TRADOC Reg 600-14 TRADOC Sergeant Audie Murphy Club (SAMC)

FOR THE
COMMANDER:

 Signed

GARY E. BUSHOVER
Colonel, GS
Deputy Chief of Staff
    for Information
Management

Contents

Chapter
1
Introduction

1-1.
Purpose. This regulation provides
information and establishes administrative
procedures for the TRADOC Sergeant Audie
Murphy Club (SAMC).

1-2.
References. Required publications and
prescribed forms are listed in appendix
A.

1-3.
Explanation of abbreviations and terms. The glossary contains
all abbreviations used in this regulation.

Chapter
2
SAMC Overview

2-1.
TRADOC Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.

     
a. The TRADOC Sergeant Audie Murphy Club
is an elite organization of
noncommissioned officers (NCOs) who have
demonstrated performance and inherent
leadership qualities and abilities
characterized by those of Sergeant Audie
Murphy.

     
b. Sergeant Audie Murphy is the name of a
NCO who, as a squad leader, consistently
demonstrated the highest qualities of
leadership, professionalism and regard for
the welfare of his soldiers. A brief
biography of Sergeant Audie Murphy is at appendix
B.

2-2.
Eligibility. All
Active Army, Army Reserve, and Army
National Guard NCOs in the ranks of
Corporal through Sergeant First Class
assigned or attached to TRADOC units are
eligible for the SAMC.

2-3.
Induction and membership. The
TRADOC SAMC is a privilege earned by a few
exceptional noncommissioned officers. The
SAMC is a means of recognizing those NCOs
who have contributed significantly to the
development of a professional NCO Corps
and combat ready Army. Members exemplify
leadership characterized by personal
concern for the needs, training,
development and welfare of soldiers and
concern for families of soldiers.

2-4.
Selection. Selection
into the SAMC will be in three phases:

     
a. Phase 1 – Commander’s Nomination.
Unit commanders who recommend NCOs for
membership in the SAMC will screen and
evaluate candidates prior to appearance
before initial selection board. A sample
format for commander’s nomination is at appendix
D.

     
b. Phase 2 – Initial Selection Board. An
initial selection board will be conducted
at unit level under direction of unit
senior NCO. Board members will be provided
a copy of commander’s nomination. The
board will be comprised of voting members
senior to the candidate and will include
at least one voting member of the same sex
as the candidate being considered.
Numerical scoring on subjects contained on
the score sheet at appendix
E (TRADOC Form 600-14-4-R) will
determine if a candidate should continue
in the selection process. Candidates
selected to continue will be scheduled to
appear before the final selection board.
Requests to appear before final selection
board will be by commander’s nomination
memorandum to SAMC final selection board
president signed by appropriate commander
or senior NCO.

     
c. Phase 3 – Final Selection Board. The
SAMC final selection board will be
comprised of the subordinate command
installation Command Sergeant Major as
president and three or more Command or
Sergeants Major appointed by the
president, and a recorder without vote. At
least one board member must be of the same
sex as the candidate being considered. The
board may be reduced by one or more
Sergeant Major when replaced by a SAMC
voting member senior to the candidate
being considered. The board president can
be a Sergeant Major when no CSM is
assigned. The final selection board will
determine through a question and answer
system if the candidate has reached a
level of knowledge in a range of subjects
to warrant induction into the SAMC.
Candidates successfully meeting standards
of final selection board will be selected
for induction into the SAMC. The inductee
is introduced to the local SAMC chapter
and presented appropriate awards. Quotas
will not be established. The final
selection board need not select candidates
if they do not meet required standards.
The board president will counsel
candidates not selected for induction.
Final selection boards for candidates
assigned to duty stations other than
TRADOC installations will be convened by
the Command Sergeant Major of that
installation. For example, US Army
Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca’s
final selection board is held by the
installation Command Sergeant Major and
their procedures apply. Similarly each
TRADOC installation must ensure their
selection boards consider NCOs not
assigned to TRADOC major subordinate
commands. Inductees will be forwarded to
their appropriate MACOM headquarters.
Final selection boards may be consolidated
when coordinated between State AG National
Guard and Army Reserve CSMs as
appropriate.

Chapter
3
Responsibilities

3-1.
TRADOC Adjutant General (AG). The
TRADOC AG will exercise overall program
administration at MACOM level. Subordinate
commands will have procedures in place to
administer the program at local level
within the appropriate CSM office and will
request SAMC awards from TRADOC AG, ATTN:
ATBO-BPS.

