Sergeant James Copeland
SGT Copeland is a Tactical Control Assistant, Team Leader, and Unit Armorer, of Fire Control Platoon, F-55 Air Defense Artillery, 2-43 Air Defense Artillery Battalion (ADA BN). SGT Copeland’s expertise, motivation, and dedication to the mission resulted in major improvements to Iron Dome Defense System-Army’s (IDDS-A) gunnery, operating procedures, and the system itself. SGT Copeland’s tactical and technical knowledge allowed him the opportunity to make U.S. Army history in being the first Air Defender to engage a target with the IDDS-A in a live fire exercise. SGT Copeland’s excellence in all facets of Soldiering drove his selection as 2-43 ADA BN Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2021. As the NCO of the Quarter, SGT Copeland demonstrated exceptional proficiency beyond his peers in physical fitness, Army knowledge, and warrior tasks. He also displayed his leadership skills, mentoring one of his Soldiers to win the same competition as Soldier of the Quarter. SGT Copeland is held in high regard as the most proficient Air Defense NCOs in 2-43 ADA. SGT Copeland was born in Lancaster, California on February 17, 1996. He graduated from California City High School and then entered the active U.S. Army on June 15, 2015. Upon joining the U.S. Army, SGT Copeland attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, graduating as an 11B Infantryman. He then reclassed in 2019 and went to Advanced Individual training (AIT) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, graduating as a 14E Patriot Fire Control Operator and Maintainer. He is currently married with no children. SGT Copeland’s previous duty assignments include serving as an Antiarmor Specialist in Bravo Company, 3-7 Infantry Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia from 2015 to 2017. He then served as a serving as an Antiarmor Specialist in Charlie Company, 3-67 Armor Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia until 2019. SGT Copeland then served as a Tactical Director Assistant, Section Sergeant, and Unit Armorer in HHB, 6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion at Suwon, South Korea until 2020. SGT Copeland’s awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal (4-OLC), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and Army Overseas Ribbon.
Click here to view all the awardees from the 2021 Guam Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony.
