MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – “Within USSOCOM, we are working on operationalizing our efforts to do global synchronization of mission sets, and in the communication field, that’s what you all do; we really look to you to help us. You are dedicated and are doing right by the enterprise,” Maj. Gen. J. Marcus Hicks, chief of staff, U.S. Special Operations Command, said before recognizing the winners of this year’s Special Operations Forces Communicator of the Year (SCOTY) awards.
The awards ceremony took place at the Davis Conference Center on MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Nov. 17.
Members of the entire SOF enterprise, with attendees from the component commands and the Theater Special Operations Commands, along with USSOCOM headquarters staff were present.
The SCOTY awards were established by the USSOCOM J6/chief of information office directorate in 2012, to recognize enlisted, warrant officer, commissioned officer, and civilian communicators who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, gallantry, integrity, moral courage, and whose significant contributions have improved SOF communications mission capabilities.
“In total, 26 nomination packages were submitted, so this year’s winners are truly the best of the best in the SOF enterprise,” said Mary Ann Giese, who works in the J6 strategic planning division.
The 2015 SCOTY award winners are:
Marine Maj. Brent J. Cantrell from Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert D. Braun from Fort Benning, Georgia
Army Sgt. Brian R. Tubbs from MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa
Robert Rigsby also from MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa
It is not always easy to operate in a regionally organized world, and it’s something that has to be thought through, said Hicks. USSOCOM is already headed in this direction due to the contributions of a few of its all-star communicators.
“You guys do your mission absolutely incredibly,” said Hicks, “You’re definitely looking good from my perspective.”