3-2.
TRADOC Command Sergeant Major (CSM). The
TRADOC CSM will review all subordinate
SAMC programs and coordinate program
in-briefs for all incoming CSMs. The
TRADOC CSM will exercise final authority
for approval of any policy or procedure
exceptions, to include SAMC member removal
actions. Request for removal of SAMC
members will be submitted to TRADOC CSM
for evaluation and final determination.
Request must identify actions or causes
for removal (e.g., DUI, UCMJ, or violation
of integrity).

3-3.
Installation CSM. The
CSM at each TRADOC subordinate command
will exercise primary staff responsibility
for the SAMC at that level. Responsibility
will not be delegated to lower levels.
Responsibilities will include chairing
final selection boards each quarter and
the oversight, monitoring, tracking and
recording of SAMC members at their
appropriate levels. In addition,
responsibilities will include publishing a
memorandum of introduction signed by the
principal commander or CSM for gaining
commanders of SAMC members departing the
command. A sample memorandum is at appendix
C.

Chapter
4
Awards

4-1.
SAMC awards. SAMC awards for new
inductees will include:

     
a. Certificate of Achievement and
Membership (TRADOC Form 600-14-1-R and
600-14-3-R) signed by the TRADOC
Commanding General and Command Sergeant
Major. Certificate is approved for filing
IAW AR 600-8-104 in both military
personnel records jacket (MPRJ) and
official military personnel file (OMPF).
Copies of certificate should be forwarded
to servicing PSC/MPD/MILPO for processing.

     
b. Membership Medallion approved for wear
with appropriate uniform during SAMC
official functions only (IAW AR 670-1,
para 28-13d).

     
c. Membership Card signed by the TRADOC
CSM (TRADOC Form 600-14-2-R).

     
d. Presentation of local awards may be
appropriate as deemed by the commander;
e.g., local gift certificates, prizes.

     
e. A variety of publicity may be used to
provide recognition for SAMC inductees,
such as local media coverage and hometown
news releases. Photographs of members
should be prominently displayed.

     
f. A list of suggestions for recognizing
and utilizing SAMC members is at appendix
F.

     
g. The president of the final selection
board will forward a copy of the board
minutes to include name, rank, SSN, MOS
and current unit of assignment of all new
inductees to: HQ, TRADOC, ATTN: ATBO-BPS,
Fort Monroe, VA 23651.

4-2.
Honorary membership.

     
a. Honorary membership may be extended to
selected personnel who fit the image of a
SAMC member but, would not normally be
allowed to compete. Careful evaluation
must be taken to ensure that the spirit
and intent of the program is preserved.
Installation CSM will approve all honorary
memberships and forward the name, rank,
SSN, MOS and current unit of assignment of
honorary members to the TRADOC CSM.
Honorary members will receive the
membership certificate, membership card,
and medallion.

     
b. TRADOC soldiers previously inducted
into the Sergeant Morales Club will be
entitled to honorary induction into the
SAMC. Substantiation of membership is the
responsibility of the NCO and must include
either a letter of introduction from the
losing command or certificate of
membership in the Sergeant Morales Club.
Former Morales members will receive the
membership card only.

