Georgia Guardsmen Honored With AJC Awards

Three Georgia Army Guardsmen are among six Soldiers honored with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s annual Army Reserve Component Achievement Award. They, and three members of the Army Reserve, received the award during a ceremony held at Army Reserve Headquarters, Fort McPherson.

This year’s Guard recipients are Sgt. 1st Class David D. McElwee, Sgt. Jeremy H. Hartman and Spc. Julian L. Tucker III.

Ron Martz, military correspondent for the AJC, made the presentation assisted by Lt. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia’s Adjutant General.

“I’m quite humbled at being chosen for this honor, said McElwee after the ceremony ended. “It’s really a proud moment for me,” Tucker added. “Earning this award is something I will remember for a long, long time.”

McElwee is the operations sergeant for the Georgia Guard’s 4th Civil Support Team based at Marietta’s Dobbins Air Reserve Base. He is one of the team’s founding members, and is highly respected throughout the state’s law enforcement and emergency responder communities. McElwee maintains the same Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification as his civilian counterparts, as well as certification as a POST instructor. His dedication and professionalism has helped the 4th CST earn, among other awards, the United States Public Health Unit Citation, the first ever awarded to any Army unit.

Hartman, who hails from Nahunta, is the assistant battalion supply sergeant for Headquarters Service Battery, 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery in Savannah. He has worked with the battalion’s supply section for most of his military career, has held the position of noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the battalion Supply Operations Center . He has also worked in the 118th’s Administrative-Logistics Center on several occasions. Hartman was also recently recommended by the battalion to receive the Savannah 2006 Chamber of Commerce Award.

Tucker, a resident of Glenville, is also with the Savannah-based 118th. A graduate of Fort Lee, Va.’s, Supply Specialist Course, he works as the battalion's automated logistics specialist. Tucker has, during his time with the unit, also worked in its maintenance section.

The AJC’s Reserve Component Award was established to recognize outstanding enlisted Soldiers from the Georgia Army Guard and Georgia-based Army Reserve units.

Eligibility for the award includes exemplary conduct and attendance at scheduled drills and annual training and consideration of leadership instructional ability. The Reserve Component Award honors one Soldier in grades E-1 to E9.