2016 Soldier of the Year
notable
Staff Sgt. Guillermo Garcia-Galdamez
For Staff Sgt. Guillermo Garcia-Galdamez leadership isn’t measured in obedience, but dedication.
“His soldiers want to be like him. That’s the goal for every noncommissioned officer,” said 1st Sgt. Jeffrey Ladisic, who became his platoon sergeant in February 2014. “He’s the go-to guy for the whole squadron.”
Garcia-Galdamez, 24, was born in Reno, Nevada, and couldn’t wait to join the Army. He said he wanted to better the lives of people around the world. Also, his grandfather served in the Salvadoran Army and died during a civil war there, a spark that led Garcia-Galdamez to service.
After signing up through the Army’s early-entry program, he became a cavalry scout and currently serves in the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Joint Base Lewis McChord.
The soldier has designed a fitness program for his platoon, and he has them averaging 281 on the Army Physical Fitness test (he regularly surpasses 300). After being the first in his brigade to attend the Heavy Weapons Leaders Course (and excelling by being tabbed an honor graduate), he also developed a train-the-trainer Javelin (anti-tank missile) program to Maneuver Center of Excellence standards that’s been taken by more than 140 soldiers.
“Being a Stryker brigade, our most deadly weapon is a Javelin. We did not have nearly the number of personnel trained needed to be combat-effective,” Ladisic said.
Meanwhile, Garcia-Galdamez’s tactical knowledge enabled him to be one of only two soldiers out of a possible 65 to achieve Excellence in Armor. During the Army Reconnaissance Course he was awarded the Thurman Leadership Award for exemplifying what it means to lead. And he was picked to represent his division in the 2015 Gainey Cup (a biannual event for to name the best scout team).
Garcia-Galdamez also regularly helps soldiers study for promotion boards and enroll in college courses.
Ladasic cites his humility as another defining trait.
“He’s the best at everything he does, but you wouldn’t know it,” Ladisic said.