FORT PICKETT, Va. –
The Virginia Army National Guard recruiting team snagged three top honors at the Region II Strength Readiness Advisory Group end-of-year boards Jan. 7, 2026, following a conference of neighboring states in Maryland. Staff Sgt. Joshua Fino was named the regional recruiter of the year, Master Sgt. Jason Haynes was named the regional section chief of the year, and Sgt. 1st Class Morgan Maddox was selected as the region’s marketing noncommissioned officer of the year.
“Not only does Team Virginia rock the production mission, we also have incredible NCOs,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jessica Dickenson, the command sergeant major for the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. “Congratulations to all of our competitors and best of luck to our winners who will go on to the next level!”
In addition to Virginia, SRAG II, one of seven regional groupings in the nation, includes West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The winners from each region will come together later this year in Houston, Texas, for the chance to be named best in the nation.
“I am so truly honored to be in this position,” Fino said. “I can only take a small bit of credit because I’ve got people all around me that have helped me get to where I am. Everyone from the Soldiers and warrior I’ve enlisted, to my wife, my teammates and then my section chief.”
Along with a rock solid support system, both at work and at home, Fino also credited a strong work ethic that enabled him to build and cultivate relationships throughout his local community in Stafford County. He also takes the role of an NCO seriously.
“[I] care for the people I work with, I don’t just enlist them and forget them,” Fino said. “I truly care about them as Soldiers and people, and I think with me being the first NCO they meet, it’s important that I fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role.”
Haynes called his role as a section chief, one that allows him to lead and mentor recruiters, “the greatest privilege” of his career. In competing for this honor, he said what motivated him was the sense of responsibility he feels toward both his Soldiers and the organization.
“For me, this was an opportunity to represent the Virginia Army National Guard and uphold the standard of excellence set by previous winners,” Haynes said. “More importantly, it was a chance to shine a light on the incredible, hardworking NCOs in Area 1.”
Maddox, the region’s top marketing NCO, said his motivation was developing tools that help recruiters succeed and make their jobs easier.
“The best ideas come from the recruiters,” he said. “My driving factor is listening to what they need and turning that feedback into something they can use. I’ve worked as a recruiter, and I know how demanding the job is, and to give them every advantage I can.”
Also representing Virginia, as the state’s Rookie of the Year, was Staff Sgt. Christopher Weakley, who delivered a fine performance and proved an excellent representative of the state and the organization.