2007 Soldier & NCO of the Year Competition
Story & Photos by MSG David W. Largent - Posted Mar, 2007
The State Soldier/NCO of the Year competition was the end of a lot of good training for some, for others it's the beginning of something much bigger. The winners will go to Camp Gurnsey, Wyoming April 28th through May 2nd to compete at the 1st Army Northwest level. It includes Guardsmen from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.
Three sergeants and two enlisted members of the Washington Army National Guard met at Camp Murray and Fort Lewis for three days early in March to compete for the honor of being the Soldier or NCO of the Year for 2006. SGT Patrick A. Thomas, Aviation Operations, HHC 1st Battalion 168th Aviation was selected at the Non Commissioned Officer of the Year and PFC Warren L. Samek, Cavalry Scout, B Troop 1Battalion 303rd Armor was selected at the Soldier of the Year.
"The competition was very high this year,” said State Command Sergeant Major Robert J. Sweeney, “The point spread was just 4 points between first and second place for the NCO's and there were just 3 and a half points difference for the two enlisted soldiers.”
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The competitors started the weekend Friday morning with an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and then went through a series of Warrior Training Tasks (WTT). Saturday morning they drew weapons and headed to the range on Fort Lewis. They had to zero the weapons and then fire for qualification which included 20 rounds from a foxhole supported position and a second 20 rounds from a prone unsupported position. |
Spec. Craig D. Ebersole, Radar Operator, HHB 2nd Battalion 146th Field Artillery came in on top with 38 hits of the 40 rounds he fired. “I used to be intimidated by guns,” said Ebersole. After finishing at the rifle range they took a short trip to the land navigation site and got a short break to enjoy an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat).
During the land navigation portion they were given grid coordinates for six points on the map and were required to find at least four of the points within a three hour block. If they finished early enough they could find two more points for extra credit. Sgt. Daniel A. Yoest II, Forward Observer, HHC 81st Headquarters Brigade Combat Team won the day land navigation course, completing with time to spare. The night land navigation course was much the same as the daytime competition without, of course, the help of daylight. Sgt. Michelle A. Wheeler, Trumpet Player, 133rd Army Band tied with Yoest in the night land navigation course. |
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“The Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP) was a great start because it was a lot of this kind of stuff,” said Spec. Craig D. Ebersole. “This competition has really recharged me, I like doing the Hooah Hooah stuff,' he added.
A short restless night brought them all to Sunday morning's oral board. They arrived for the boards in their Class A uniform ready to face the panel of five Command Sergeants Major who would question them on topics that included current affairs, leadership, first aid, nuclear biological and chemical (NBC), maintenance, history and Non Commissioned Officer Evaluation Reports (NCOER).
A week prior to the board each competitor got an assignment to write an essay which gave the Command Sergeants Major an opportunity to evaluate their ability to follow directions and their writing ability. “The NCO's had to write about what they would do to help retention in the Guard,” said Sweeney, “The enlisted soldiers wrote why they joined the Guard.” We got some really good answers,” he added.
While the competition only lasted for the weekend a lot of time was spent by each of the competitors in preparation. But they didn't do it all on their own. “First Sergeant Gibson from 941st PSB really worked us through the M60 machine gun and range cards. He gave us some really good stuff,” said Wheeler. “He retires in a month but took the time to share his knowledge with us. He actually took leave time to meet with me and teach me as much as he could, it was a real honor to have him teach me,” she added.
Sunday afternoon's awards ceremony was the final stage for the weekend. They were congratulated by State Command Sergeant Major Sweeney and thanked for their preparation and participation. Thomas and Samek were presented with awards from each of the major commands as well as state headquarters. As for the future Thomas said, “I want to complete my Associates degree and then get a BA (Bachelor of Arts) in Political Science and some day be a Command Sergeant Major in the Washington Army National Guard. Samek, who has only been in the military 11 months, graduated from Advanced Individual Training (AIT) July 6, 2006. He said, “For the short term I want to represent my unit well in this competition and go on the Spur Ride (a rite of passage for new Cavalry members) at Annual Training in Yakima this summer. For the long term I want to rise through the enlisted ranks and lead Scout Warriors.
But that isn't the only thing on the horizon for these two soldiers. They ‘re headed to Wyoming the end of April for the next level of competition where they'll do it all again.
“It's not always the one who wins any one section, but the one who is very good at every stage of the competition who comes out on top,” said Sweeney.
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