SPC Kumiko Baire earned the Distinguished Honor Graduate title and the SHARP Essay Award. SPC Sonia Pabon earned the Honor Graduate title and took home the Ironwoman Award for the highest Army Physical Fitness Score among the female graduates. SPC Christian Kortum earned the Distinguished Leadership Award and graduated on the Commandant’s List. SPC Wesley Brown, SPC Cindy Castañeda, SPC Marcellis Childs, SPC Alfonso Deocampo of the New Mexico Army National Guard’s 720th Transportation Company, SPC Andy Huang, CPL Nicole Meadows, SPC Darnell Pierce, SPC Julio Salinas, and SPC Nathan Silva of the NMARNG’s 919th Military Police Company all graduated on the Commandant’s List. SPC Nikos Alva, also of the 720th Transportation Company, took home the Ironman Award. SPC Stephen Strother served as the Student First Sergeant and led the class in reciting “The Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer.” MSG Cesar Urrutia provided the keynote address. His advice to the students ranged from basic ideas such as being on time to the more complex principles of servant leadership. He encouraged the graduates to do more than just get by. “If all you do is the minimum, that’s all you’re going to get back,” Urrutia said. Urrutia, a long-standing member of the RTI staff, has been reassigned to the 615th Transportation Battalion as Operations NCOIC. RTI Operations Officer MAJ Jessica Sedillo presented Urritia with a Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his service to the RTI. RTI CSM Robbie Cantrell presented Urrutia with a regimental challenge coin and BLC Course Manager MSG Daniel Garcia gave Urrutia a plaque on behalf of the 1st Battalion cadre. Garcia named SSG Savannah Vea as Instructor of the Cycle and SSG Jacob Bermudez as Instructor of the Quarter. The students of each class represent Regular Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve units from around the United States.