Appendix
A
References

AR
600-8-104
Military Personnel Information
Management/Records

AR 670-1
Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and
Insignia

TRADOC
Form 600-14-1-R
Certificate of Achievement

TRADOC
Form 600-14-2-R
SAMC Membership Card

TRADOC
Form 600-14-3-R
Certificate of Membership

TRADOC
Form 600-14-4-R
SAMC Board Score Sheet

Appendix
B
The Biography of Sergeant Audie Murphy

Audie
Leon Murphy was a legend in his own time.
A war hero, movie actor, writer of country
and western songs, and poet. His biography
read more like fiction than fact. He lived
only 46 years, but made a lasting
impression on American history. Audie was
born on a sharecropper’s farm in North
Texas on June 20, 1924. As a boy, he
chopped cotton for one dollar a day and
was noted for his feats of derring-do and
his accuracy with a gun. He had only 5
years of schooling and was orphaned at age
16. After being refused enlistment during
World War II in both the Marines and
Paratroopers for being too small
(5’5") and underweight (110 lbs.),
he enlisted in the U.S. Army a few days
after his 18th birthday. After basic
training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and
advanced training at Fort George G. Meade,
Maryland, Audie was sent overseas. He was
assigned to the famous 15th Infantry
Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division
where he fought in North Africa, Sicily,
Italy, France, and Germany. He earned a
battlefield commission for his courage and
leadership ability, as well as, citations
and decorations including every medal for
valor that America gives. He was also
awarded one Belgian and three French
medals. Lieutenant Audie Murphy is the
highest decorated soldier in American
history. Discharged from the Army on
September 21, 1945, Audie went to
Hollywood at the invitation of movie star
James Cagney. He remained in California
for the rest of his life and was closely
associated with the movie industry, both
as an actor and a producer. He acted in 44
films starring in 39 of them. His best
known film is "To Hell and
Back", adapted from the best selling
book of his war experiences by the same
name. Most of his movies were westerns. In
1955, Audie Murphy was voted the Most
Popular Western Actor in America by the
Motion Picture Exhibitors. Audie wrote the
lyrics to 16 country and western songs,
the most popular of which was
"Shutters and Boards", written
with Scott Turner in 1962. The song was
recorded by over 30 pop singers, including
Jerry Wallace, Dean Martin, and Porter
Waggoner. He was an accomplished poet;
unfortunately, only a few of his poems
have survived. In 1950 Audie joined the
36th Infantry Division ("T-Patchers")
of the Texas National Guard and served
with it until 1966. He was a Mason and a
Shriner and belonged to several
veterans’ organizations. Audie Murphy
was killed in a plane crash on a
mountaintop near Roanoke, Virginia on May
28, 1971. Fittingly, his body was
recovered 2 days later on Memorial Day.

Appendix
C
Sample Memorandum of Introduction

ATZL-CSM

MEMORANDUM
FOR (Commander Concerned)

SUBJECT:
Memorandum of Introduction

1. This
Memorandum of Introduction is being
forwarded for Staff Sergeant John E. Doe,
who has been assigned to your command.
He/she is a member of the Sergeant Audie
Murphy Club and has earned the distinction
of being one of the finest NCOs ever
assigned to the 10^th Armored
Division, Fort Armor, CA.

2.
Membership in the Sergeant Audie Murphy
Club is a primary indicator that Staff
Sergeant Doe has demonstrated the ability
to meet the challenges of leadership and
caring for soldiers.

3. I am
pleased to personally introduce Staff
Sergeant John E. Doe to you. I am
confident he/she will be an invaluable
asset to your organization.

Appendix
D
Sample Format for Unit Commander’s
Nomination

ATZL-CSM

MEMORANDUM
FOR SAMC Selection Board

SUBJECT:
Sergeant Audie Murphy Club Nomination.

1.
Recommend the following individual be
considered for membership and induction to
the SAMC:

     a.
Name:

     b.
Rank:

     c.
SSN:

     d.
Unit:

     e.
DOR:

     f.
DOB:

     g.
PMOS:

     h.
Number of soldiers supervised:

     i.
BASD:

     j.
ETS:

     k.
Past and present NCO duty positions:

     l.
Military education:

     m.
Civilian education:

     n.
Awards/Decorations/Achievements:

     o.
APFT Test Score/date:

     p.
Individual Weapon Qualification
Score/date:

2. Any
other information pertinent to the
candidate’s leadership accomplishment.

Appendix
E
SAMC Score Sheet

Appendix
F
Suggestions for Recognizing and Using SAMC
Members

1.
Interview SAMC members as possible officer
candidate school or warrant officer
candidates.

2.
Encourage assignments to leadership
positions that will allow SAMC members to
further develop their leadership skills.

3. Assign
to instructor duties or positions and
teach NCO Development Program classes.

4.
Encourage further participation in
off-duty education programs to set the
example for junior soldiers.

5.
Accompany Command Sergeants Major on unit
visits and talk to individual NCOs.

6. Use
their talents as:

     
a. Guest speakers at command information
classes and seminars.

     
b. Speaker at NCO Leadership Schools.

     
c. Participants in various corps, division
and brigade adhoc committees.

     
d. Attendees at selected command
briefings.

     
e. Greeters for VIPs visiting local
commands.

     
f. Participants in sponsorship and
reception programs.

7.
Encourage their involvement in community
activities, e.g., Youth Services, Army
Community Service (ACS), Parent Teachers
Associations (PTA).

8.
Encourage them to help identify potential
SAMC members.

Glossary

Section
I
Abbreviations