Geronimo is USARAK Career Counselor of the Year

  • Published
  • By Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey S. Smith
  • 4-25th IBCT Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Army Staff Sgt. Armando Delgado, a career counselor with the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, bested a group of top career counselors from across U.S. Army Alaska to be named USARAK's Career Counselor of the Year Oct. 10 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The two-day competition was graded from three separate events including the Army Physical Fitness Test, a written examination and a board appearance.

Delgado, from Rock Falls, Ill., said he loves talking about the Army, and he enjoys helping Soldiers reach their personal goals. Army retention regulations and standards are continually adjusted, and by competing in written exams and boards, Delgado is able to maintain updated knowledge in his career field.

"The exam was really good, because it was specifically about our job," Delgado said. "A big portion of competing in boards is the knowledge that you gain."

Due in part to downsizing, the Army's retention mission faces challenges because certain popular options like duty station of choice, and reclassification options are limited in availability. Yet Delgado said he is optimistic.

"It's not hard to sell something that is successful," he said. "The Army speaks for itself when it comes to opportunities and it being a rewarding and fulfilling
career."

"We just started the new [fiscal year], so we are in a new window," Delgado said. "I think we are going to do good this year."

Delgado has competed in several boards over the years, and said he has enjoyed branching out and networking with people within his career field. In addition to winning USARAK's competition, Delgado was the 18th Airborne Corps' Career Counselor of the Year in 2010.

The 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division senior career counselor, Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Cameron, whom Delgado met at the U.S. Army Forces Command's Career Counselor of the Year Competition, said he is happy to have Delgado represent the Spartan Brigade and USARAK as he moves forward in future competitions.

"This is an outstanding achievement for this noncommissioned officer," Cameron said. "We wish him the best of luck as he goes on to compete at the [U.S. Army Pacific Command career counselor of the year] board."

USARAK has enjoyed recent success in the Secretary of the Army's Career Counselor of the Year Award. Sgt. 1st Class Bradley Hallum, a career counselor with the Brigade Troops Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, won the title last year.

Delgado will continue to make his mark at the USARPAC CCOY competition scheduled in early December. If he wins at USARPAC, he will go on to compete in the Secretary of the Army's Career Counselor of the Year Competition.