Thank you all for joining the United States Army Warrant Officers Association in celebrating our 50th anniversary, by participating in the virtual Road to Excellence! What a momentous occasion to get out and run; enjoy coworkers, friends, and family; and even rack up some solo mileage, to reflect on your own.

This event has hopefully inspired you, and your current and future Chapter members, to push each other to work and grow together. This event would not have been possible without the individual support of all our participants.

Every step taken was one step closer to our overall mileage. I encourage you and your Chapters to continue to support each other, to build on the USAWOA legacy of supporting our Warrant Officers, families, and our communities into the next 50 years and beyond.

We had a total of 329 individual participants, from 43 Chapters and 2 affiliate Chapters around the world. Over the five weeks we collectively completed 38,948 miles – what an amazing accomplishment!

Our top three team finishers remained consistent throughout the event. First place goes to the Crossroads Chapter, second place to The Nature of the Cat (affiliate chapter), and third place to the Show Me Silver Chapter.

Congratulations to our first-place team, Crossroads Chapter – you will receive the Road to Excellence streamer this October at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Members (AMM), at Fort Bragg, NC.

Proceeds from this event will be donated to worthy causes. The USAWOA Scholarship Foundation will receive $6,000, with another $2,760.94 going to the Fort Bragg Silver Chapter, in support of the USAWOA 50th AMM. These donations would not be possible without your support!

Join me in welcoming CW4 Isaac VanMeter to the Membership Enhancement Team as our transition program team lead. Isaac has participated in multiple professional career transition programs offered by the Army, and he brings this extensive knowledge and his expertise to our team. Isaac is currently transitioning from his prestigious military career to civilian employment. His transition crosswalk opportunities have provided him a smooth transition. We are enthusiastic about creating a Warrant Officer transition network that will provide additional access to local transition assistance to Warrant Officers.

Hello cohort! I am CW4 (Ret) Isaac VanMeter. As I have recently experienced the navigation of transitioning from active duty to retired life, I am excited to support our fellow Warrant Officers in developing a location for networking with other Warrants across the globe.

After 25 years of active duty, most spent as an aviator, I look forward to my next career in the aviation industry. I often found myself falling back on trusted colleagues to navigate internships, application and interview processes, and locating openings with companies in desirable locations. The retired Warrant Officers who assisted me had already navigated the transition process and were able to guide me through some difficult steps, helping me to quickly land on my feet.

Earning an associates degree in liberal arts and bachelor’s in leadership and organizational administration, from Austin Peay State University, helped me make many contacts and meet the minimum criteria for most civilian jobs that interest me.

My master’s degree in strategic studies from Norwich University qualified me for two internships that helped shape my resume beyond my current technical field of aviation. Education and experience helped me stand out as a candidate, but often a strong network can be what leads to job-hunting success. I am excited to create that network for the USAWOA Warrant Officer cohort.