McKinney named NCOIC of the Year by Missouri Army National Guard

Maj. Larry Crowder and Col. Wendul Hagler present Master Sgt. Rodney McKinney (right) with the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Year Award. (Photo by Rachel Knight)

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.

Master Sgt. Rodney McKinney, Area 1 Recruiting and Retention noncommissioned officer in charge, was awarded the top NCOIC of the Year Award for Missouri. McKinney had the top producing recruiting area in the state, which is the northwest corner of Missouri based in St. Joseph. He also had the largest net gain per individual recruiter during the past fiscal year.

"The best part about receiving this award is that it was not done on my own," said McKinney. "It took my recruiters and the Recruit Sustainment Program to step up throughout the year. I just get to accept it."

This is the second time McKinney has received this award. In 2008 he took home the accolade and went on to receive the Master Seven Award, which is one of the highest recruiting and retention awards in the nation.

Under McKinney's leadership, his recruiters and RSP coordinators also took home 11 other awards this year.

McKinney, of Maryville, has served with the National Guard for 25 years, and has been with the recruiting command for over eight years. He manages 10 recruiters and the Alpha Company Recruit Sustainment Program. Mckinney is supported by his wife, Lori, and children Chelsie, Dakotah and Tanner.

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.