Maj. Geoffrey R. O’Neill and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy D. White accepted the Reckord Trophy for training excellence on behalf of the Soldiers of the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group Sept. 23, 2013, during the 135th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. NGAUS presents the Reckord Trophy each year to the Army National Guard battalion that achieves the highest state of readiness in the country. O’Neil recently relinquished command of the 529th to Maj. Michael Waterman and White currently serves as the battalion’s command sergeant major.
“I continue to be very impressed by the hard work that goes into the high state of readiness maintained by the Virginia National Guard,” said Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker after the award was announced in April. “The national-level recognition is just another example of how the Virginia Guard ranks among the best in the country, and it should inspire further confidence in the Guard’s already well-earned reputation that we can count on them to rapidly respond and to assist citizens of the Commonwealth when called to duty by the Governor. Our Guard continues to demonstrate its tremendous capabilities to support domestic operations as well as its federal mission of military operations around the world.”
For the Milton A. Reckord Award, the battalion must have demonstrated superior performance in the areas of personnel strength, retention, duty MOS qualification, individual and crew served weapons qualification, the Army Physical Fitness Test, drill weekend attendance and annual training attendance. The battalion, along with its organic units, must have demonstrated a commitment to the welfare of its members and their families and to its communities during the training year for which being nominated.
“This is a great honor for an outstanding unit,” said Col. Michelle M. Rose, commander of the 329th Regional Support Group. “Having previously commanded the 529th CSSB in combat, I can attest to the hard work and dedication of the logistic warriors in the battalion in maintaining their sustainment and operational qualifications, even during the time period of re-tooling after a strenuous deployment to Afghanistan. It is a testament not only to the Soldiers, but the strong leadership in the battalion over the past year.”
Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, presented the battalion with the Excellence in Training Award and Superior Unit Award at the Virginia National Guard Officer Association Conference in April.
To earn the Excellence in Training Award, a unit must have 90 percent of all personnel qualified in their military occupational speciality, have 95 percent of all personnel present for annual training or receive constructive credit for AT attendance, maintain monthly drill attendance of 90 percent, have 95 percent of all assigned personnel qualify with their assigned weapon, have 95 percent of all crews qualify on their assigned crew-served weapons, have 90 percent of all assigned personnel pass the Army Physical Fitness Test and pass the Organizational Inspection Program in all training categories.
To earn the Superior Unit Award, a unit must maintain an assigned strength of 95 percent of authorized each month of the training year for which being nominated, maintain monthly drill attendance of 95 percent, attain annual training attendance of 95 percent, have 95 percent of all assigned personnel qualify with their assigned weapon and have 90 percent of all assigned personnel pass the Army Physical Fitness Test.
Milton A. Reckord commanded the 115th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division during World War I and was appointed Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard in 1920. In 1934, while still serving as Maryland’s Adjutant General, he assumed command of the 29th Infantry Division. After World War II, Reckord returned to his post as the Adjutant General of Maryland and continued to serve as Adjutant General until his retirement in 1966. During the years between the First and Second World War, Reckord was a leading advocate for increasing the role of the National Guard in the United States’ national defensive strategy. In 1933, he authored legislation that permanently gave National Guard personnel status as both state and federal troops.