Published: February 02, 2010
Soldier Steps Outside The Box, Learns Valuable Lessons
By Spc. Shantelle J. Campbell
4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 1st Infantry Division
TIKRIT, Iraq - In 2008, Staff Sgt. Javilyn Waddell with the 1320th Civil Affairs, an Army Reserve unit out of Fort Totten, N.Y., decided to step up to a challenge and became the battalion Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
"I was nervous, but I figured why not try it and see how far I could get," said the Bronx, N.Y., native about his decision to compete for the title. "In the end, it all worked out because I saw that it wasn't as bad as I thought. I learned a lot more about the military by doing that. I see that there are a lot of things that I know and things I can work on."
"You learn a lot about yourself when you do a competition like that," he said.
It also taught him that it is ok to step out of his comfort zone, take on challenging jobs and try new things. Waddell is currently serving with a different unit than the one he is actually assigned to. He is working as the project purchase NCO for the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan.
Being named the NCO of the Year for his battalion is the accomplishment that Waddell said he was most proud of since joining the military 11 years ago.
Bronx, N.Y., native, Staff Sgt. Javilyn Waddell with the 1320th Civil Affairs, an Army Reserve unit out of Fort Totten, N.Y., serves as the project purchase noncommissioned officer for the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan. Waddell stepped outside of his comfort zone and learned a lot about himself when he became the NCO of the Year for his battalion in 2008. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shantelle J. Campbell, 4IBCT PAO)
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"It was rewarding because I had never done anything like that," he said. "It was exciting to step out of the box."
"I feel that it showed my Soldiers that I'm willing to compete to show my skills," Waddell added. "It [also] showed that I'm willing to better myself, try new things and develop myself as a leader."
As an NCO, Waddell said that he believes that being a leader is about more than just supervising.
"I think to be a good NCO or a good Soldier in general; you need good people around you. No one is above doing work or getting their hands dirty," said Waddell. "You don't just have to be a supervisor all of the time."
Waddell is currently serving in Iraq on his first deployment. He plans to pursue a degree in business administration and when the time comes, retire from the military.
"I'll go as far as they'll let me," he concluded.
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