"In the Guard, you can end up doing 24 hour guard duty, marching until you can't feel your feet, filling sandbags, or doing any number of other odious or grueling tasks," says Washington National Guardsmen, Staff Sgt Adam Rice. "If you are dedicated to the idea of being the shield that guards the good people of this State and this Nation, than the greatest trials will only serve to feed your warrior spirit."
Staff Sgt Adam Rice first enlisted in the California National Guard in September of 2003. Adam was recognized as the Outstanding Leader Soldier during his Basic Training class.
Adam then completed Advanced Individual Training at the Defense Language Institute, where he earned a position on the Honor Roll while attending an intense 64-week course learning Mandarin. Adam recently completed the Army's Advanced Leader Course, where he achieved his class's Distinguished Honor Graduate.
"Nothing made me more proud in my career than to hear the confidence in the voices of my fellow soldiers when they told me that they knew I would be an outstanding NCO."
In 2007, Adam deployed to Afghanistan where he worked as an interrogator in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Adam earned the Army Commendation Medal for the exemplary performance of his duties, and for greatly increasing the performance capabilities of all Soldiers for whom he was responsible.
"My family is literally my pride and joy. My wife Keturah and I have three precious daughters (with another daughter on the way) and my greatest joy comes when I see them project the courage and compassion that we work so hard to instill in them."
Adam holds Servicemember and family man as proud title but he has another title dear to his heart; Cubmaster.
Adam volunteers, along with his wife, as a Cub Scout Leader near their home in Bonney Lake.
With his wife as his Assistant Cubmaster, his daughters are practically honorary Cub Scouts.
Adam earned his Eagle Scout Badge in 2002 as a member of the Boy Scouts.
Adam also teaches Sunday school at the church his family attends.
While working full-time for the U.S. Department of Justice in their Seattle Office, Adam has assisted in case development and prosecution that has had a positive impact on communities throughout the State of Washington and U.S.
"Attitude is everything. To put it another way, what matters is not so much what you do as why you do it."
LINK: Howard O. Scott winner Staff Sgt. Stephen Ryan