Staff Sgt. Robert E. Hayes faces a board member asking questions to describe his insignias and patches on his Class-A uniform sleeves. Wilson A. Rivera Three knocks on the door and the command “Enter” was shouted for a sole candidate to open the door at a Sergeant Audie Murphy Club final selection board held Tuesday at the top 10th floor of Signal Towers.

Staff Sgt. Robert E. Hayes, an operations and training noncommissioned officer with the Regimental NCO Academy, entered the room with his sponsor Master Sgt. William C. Evans, cadre with the RNCOA and a SAMC member. Hayes reported with a salute to the SAMC board president, Fort Gordon Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Clark.

Hayes was the one of six remaining candidates who continued to excel with the Army Physical Fitness Test, drill and ceremonies, written examination and land navigation. During the board, he was asked scenarios based questions regarding NCO history, leadership, and the SAMC.

“I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t anxious,” said Hayes. “I was confident, but I was nervous.”

The board asked Hayes questions about how he would handle a situation with the well-being of one of his Soldiers facing nightmares and for him to explain how to help the Soldier. Other scenarios included leadership choices he would make in a combat situation, receiving enemy fire, wounded care of Soldiers.

As time went on, Hayes corrected himself and kept his composure sitting at attention, taking a moment to process each question before giving a response to a board member.

Not much of a board appearance based Soldier; Hayes focuses much on his reputation as a leader and NCO. Since joining the Army he has never accepted reaching for just a passing score on his APFT. His philosophy was to always max his APFT events.

“I always try to critique myself,” said Hayes. “I think it actually helps me push myself better. When I was told I was selected for induction, I was grateful.”

Inductees receive a SAMC medallion during induction, which less than 1 percent in the Army are SAMC members and less than 2 percent are NCOs, said Sgt. 1st Class Thomas F. Kupsh, Fort Gordon SAMC president.

“I don’t view it as an award, I view it as a responsibility,” said Hayes. “A responsibility to earn that designation, now I have to justify everyday why I am a member by my performance and the things I do. I look at it as a starting point and not a finish line. I’m going to get promoted with or without the club. Being selected into the club doesn’t define who I am, It’s more of what can I attribute to the organization.”