Woods trained, molded new recruits

Retired First Sargent Carlos F. Woods. CONTRIBUTED

Veteran of the Week

MADISON – Retired First Sargent Carlos F. Woods entered the U.S. Army in January 1967.

He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. and attended Advance Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Ga.

“After training as Telecommunication Specialist, Teletype (72E), I was transferred to my first overseas tour, Philippines Islands on Clark Air Force Base,” Woods said. He then transferred to Fort Carson, Colo. and supervised telecommunication operations.

Back in Missouri, Woods trained as Drill Sargent, his job from 1970 to 1975. “I was transferred to Korea to the 169th Signal Battalion in Taegu, Korea as a Shift Supervisor at the 24-hour Communication Center,” Woods said. “I was in charge of moving messages throughout the world.”

He returned to Fort Gordon as Telecommunication Instructor. “Then, U.S. Army Recruiting Command selected me to become a recruiter. I served in this position for 11 years,” Woods said.

Woods’ other positions included Recruiter Trainer, Professional Development Non Commission Officer and First Sargent. He worked in the Jacksonville, St. Petersburg and Tampa areas in Florida.

“My final assignment was with U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Sheridan, Ill. as Recruiter Management Non Commission Officer Training Division. I retired in 1990,” Woods said.

He then worked in Alameda, Calif. and Fort Meade, Md. before moving to Huntsville in 1997. “I performed as warehouse supervisor for Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office at Redstone Arsenal. With downsizing of DRMO nationwide, I was forced on the Priority Placement List and picked up by Army and Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) in 2000,” he said.

His other positions have included requisition processing, item manager, inventory manager and finally until retirement in 2013 as Floor Manager at AMCOM Command Center.

He is married to retired Sargent First Class Lelia Woods. Their children are Charlita, Sandra, Charles and Michael. The Woods have numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He serves as Commander of Madison American Legion Post 229 and county commander and Brotherhood President of Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

His hobbies are traveling and watching football and basketball.