Staff Sgt. Duane D. Padilla, career counselor for the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, was selected as runner up for the Fiscal Year 2012 MEDCOM Career Counselor of the Year award. USAMRIID is a subcommand of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, Md.

Entering the New Mexico National Guard in April 1997, Padilla transitioned to active duty upon graduation from high school in May 1998. In 2010, Padilla was accepted to attend training at Fort Jackson, S.C., to become a career counselor for the Army. He has been a counselor for the past two years, and has served as the USAMRIID counselor since July.

This past August, Padilla won the title of USAMRMC Career Counselor of the Year, which allowed him to compete for the larger MEDCOM award. Padilla said that he enjoys being a career counselor because it offers him the opportunity to interact with and assist many Soldiers on a daily basis.

"It was an honor to represent the MRMC at the MEDCOM Career Counselor of the Year competition," he said. "My goal now is to continue to improve as a career counselor and to compete again next year."

Padilla is married to Sgt. Susana Padilla and they have one son. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in business management through Post University.