected from the 11 states making up the local region.
Miller was first awarded the Expert 7 in 2012, then again in 2013. While the trophy bears his name, Miller is reluctant to take credit away from his team of recruiters.
"To me, the Expert 7 award is a team award,” said Miller. “What I am most proud of is that every single NCO on our team made their assigned mission. No one was left behind. As an Expert 7 recipient I hope that means I am doing my part in taking care of the NCO's on my team while accomplishing the mission.”
Lt. Col. Rosa Maynard, commander of Kentucky’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion called Miller “an exceptional leader who gets results.” She said Miller took over an underperforming team and turned their numbers around in less than six months.
“This is a testament to what good, consistent leadership can do for a team,” said Maynard. “He developed his team members by providing needed training, giving and earning respect and leading from the front. I cannot say enough about 1
st Sgt. Miller and his leadership abilities.”
Miller said his success is the result of caring about his business and a relentless determination. He has had his work cut out for him. His team of recruiters are responsible for a 20-county area and an average of 100 new Soldiers each month in the Recruit Sustainment Program.
"Developing leaders on a recruiting team is key, an NCOIC cannot be everywhere at once,” he said. “Coaching, counseling, and mentoring NCO's to be active leaders who are willing and capable makes a good team great".
Kentucky’s command staff also remains proud of the consistent quality of work of the commonwealth’s recruiters. The battalion was recently named the top recruiting battalion in its nationwide category for Fiscal Year 17.
“1
st Sgt. Miller is an outstanding leader who exemplifies the quality of Soldiers that are assigned to our Recruiting and Retention Battalion,” said Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell, assistant adjutant general.
“1
st Sgt. Miller and his fellow Soldiers work tirelessly to sustain our strength in a very challenging environment. He is among our best and is very deserving of this recognition.”