Sergeant First Class Joe Longinotti

Leadership sometimes means finding strengths and opportunity where others see weakness. Sgt. 1st Class Joe L. Longinotti did not allow one soldier's weaknesses to hold him back. By working with and retaining a specialist who did not show up for his monthly drills and was slated to be dropped from the unit, Sgt. 1st Class Longinotti found the vigor and motivation needed in that specialist to recruit for the Army Reserve. The specialist went on to receive the Sergeant Major of the Army's SMART program award. A veteran of Desert Storm, Longinotti continues to be engaged with others by visiting veterans at the local VA hospital, providing Christmas baskets for families in need and working with the local youth groups and sports teams. Sgt. 1st Class Longinotti's leadership makes a difference in his Reserve unit as well as in his community.