A Dillon native serving in the U.S. Army has been named the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year and inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
The Cadet Command Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year competitionheld annually at Fort Knox, KY is a five day event. The event consist ofthe Army’s Physical Fitness Test, weapons qualification, obstacle course, land navigation, tactical road march, Modern Army Combatives Program, Written Examinations and a rigorous review board contest.
Nine NCOs competed in the competition each representing their brigade from Cadet Command. SFC David Michael Smith represented 1st Brigade.
After the 5 days of grueling competition SFC Smith was named the winner. He will represent Cadet Command his Division, at the Training and Doctrine Command NCO of the Year competition in August.
SFC Smith was also selected on July 24, to be inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
This is a club reserved for the top 2% of the U.S. Army’s Non-Commissioned Officers. The NCO has displayed exemplary leadership and a genuine concern for the training and welfare of soldiers and their families.
SFC Smith has served in the Army for 13 years. He has deployed five times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Desert Spring. Some of his awards and decorations include: Two Bronze Stars for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Meritorious Service Medal, Army commendation Medals (8 Oak Leaf Cluster) Army Achievement Medal (3 OLC).
SFC Smith currently teaches Military Science at the University of North Georgia.
He is married to Wendy M. Smith of Dillon and has two sons, Elijah and Easton. His parents are father, Michael Smith, married to Brenda Smith of Dillon, and his mother, Lesley Brown, married to Randy Brown of Marion, and he has one sister Ashleigh Smith who also lives in Marion.
