Narrative to Accompany the Award of Legion of Merit MSG TAMIKA L. WYNN

Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn is a shining example in the military. Born on 25 June 1975 in Columbus, her military career began 18 November 1993 when Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn entered the army and underwent Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC. For her it seemed like the right choice, an easy choice. She wanted to serve the country that she loves. So she began her journey that day and later attended Advance Individual Training at Fort Lee, VA becoming a 92A Material Storage and Handling Specialist. Just two years later, in 1995, she graduated from the Warrior Leader Course. Her path continued on an upward trajectory and in 199 she took on the Advanced Leaders Course, graduating from it and the Senior Leader Course in 2005 in Fort Lee, VA.

She was not just driven when she successfully completed these courses. She showed her intelligence, her push for quality without diminishing her energy and gusto for life. Later she showed those qualities by graduating at the top of her class in 2007 in the First Sergeant's Course as a 92A5M2B. Just to show the level of capability Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn displayed, her NCO Evaluation Reports demonstrated not only excellence in competence, physical fitness, and leadership, but she also scored high on her exams. Her 1998 evaluation showed she scored a 293 on her APFT. She developed itinerary and visit to Bosnia and central Germany for the Aviation Branch Command Sergeant Major. Another evaluation from 1999 states she was recognized by the Belgium and French Military for Partnership efforts and continued to have positive marks in both her leadership and her competence.

Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn is a strong, competent, intelligent, and noble leader. She is rarity in this world. Where most people fail to even meet a fraction of what she has accomplished, she stands tall, far above the rest. She is one of the most amazing women out there, amazing people out there. Because she is more than just a person, she is a role model, someone to look up to and acknowledge as a true leader. Throughout the years she proved another key component to being a superb leader and that is consistency.

Her evaluations year after year demonstrated her skills over and over again. She improved her APFT score to 300 and scored it in 1999, 2000, all the way through recent years. She continued to have marks of excellence in not just competence and leadership, but also responsibility and accountability. She maintained 100% accountability of equipment valued at over $500,000 and was awarded in 200, the V Corps Physical Fitness 300 Club Certificate. That level dedication, discipline, that is what leads to remarkable consistency.

Stability is something that is valued in the military. People those that can remain solid, strong, even in the face adversity, in the face of disaster. Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn is that rock that the military is so thankful to have. In 2002, her evaluation stated she was promoted to battalion-level staff because of her expertise and her reputation. They wrote she is an excellent role model in appearance and bearing. Let it sink those words: "in appearance and bearing." She does not just look the part; she acts that part.

So many people merely pretend to be something that they are not. Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn is what she seems to be. She is capable. She is trustworthy. She is in many ways a hero. It is not because she looks a certain way. That is just the icing on the cake. No, it is her depth, her knowledge, her expertise. That is what sets her apart from everyone else. She is the whole cake, icing and all. It is a little strange using that image, but in reality that is the only image that can be thought of. Cakes are used in celebrations, marking an accomplishment. They are symbol of wealth and joy. Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn brought a lot of joy and success to the United States Military. Her efforts are and will be forever acknowledged.

Aside from being an excellent role mode, she had and has a higher standard that she applies not only to herself, but to others. She pushes soldiers to excel, telling them they can go the extra mile. She maintains a positive attitude. Maintaining a positive attitude easy in everyday life. Being a part of the military is hard. None of it is easy. However, Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn...

She encourages, she pushes, and she lets her soldiers know they can do it. They can achieve their goals. She achieved her goals. And she remains an inspiration to many.
Innovation is another key ingredient to successful leadership. In 2003, she designed a PT program that motivated soldiers and increased the platoon PT average from 245 to 260. Remarks on her evaluation stated she was an exceptional role model with an immaculate appearance. She was enthusiastic, motivated, and took lead in unit fitness training. Not only that, but she was chosen over all her peers to serve as the Battalion PBO NCOIC. To mentor 8 Supply Sergeants in effective supply operations and plan and execute consistent high quality Battalion Low Density MOS Training for all supply personnel within the same year, that must have taken a great deal of energy, planning, and creativity. Creativity is what fuels innovation in people.

Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn is an innovator. She is creative. She applies her creativity in a practical and efficient manner. She cares. She cares about the people she mentors. She cares about the ones that look to her for guidance. She is the one that people see as that person that can not only lead, but also inspire. Sometimes inspiration does not have to appear solely at work. It can appear during play. Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn motivated soldiers on the unit volleyball team. She competed both as a member and coach of the team. Her 2004 evaluation adds she is a true leader and inspired her soldier to always go the extra mile and continuously set the example in all that she did.

Along with innovation, creativity, inspiration comes effective management. Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn from the beginning knew how to handle budgets and applied that knowledge to the maintaining organizational, installation, expendable, and squad equipment valued in excess of $10,000,000. A good leader also knows that safety is important. She always emphasizes safety, which resulted in zero accidence and DUIs in her squad in 2004-2005. She is trust worthy. She is dependable. She is loyal. Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn is everything that embodies not just a leader, but the leader.

Her evaluation reports show just how positive and great of a person she was on duty. However, there also moments in her life that show how she great she was and is off duty. Many people in their spare time choose to relax by the pool, sip some beer, eat some barbecue. She coached the Women's Community Level Softball Team in 1997 and the Unit Level Consolidated Men's Softball Team that same season. Just imagine how difficult that is for two people to do. Now imagine one person doing it. Now imagine one young person doing it. Most young people want to do stupid things not her. Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn did what few people could do. She volunteered her time to coach and help others. Who does that? Maybe a super hero? She is a super hero. She should have her own TV show.

If people could all her accomplishments, and they are so many, whole encyclopedias would be written about her life. She has done so much. Helped so many people. She at one point assisted in successfully observing, coaching, and training 28 Tactical Convoy Operations for the A/701 BSB. These soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan. Being sent to an unstable country like Afghanistan is scary. Most people can't handle that kind of stress. But to have someone there that is kind, knowledgeable, effective prepare them, teach them, guide them, Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn was that person, is that person.

It is not just her leadership that motivates others. She has all these traits, but they stem from two core abilities. During one of her initial award recommendations back in 1994, back when she was Tamika L. Jamison, they noticed something special in her. She could adapt. She could learn quickly. "During pre-deployment to Haiti, without NCO supervision, SPC Jamison effectively planned and supervised the upload of the unit supply room while assisting the unit armor with weapons inventories and issue for both mobile support teams." This was towards the beginning of her career. Who does that? What kind of person does that? A person made of the 'special stuff'. The kind of stuff that makes heroes, that makes legends.

All these wonderful traits Master Sergeant Tamika L. Wynn carried to the present and carried…