Wood honored with two Missouri Army National Guard awards

By Jennifer Archdekin
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

ST. JOSEPH - The Missouri Army National Guard's 27th Recruiting and Retention Battalion recently honored Soldiers for their past year's efforts in building the National Guard state-wide.

Among those honored was Sgt. 1st Class Charles Wood with Area 1, 27th Recruiting and Retention Battalion in St. Joseph. Wood walked away with two top honors-the Adjutant General's Top Producer Award and the Rookie of the Year Award.

The top producer award recognizes the top 10 recruiters in Missouri. Wood was in the elite group of non-commissioned officers from the 88 recruiters currently in the state.

The Rookie Recruiter Award is given to the top recruiting and retention non-commissioned officer in his first year of production, with the most enlistments during their first full year of recruiting.

"I was very surprised when they called my name," said Wood. "It was an honor to receive both awards. I don't like being last in anything, so I really pushed this year to excel."

"The rookie recruiter award is a huge achievement for a new recruiter," said Master Sgt. Rodney McKinney, Area 1 Recruiting and Retention noncommissioned officer in charge. "It not only shows dedication and commitment, but a total belief in the National Guard and what we stand for. Sgt. 1st Class Wood has a strong care factor for Soldiers. This award is evidence of that character."

Wood said that he has personally set the standard for himself and he needs to meet or exceed that same caliber of recruiting in years to come.

"I enjoy talking about the military," said Wood. "It's easy to talk about something I love to do and when I visit with a potential recruit. There are so many opportunities in the Guard for high school students and those in college. I just want to share with them what is out there."

Wood has been with the National Guard for 17 years, serving 16 of those years with the 1-129th Field Artillery. He also served four years with the active duty Army. Wood is a 1990 graduate of Mid-Buchanan High School in Faucett.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.

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For more information about this release, please contact Jennifer Archdekin at 816-262-2893 or e-mail at jarchdekin@gmail.com.