Great Falls Native Named Military Instructor Of The Year

Great Falls Native Named Military Instructor Of The Year

Great Falls is a military town, to be sure. It's kind of hard not to be with Malmstrom Air Force Base, located just on the edge of town.

So it's not surprising that, with the city being a military town, there are plenty of military families that currently are or have lived here at some point.

READ MORE: What’s The Story Of Malmstrom AFB, Montana’s Only Military Base?

Winner Credits His Father For His Success

On March 6th, 2024, in Pensacola, Florida, at the Naval Air Station, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Amish Smith was acknowledged as the Naval Education and Training Command’s (NETC) Military Instructor of the Year (Navy ROTC) for 2023.

The military has been a part of Smith's life since the beginning, as his father served in the Navy for over 30 years.

Smith told Navy Outreach this in regards to his father: "My father was my greatest influence growing up,” said Smith. “He served in the Navy for over 30 years, and the lessons he taught me about discipline, accountability, and service to something greater than oneself have served me well in my Marine Corps career."

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Capt. Smith Was One Of 5 Instructors Picked From A Pool Of Over 11,000

Today, Smith teaches the next generation of servicemen and women as an instructor at the University of Idaho/Washington State University Navy ROTC.

When it comes to his role as an instructor, Smith told the Navy Outreach website, “My role holds real significance to me, as it affords me the privilege of training and leading the future leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps, instilling in them our core values of honor, courage, and commitment."