Captain Cantu is proud to recognize Sergeant Doug Lipnitz as our America's Army Soldier of the Quarter, SOTQ, for first quarter of 2016. Recipients of the SOTQ are those soldiers who are active for the 3 months of that quarter and who go above and beyond the normal call of duty. These soldiers truly set the example and exemplify what it is to be a “Rock of the Marne”. Candidates for SOTQ are recommended by Platoon, Squad, Fireteam, and DMOS Leadership. Candidates are then reviewed by BMO staff to determine if the soldier has been active the entire time, performs a uniform inspection, speaks with their Chain of Command about their performance, and in some cases may conduct an interview with the candidate.
Sergeant Lipnitz re-enlisted in July of 2015 and has since gone on to serve the unit with 100% dedication. He has become the Squad Leader of Bravo Company, First Platoon, Third Squad “Crusaders” and leads his team with pride, setting a great example for all soldiers. He is one of the driving forces behind the success of our BCT courses as well as being an integral part of BMO and CID.

Tell us a little about yourself:   I am the oldest of the 3 Lipnitz's. I currently lead 3rd Squad Crusaders, 1st Platoon, Bravo Company. Outside of video games I work as a Clinical Label Designer for new pharmaceuticals coming out for testing. When I am not at work doing graphic design or playing video games, I am spending time with my wife and dog. If you know me or ever get to know me you will often hear me talking about them.

Why did you join 3rdID?   I originally joined back in 2007 with my friend Wendt. Left a long time ago but wanted that structure and realism experience again. I wanted to be back in operations and to be able to meet new people again.

What is your favorite aspect of the unit?  My favorite aspect is being able to lead people. I love teaching people and learning new things as a leader. Also I have never served but being able to get a fraction of the comrade with fellow members makes me want to stay and help build something great. 

Any favorite memory that has stuck with you? Oh too many to choose from!  Haha, from a previous tour with the 3rd when we just started playing Arma 1. Major LaFlash, (Captain at the time) had put together a live mission. He would live edit it (almost like an early stage of Zeus) to put in insurgence and such and this was one of the first times using the program in Arma. We were to roll out in Bradleys and push through a town taken over by the insurgency. Wendt took lead on the 1st Bradley, Major the second, myself the 3rd. Pulling our convoy security, Wendt calls out he sees villagers in the distance and like a brown paper bag in the road. This was strange because the village was quite a distance away and Major did not place enemies here. Major let us know it's just friendly villages and to proceed as planned. All of a sudden Wendt’s Bradley blows up, Major's slams into his and blows up as well.  The nice friendly villagers turned out to be the insurgent force trekking out to get us.

Tell us a little about your DMOS work. I currently work in in BMO, FIG, and CID. In BMO I am the Lead Roster Maintenance Specialist and as such I update the PERSCOM files when needed, the arma xml and assist SSG Funk when administrative work is done. In FIG I recently moved up to Drill Sergeant, a task that I am quiet familiar with previous tours being OIC. I assist  SGT Wendt and the others in trainings and BCT. CID I am a Multimedia Illustrator. I currently work as a graphic designer so I feel that doing some side work for the unit would be a good idea.

Any advice to give to your fellow soldiers?   Keep bettering yourself. You can always improve something and be able to take constructive criticism. Not taking being able to take constructive criticism will hinder your ability to grow. Also remember this is a game, not a job, so take it as something to enjoy.

What army value is the most important to you and why? Integrity - Being able to do the right thing and being able to trust others around you. By having Integrity it touches all of the other values in may ways. By doing the right thing you learn to respect yourself and others, you do your duty to do the right thing, you are selfless because of your morals, and by standing by your morals it shows personal courage. This only scratches the surface of what Integrity means to me and what it can show for others.