SRU honors six retirees for decades of service to Soldiers.

The Soldier Recovery Unit held a ceremony honoring six retirees whose combined military and federal service exceeds 200 years and who spent careers supporting Soldiers through recovery and transition.

The Soldier Recovery Unit held a ceremony Friday to honor six retirees who together contributed more than 200 years of military and federal service. The event was presided over by Lt. Col. Sarah Simmons and Command Sgt. Maj. Michelle Newman. Each retiree followed a different career path but shared a common mission of supporting Soldiers through recovery, transition, and readiness. The ceremony recognized decades of work across clinical, operational, and administrative roles. Service highlights: - Amin Amat served 45 years total, including 20 years on active duty as an infantryman, lab technician, and flight medic, followed by 25 years in civil service; his work included the emergency room, the Warrior Transition Battalion, and the SRU, and he described continuing into a new chapter after retirement. - Elaine Kelly retired after 42 years of federal service, started at the Department of Veterans Affairs, became the first hospital discharge planner at Martin Army Community Hospital in 1987, and helped establish the Warrior Transition Battalion (now the SRU); she said she will miss the people and referenced her faith. - Laurie Hairston began nursing in 1998 and served 21 years in federal psychiatric nursing work, joining the former hospital in 2005 and spending much of her career supporting Soldiers in recovery; she said she will miss caring for Soldiers and emphasized active participation in recovery. - William Johnston completed 42 years across the Marine Corps, the Army, and federal service as a deployable training and operations specialist; he said he will miss the people and looks forward to more family time and personal interests. - Bobby Jones joined the Army in 1981 and served 24 years in finance, retiring as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the main finance office at Fort Benning before serving as SRU finance supervisor; he plans to travel and spend more time with family. - George Scruggs concluded 38 years of service in the Air Force, the Army, and the Department of Defense in roles such as radiology technician, cost analysis officer, infantryman, training specialist, and transition specialist at the SRU; he said he looks forward to travel, focusing on his business, and enjoying retirement. Summary: The retirements close decades of continuous work that supported Soldier recovery, transition, and readiness across clinical and support functions. Several retirees said they plan to travel, spend time with family, focus on personal business, or begin new chapters after leaving federal service.