MG Kennedy C. Bullard Award

A-1. Purpose

To foster pride in our Artillery heritage, during the 116th Regiment's Centennial Anniversary in 2017, the Gator Redleg Chapter chartered an award named after our Regiment's oldest living Commander and former State Adjutant General, Major General (Ret) Kennedy C. Bullard. The Major General Kennedy C. Bullard Award was established to recognize junior leaders for outstanding contributions to the Florida Army National Guard Artillery Community.

• a. MG (Ret) Bullard exemplifies numerous leadership traits. The leadership theme that flowed throughout his career was taking care of Soldiers. Individuals who served with him indicated his leadership performance was routinely characterized by tenacity, bravery, competence, humility, commitment, confidence, loyalty, and a family oriented leadership philosophy.

• b. MG (Ret) Bullard was born December 9, 1917 and began his military career in 1939 as a private in the Florida Army National Guard. He was inducted into federal service in 1940. He was commissioned as a 2LT in 1941 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He went on to serve as Training Officer, 2nd Regiment, Field Artillery Replacement Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He later was assigned to the 1st Armored Division where he served in a variety of positions: Executive Officer and later Commander, B Battery, 91st Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Armored Division and Assistant Plans and Training Officer, 91st Armored Field Artillery Battalion. He fought in North African and Italy, participating in engagements at Kasserine Pass, the Cassino Front and the Anzio Beachhead invasion.

His National Guard assignments include Commander, B Battery, 116th Field Artillery Battalion, Assistant Plans and Training Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the 116th Field Artillery Battalion. Additionally, he served as the Executive Officer and Commander, 163rd Artillery Group, Artillery Officer and G4 of the 55th Operations Headquarters Divisional. In 1967, he became the Deputy Brigade Commander of the 53rd Infantry Brigade and in 1970, its Commander. In 1975, he was appointed the Adjutant General of the State of Florida until he retired in 1981.

During his time as a Florida National Guardsman, MG (Ret) Bullard participated in multiple domestic operations inside the state of Florida. These included natural disasters and civil disturbances. Most notable of these responses was during his tenure as The Adjutant General, where he led the Florida National Guard through contingency operations during riots in Miami and the Mariel Boat Lift.

When interviewed for candid thoughts, General Bullard had this advice for young leaders: "The biggest thing for me is: Think about your friendships with each other. I tried never to take any kind of action without thinking of people first."

A-2. Awards

• a. The Gator Redlegs will present two awards of the Major General Kennedy C. Bullard Award each year:

1. One to an Artillery officer, in the grade of Lieutenant or Captain; and
2. One to an Artillery NCO, in the grade of Corporal through Staff Sergeant.

• b. The recipients will receive mounted certificates and their identification data will be engraved on plates mounted on the permanent award retained at Saint Francis Barracks, Saint Augustine, FL.

• c. Nominations accepted from Commanders who occupy command positions authorized in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel or higher.

• d. The winner in each category is the nominee who during the preceding year most exemplifies the characteristics of a junior Redleg leader, as discussed in paragraph A-1 above. Those characteristics are the primary criteria used to evaluate the nominees for this award.

A-3. Eligibility

• a. Commissioned Officers must:

1. Be in grade Second Lieutenant through Captain at the time of nomination.
2. Be branch qualified in Field Artillery and assigned to a position requiring that branch during the entire period for which nominated.

• b. Noncommissioned Officers must:

1. Be in grade Corporal through Staff Sergeant at the time of nomination.
2. Hold a Field Artillery MOS as primary MOS and be assigned to an Artillery position during the entire period considered.

A-4. Criteria

• a. General:

1. The primary determination will be based on the characteristics expected from Field Artillery leaders.
2. The primary purpose of the award is to capture the epitome of a successful Redleg career. We are looking for an outstanding Redleg leader from among both the officer and enlisted ranks. A command-sponsored narrative that portrays leadership qualities and accomplishments most similar to those of General Bullard is the primary means our awards committee will use to determine the award recipient.
3. The Field Artillery branch requires Officers and NCOs who are, first and foremost, leaders of Soldiers. They must be mentally and physically disciplined and well-versed in Field Artillery, combined arms and joint tactics, techniques and procedures. They are warriors who possess the moral, intellectual and interpersonal characteristics that enable organizational and individual success. They must be grounded in Army Values and the Warrior Ethos.

• b. Nominees must demonstrate:

1. Expertise in the employment of indirect fire systems and the coordination,
2. Skill in team building, leadership and collaboration
3. Imagination, agility and adaptability
4. Professional and personal behavior that actively demonstrates commitment to the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, integrity, courage, service and honor.

A-5. Period of Eligibility

The eligibility period covers the 12 months immediately preceding the official suspense date to provide nomination packets to the President of the Gator Redleg Chapter of the United States Field Artillery Association.

A-6. Nomination

Unit commanders in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel or above may nominate Soldiers to receive the award. This includes those assigned to the unit and may include individuals from the Active Army, the Army Reserve or other Department of Defense components who provided operational and training support to the commander's Army National Guard unit.

A-7. Nomination Instructions

The nomination packet must reach the President of the Gator Redleg Chapter of the USFAA each year no later than 1 APR.

• a. A cover letter with endorsements from the Soldier's chain of command up through the first MACOM commander in that chain.

• b. Narrative justification and comments, not to exceed two typed pages, using a 10-point or 12-point font.

• c. Commander's certification that the Soldier is in good standing.

A-8. Selection

The Gator Redleg Award Board will convene and select the recipient in each category annually by 1 MAY.

A-9. Presentation of Award

The Gator Redlegs Chapter prefers to present the awards during the annual National Guard Association of Florida (NGAFL) Conference. If an awardee is unable to attend NGAFL, the Chapter may present the award at the annual St. Barbara's Ball.