Army Honors Alumnus With Outstanding Civilian Service Award

Kenneth E. Hartman was surprised seven years ago when he realized how little public recognition was given to high school graduates who chose military service over college.

The former Army first lieutenant set up a committee and began mobilizing businesses, colleges, educators, and veterans groups to plan and fund Camden County's first High School Enlistee Recognitions Ceremony in 2009.

The effort was the beginning of "Our Community Salutes" (OCS), a nonprofit program — run by volunteers — that's mushroomed into more than 50 chapters in at least 20 states and Puerto Rico.

The groups hold annual May events honoring the new recruits and their parents with free dinners, speeches by high-ranking military officers and local celebrities, and music by brass bands.

Now, the national success of Hartman's program has caught the attention of the Army, which will hold its own ceremony — this time to recognize Hartman with its Outstanding Civilian Service Medal.

The medal is one of the Army's highest awards for a civilian nonemployee.

In its award announcement, the Army praised Hartman, saying, "Your unmatched patriotism embodies the core values of a patriot and true humanitarian, which reflects great credit upon yourself, the United States Army Recruiting Command, and the United States Army."

Thanking the recruits and their families is especially important when so many others question the decision to enter the military, Hartman said.

"But some would argue that [graduate's] selfless decision is of higher value than simply going off to college," he said. "So for one evening, we celebrate that decision of a son or daughter and thank the parents — and if we can't do that, shame on us."

Hartman received his master's degree in 1984 from the College of Education.