CHARLESTON, W.VA. –
Sgt. 1st Class Anthony R. Smith has dedicated 21 years to serving in the military. Originally from Utica, Ohio and now residing in Dublin, Virginia, Smith is a leader and finance professional in the West Virginia Army National Guard.
Smith was recently assigned to the Army Interagency Training and Education Center after serving as a finance specialist, public affairs specialist and suicide prevention coordinator in units throughout the WVARNG.
He startied on active duty Army at Fort Bragg (1997-2000), followed by the Army Reserves (2000-2004), and finally the joined the National Guard, where he has served since 2009. His current military occupational specialty is 36B, finance.
Smith holds a bachelor of science in psychology from Liberty University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree from American Public University. His interest in psychology extends into his military work, where he has served as a master resiliency trainer, specializing in suicide prevention. Smith has taught suicide prevention to both military and civilian populations.
Outside of his military duties Smith has worked with the United States Postal Service for 13 years and plans to retire from the USPS in the future. His personal goals include completing his master’s degree and eventually pursuing a doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology from Liberty University.
On the military front, Smith recently completed the senior leadership course in August 2023 and plans to attend the master leader course soon. His plan is to continue advancing in his profession, focusing on building leadership skills and helping those he serves with to grow and succeed.
Smith’s reasons for joining the military stem from his father’s service in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam. Inspired by his father’s stories, Smith always knew he wanted to enlist. Over the years, Smith has used military programs like state tuition assistance and the Post-9/11 GI Bill to further his education.
Among his favorite memories are graduating from both Airborne and Air Assault schools, challenges that pushed him physically and mentally. His proudest moment, however, was graduating from basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, knowing how proud his parents were of his achievement.
As a finance specialist, Smith sees his role as essential to maintaining fiscal responsibility, which is crucial to the success of military organizations.
Smith is most proud of his special needs son, who motivates him to be the best father, Soldier and person he can be. When asked what he likes most about the WVNG, he mentions how the Guard supports both state and local communities, a contrast to his previous experiences in the active Army and Army Reserves. His favorite mission was serving during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he witnessed the direct impact the Guard had in helping communities in need.