Sgt. 1st Class Antoine Campbell earns Order of Titus Award

FORT KNOX, Ky. - When Sgt. 1st Class Antoine Campbell walked into the Army recruiting station in Kansas City, Missouri, shortly after graduating from Truman High School in nearby Independence, Missouri, he expected to enlist as a military police officer.
The Army had a different path in store.
“I walked out of the recruiter’s office as a chaplain assistant,” Campbell said.
Ten years later, Campbell is a sergeant first class assigned to the 3rd Recruiting Brigade and the 2026 Army (Active Component) recipient of the Calvin P. Titus Distinguished Service Award, commonly known as the Order of Titus. Presented during the Military Chaplains Association National Institute and Annual Meeting held August 5–7, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas, the prestigious Chaplain Corps honor recognizes chaplains and Religious Affairs Specialists who prepare Unit Ministry Teams and chaplain staffs for realistic, doctrinally grounded religious support missions. The award underscores the importance of quality training in ensuring soldiers receive effective support.
“Looking back, what seemed like a change of plans was really God redirecting me toward my purpose,” Campbell said. “Honestly, when I joined, I didn’t even know what a chaplain assistant was. As I grew in the career field, which later became known as Religious Affairs Specialist, I realized how much the mission aligned with who I am: taking care of people.”
For Campbell, the Order of Titus reflects a career devoted to supporting soldiers and families, mentoring junior personnel and helping others navigate difficult moments. He said some of the most consequential aspects of religious support occur beyond public recognition: a conversation with someone in need, a visit to a geographically dispersed team or mentorship that helps a junior soldier succeed.
“The moments that mean the most probably won’t ever appear on an award citation,” Campbell said. “It’s when a soldier comes back and says, ‘I needed that,’ or when someone I’ve mentored succeeds. Awards and promotions are great, but knowing someone is better because you were there is hard to beat.”
Campbell’s approach to caring for people is especially relevant in the Army recruiting environment. He spent three years as a detailed recruiter before returning to the Chaplain Corps, giving him firsthand insight into the demands recruiters face.
“I’ve personally experienced the mission, rejection, long days and pressures,” Campbell said. “Now I get to support that same population through confidential communication, spiritual readiness, family support, resiliency and presence. Taking care of the person behind the recruiter ultimately strengthens the mission.”
Campbell calls one of recruiting’s most persistent challenges “the reset button.”
“You can have an incredible month, and then the calendar changes and you’re right back at zero,” Campbell said. “That pressure can add up quickly.”
His understanding of the military recruiting arena, combined with his commitment to providing spiritual and emotional support, has shaped the senior NCO he is today. Campbell’s journey to receiving the Order of Titus began with a nomination through U.S. Army Recruiting Command before advancing to the Army Chief of Chaplains Office and the Military Chaplains Association (MCA). Following an evaluation by MCA board members, Campbell was chosen as the sole Active Component Religious Affairs Specialist recipient nationwide—an honor bestowed on only one specialist and one chaplain per component each year. Alongside this national recognition, he celebrated his advancement to sergeant first class.
While those achievements mark significant career milestones, Campbell sees them as a duty to invest in the soldiers who follow him.
“When I was promoted, one thing I said was, ‘Now it’s my turn,’” Campbell said. “People have poured into me throughout my career, and now I have a greater responsibility to do the same for the soldiers who come next. I want to develop Religious Affairs Specialists who are prepared not only to take my position one day, but to be better than I was in it.”
Campbell’s path to the role of a senior NCO was not without adversity. Early in his career, he encountered leadership challenges that pushed him to become more deliberate about his goals and the example he would set for others.
“I became committed to accomplishing everything I put my mind to,” Campbell said. “I refused to let those experiences turn me into the type of leader I once struggled under.”
Campbell credits faith, consistency and accountability, as well as the support of family members, leaders and soldiers, with helping him develop the character that contributed to his achievements. He said his grandfather, Todd Brown, was his first leadership role model and helped raise him after his father died when Campbell was young. Demonstrating that enduring bond, Brown was also the guest speaker who officially pinned Campbell during his promotion ceremony.
“My grandfather played a major role in raising me and teaching me responsibility, hard work and how to take care of people,” Campbell said.
Campbell said the Order of Titus honor and his promotion represent the support of everyone who helped shape his journey.
“I may be standing here alone, but I did not arrive here alone,” Campbell said.
For Campbell, the Order of Titus is more than recognition of past performance. It is a reminder of his continuing commitment to the soldiers of the 3rd Recruiting Brigade.
“Success in this career isn’t measured by what you accomplish,” Campbell said. “Sometimes, it’s measured by what never happened because someone had a safe place to turn before they reached their breaking point. That is a responsibility I will never take for granted.”

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