U.S. Army heroes return home to discuss life of service
Apr. 9—JACKSONVILLE- Three prominent U.S. Army Soldiers will return to their hometowns April 11-12, 2024, to engage with students at Albany State University and Cairo and Bainbridge high schools in Georgia.
During the two-day engagements, Col. Dennis Williams, Deputy Chief of Staff, G4, U.S. Army Space and Missile Command, Command Sgt. Maj. (ret) Judson Gee, Senior Enlisted Leader of the Muscogee County School District, and 1st Lt. Quincy Fortson, Operations Officer, 551st Signal Battalion, will discuss their Army stories, and the opportunities and incentives available to local youth who may be interested in an Army career.
The heroes will meet with ROTC students at Albany State University on Thursday, April 11 and visit students at Cairo and Bainbridge high schools on Friday, April 12.
Additionally, soldiers who've recently graduated from local schools and are currently participating in the Army's Hometown Recruiting Assistance Program (HRAP) will discuss their experiences with students. HRAP allows enlisted Soldiers who have recently completed initial training to return to their hometown to help with recruitment.
"The hometown heroes event celebrates the extraordinary journeys of those who have made a substantial impact in the Army," said 1st Lt. Nathan Stevens, the U.S. Army Valdosta Recruiting Company Commander. "These engagements allow them to impart wisdom and experiences from their careers to ignite inspiration in the hearts of their hometown communities, and to relate to the young men and women who stand where they once stood."
Williams is a native of Cairo, Georgia and is currently assigned to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Alabama. He received his commission as a Quartermaster Officer from the Albany State University ROTC program in 2000.
Gee is also a native of Cairo, Georgia and graduated from Cairo High School in 1988 before embarking on a storied 27-year active-duty Army career. In retirement, he currently serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader and Operations Sergeant Major for the Muscogee County School District.
Fortson was born and raised in Bainbridge, Geogia and graduated from Bainbridge High School in 2012. He earned a football scholarship to Albany State University and was the first college graduate and ROTC-commissioned officer in his family.
The events are sponsored by the Jacksonville Army Recruiting Battalion, a sub-unit of U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The Battalion conducts recruitment operations for the Active and Reserve Army across Northeast Florida and South Georgia.
For additional information on the Hometown Heroes events, please contact Chelsea Smith at 904-309-6929. Find more on the Jacksonville Army Recruiting Battalion, at Jacksonville Recruiting Battalion (army.mil)
