‘Not Everybody Would Do What You Did’: Fort Sill Associate Honored for Using Core Values in Difficult Situation
Express shift manager Karla Navarro has not been at Fort Sill very long, and she’ll be moving to a new post soon. But she has been there long enough to earn praise from Exchange leadership for the way she handled a difficult situation one snowy night in early February.
Karla Navarro’s youngest daughter, Kira, embraces her during a ceremony recognizing Navarro at Fort Sill’s Sheridan Road Express, where Navarro is a shift manager. Also shown is Navarro’s husband, Warrant Officer 1 Enrique Navarro of the 428th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Sill, and Fort Sill General Manager Mikel Hunter.
During a winter storm on Feb. 4, a Soldier came into the Sheridan Road Express at Fort Sill. From the beginning, Navarro could tell the young man needed help.
Navarro approached the Soldier to see if he was OK and made sure that associates and other customers kept their distance from him. After engaging in conversation, she walked with him to the cooler after he said he needed a protein shake.
After Navarro gave the Soldier the shake, she told him to wait for her at an adjacent Pizza Hut. She then called Store Manager Angela McCracken and military police. While Navarro waited for the MPs to arrive, the young man became more belligerent, and Navarro politely asked him to remain calm. Shortly afterward, MPs arrived and took over matters.
On March 4, Navarro was recognized for her actions during a ceremony at the Sheridan Road Express. The ceremony featured a couple of surprise in-person special guests: Navarro’s husband, Warrant Officer 1 Enrique Navarro of the 428th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Sill and their youngest daughter, Kira. Customers also attended.
The Navarros’ oldest daughter, Paola; daughter Sgt. Natalie Estrada of 1 Corps at Fort Lewis; and son Pfc. Marcos Antonio Navarro of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk, called after the ceremony to tell their mother how proud they were.
“Family serving family is a core value of the Exchange,” said Fort Sill General Manager Mikel Hunter, who led the ceremony. “Karla and her family epitomize that value.”
Hunter added that Navarro’s actions lived up to all of the Exchange’s core values: “You demonstrated respect for everyone and had the courage to use good judgment,” he said to Navarro.
Hunter and McCracken were both impressed by how well Navarro handled the situation.
“Karla was calm, confident and in control,” Hunter said. “She prioritized safety for our customers, her teammates and this gentleman, giving him her undivided attention and providing grace to get help from the authorities.”
Chief Operating Officer Jason Rosenberg, Central Region Senior Vice President Jesse Martinez and West Central Region Vice President Stephanie Burns attended the ceremony virtually.
“It’s an honor to be a part of recognizing you and pay tribute to your awesome family,” Rosenberg said.
Hunter presented Navarro with Rosenberg’s coin.
Navarro, who began her Exchange career at Fort Benning in 2019, came to Fort Sill three months ago—and will leave again in July when her family moves to Fort Bragg.
Martinez said he could see the Navarro’s connection to family goes beyond her own home.
“Your motherly instincts took over and made sure that young man was going to be taken care of,” he said. “It wasn’t a great situation, but your professionalism did save his life and the life of others.”
Burns added: “It’s amazing that in that moment, with that stress and with everything you had going on that day, that you were able to seamlessly take care of that Soldier. Not everybody would do what you did, so it’s quite an accomplishment.”
Navarro was modest about her efforts despite the recognition received.
“There wasn’t anything outside of my job description,” she said. “It was just natural instinct. If he were my son, that was exactly how I would have reacted. I pray to God that someone would do that for my children if they have bad days.”
