2002 graduate of military academy receives prestigious Nininger award
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
A former Walworth Elementary school student recently received the prestigious Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms during a Sept. 24 acceptance ceremony in West Point, N.Y.
Maj. Christopher P. Dean, who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2002 and who grandparents were from Walworth, is the tenth recipient of the award since 2006.
Dean, who was initially commissioned an armor officer, has served more than 40 months deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and has served as a Company Commander for more than 47 months with four different companies.
During his acceptance speech on Sept. 24, Dean said he was honored to represent all West Point graduates who have led soldiers into battle and he was “awestruck” to be the tenth recipient.
“I pledge to do my best to live up to the virtues symbolized by this medallion and its namesake,” he said.
Dean, who said he considered himself an average cadet while at West Point, said he looks back on his graduation day, now 13 years ago, as one of the best days of his life, noting since then he has often realized just how much he learned at the academy during his four years.
“At the lead of an American attack of any scale there is a platoon leader, a platoon leader and his or her Soldiers are the tip of the American Spear,” he said.
“Tonight, my goal is to assure you that you are being well prepared to be THAT platoon leader, the one whose Soldiers form the steely tip of America’s spear.”
Dean offered students in attendance several pieces of advice, noting on the day they first meet their platoon as a platoon leader, trust becomes critical.
“From Day One, nurturing trust within your platoon will become an essential objective or your leadership, which will no longer be an academic concept,” he said.
Dean continued, noting soldiers will know they must motivate not only their troops, but themselves to endure the “mundane,” such as long meetings, “maintenance Mondays,” and safety briefings.
Dean said platoon leaders will know to share hardships with their soldiers.
“When a repair part for a deadlined vehicle arrives at 1600 hours on a Friday, you will stay with your Soldiers in the motor pool,” he said.
“You might not be the top technical expert in your platoon, but you will know that you can help drag track sections or operate an impact wrench … and that your wallet can handle a platoon’s worth of pizzas.
“And then, when the work is done, you and your Soldiers will leave the motor pool together. At that point, you will also recognize that you intuitively knew how to strike a balance between leading your Soldiers and being their servant.”
Most importantly, Dean said when the nation calls on a platoon leader to be the platoon leader it needs, they will be prepared.
“You will know that when your unit is on a movement to contact, your place is in the lead vehicle because you need to be there, because in the ‘symphony of destruction,’ you must be the conductor,” he said.
“And you will fight from the open hatch, because the specialist in the scout HMMWV five vehicles behind you cannot button up, and he’s watching what you do.
“In short, you will know that you are your platoon’s guidon. Your Soldiers will rally around you and look to you to point the way forward.”
And when in times something bad does happen, Dean said West Point students will know sorrow, and later, when they’re unable to talk about their “magnificient” soldiers without struggling to maintain their composure, they will understand pride.
In closing remarks, Dean said he could say with complete confidence students were about to partake in one of the greatest honors offered by the American society, the opportunity “to lead and to serve American Soldiers – mean and women who volunteered to face evil wherever it threatens.”
“I cannot imagine any experience that is more significant and rewarding, and I envy each and every one of you,” he said.
For more on the Alexander R. Nininger Award and its origins, Dean’s involvement in the military, awards and medals he has received and a full transcript of his acceptance speech, visit westpointaog.org/niningeraward.
