During this year’s AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition, just as we have in years past, we had as our guests a special group of noncommissioned officers — NCOs who have achieved excellence and who represent the best of America’s NCO Corps.Attending the meeting were the recruiters and drill sergeants of the year, and this year we added to the list the Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Platoon Sergeant of the Year.Sgt. 1st Class Paul Gahl from Fort Sill, Okla., is the 2011 AIT Platoon Sergeant of the Year.During the 2011 AUSA Annual Meeting’s Eisenhower Luncheon, he received the first Finnis D. McCleery Award from the chief of staff of the Army and the sergeant major of the Army.The award is named in honor of a Vietnam-era Medal of Honor recipient who, while serving as an infantry platoon sergeant, was cited for his extraordinary heroism.McCleery’s remarkable leadership qualities of leading from the front, inspiring the highest standards of military service, are the qualities the AIT platoon sergeants seek to cultivate."I’ve had outstanding leaders, and this is something that prepares you for your entire career; it’s a good feeling," Gahl said after he received his award.The AIT platoon sergeants are top quality, professional noncommissioned officers from virtually every branch of the Army.They are directly responsible for the accountability, health, welfare, training, and mentoring of an average of 100 soldiers during a minimum of six cycles each year.Their task is to perform the minor miracle of transforming young citizens —fresh out of basic training – into soldiers.Currently, there are more than 700 Army platoon sergeants serving at 24 AIT schools and training centers.The AIT platoon sergeants lay the foundation of what soldiers can expect from noncommissioned officers and they set the tone for the soldier’s entire military career.They also set the example, and if you want to know what right looks like – look no further than our AIT platoon sergeants.Still Serving!