Photo By Staff Sgt. Candice Harrison | Sgt. Corey Smith, 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 17th Field...... read more read more
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait—In the blistering sun of the hot-Kuwaiti desert, ten Soldiers from bases located at six different countries throughout Southwest Asia gathered to participate in a competition that would decide the noncommissioned officer and Soldier of the Year for the Top Notch Brigade.
Top Notch Brigade is the name of the three battalions and the brigade headquarters element of the U.S. Army Central’s air and missile defense mission in Southwest Asia. There was also a fourth air defense artillery battalion who participated in the event held from April 27 and culminated in an awards ceremony on May 2.
The Soldiers participating in the competition were from 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, home station of Fort Bragg, N.C.; 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, home station Fort Bliss, Texas; 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, home station Fort Hood, Texas; 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, home station Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; and the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery of 11th ADA Bde.
“Competition builds esprit de corps and preserves tradition,” said Sgt. Brandon Henry, patriot fire control enhanced operator and maintainer, Battery A, 1st Bn., 7th ADA Reg. “The morale of all Soldiers competing was without a doubt high, and every Soldier walked away with a sense of accomplishment.”
The first event was the Army Physical Fitness Test. The competitors lined up behind the graders and prepared to complete two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and a two-mile run. After the traditional APFT, the competitors met at the gym for pull-ups.
“The most memorable part of the competition would have to be the (physical training) test, nothing else matched the anxiety of it,” said Drummond Smithson, air defense battle management system operator, Battery A, 5th Bn., 5th ADA Reg. “During that whole 13 minutes of running I am just thinking about why in the world did I do this?”
Next was the weapons qualification. The competitors lined up behind stacks of sandbags. They were issued six magazines with three rounds each in order to zero their weapon. Forty rounds were then fired at paper targets during timed iterations from the prone supported and unsupported positions and kneeling.
The Soldiers returned to their tent and proceeded to prepare for the night-land navigation part of the competition. As the sun set over the horizon, the 10 participants were given maps and grid coordinates. Their next task was to find five points in the middle of the desert with limited light in less than three hours.
The end of night-land navigation allowed the competitors sleep and when they woke up they were to use their navigation skills, this time during daylight.
“The most challenging part of the competition for me would be the land navigation,” said Staff Sgt. Henry Miles, launcher platoon section chief, Battery D, 2nd Bn., 43rd ADA Reg.
For the second event on the second day of the competition, the competitors were to go against each other in bouts of combatives. With four sergeants major and crowd of people looking on, the competitors battled it out with Sgt. Corey Smith, 5th Bn., 5th ADA Reg., and Spc. Elias Rodriguez, 2nd Bn. 43rd ADA Reg., coming out on top.
“I have not done combatives since basic training and it is made even more challenging when there is a small crowd watching,” said Smithson, who is originally from Parker City, Indiana. “I felt like I was going to be sick after the first fight and was grateful for every minute before the next one.”
Early the next morning, the competitors began their Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills lanes. The tasks included map reading, weapons, first aid, radio communications and decontamination. With the blaring sun beating down on the competitors, they completed their tasks while sweat-soaked and covered in sand.
“Though already an NCO, I was reminded during the Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills that our basic Soldier and NCO tasks must constantly be trained and refined,” said Henry. “Just approaching four years in service, I learned that I struggle and need to refine my (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) related training”
After the warrior tasks lane, the Soldiers took a 50-question written test and an essay about Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention. Finally the competitors were allowed to rest.
On the final day of the event, the Soldiers and NCO gathered as the sun was peeking over the horizon. With 35-pound ruck sacks strapped to their backs, they took off on a 10-kilometer road march around the base. At the end of the road march the competitors had to assemble an M249 machine gun. They were also inspected to ensure they had all the required items in their ruck sack.
“The most memorable part of the competition was watching the other competitors cross the finish line of, in my opinion, the most physically challenging event; the ruck march,” said Henry. “To see the sense of accomplishment on the Soldier's faces as they realized what they had just completed is the reason I am proud to be a noncommissioned officer.”
In an unexpected twist of events, the panel board was moved to later that same afternoon instead of the next day. There was a mixed sense of panic and relief when the competitors heard the news.
The board consisted of four command sergeants major, a first sergeant and a sergeant first class. With the six individuals sitting at the table, the competitors reported to the president of the board, Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan A. Pinkney, 11th ADA Bde. senior enlisted adviser, and then answered a barrage of questions from each member of the board.
“At the very end of the board, the board panel talked to the competitors; giving every one advice and telling us to stay motivated, continue doing the right thing, teach others what we have learned, and that we are the future of the United States Army,” said Elizabeth Caulder, healthcare specialist, 4th Bn., 5th ADA Reg. “Hearing this really pumped me up and just made me want to be a better Soldier and leader.”
But because this was a competition, there could only be two winners. In a ceremony held at the chapel at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Henry was named Top Notch Brigade NCO of the Year and Smithson was named the Top Notch Brigade’s Soldier of the Year.
Only two could win the titles, but every competitor won in their own ways too.
“The most memorable part of the competition was getting to know some of the other soldiers throughout the competition,” said Spc. Derek Alcorn, brigade telephonic communication officer, HHB, 11th ADA Bde. “I participated to see what the actual board was like as well as to see what I need to improve on to be a better soldier. The importance (of events like these) is to see where you are at as an individual soldier and to see how far your leaders are pushing you.”
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.14.2015 07:03 |
| Story ID: | 163281 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 358 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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