Photo By Spc. Naveed Ali Shah | Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin B. Stuart, senior enlisted advisor, 1st Medical Brigade,...... read more read more
By Pfc. Naveed Ali Shah
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
FORT HOOD, Texas - For the Soldiers and non-commissioned officer's of the US Army's Medical Command, there is one award admired by many, sought after by a mere few and won by one.
Soldiers from 1st Medical Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and the 10th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Carson competed in the Medical Command Soldier of the Year competition at Fort Hood, Sept. 2-5, 2008.
The competition started off with a military board. The competitors had to answer questions on various military subjects, such as weapons and troop leading techniques, as well as current events questions. While it may sound simple enough, when sitting at attention in front of several senior non-commissioned officers, it becomes an arduous task.
Each Soldier competing felt he was more qualified to be Soldier of the Year than his rivals. Only time would tell who would earn the most points to win.
"I have the Warrior ethos to my advantage," said Fayetteville, N.C., native Sgt. Shawn Owens, chaplain assistant, 10th CSH, Fort Carson, Colo., "I constantly push to reach the highest level possible, that's how I got here."
The next challenge for the competitors was the US Army Physical Fitness Test at Hood Stadium, Sept. 3, 2008.
The competitors pushed themselves to the limit, some of them accomplishing personal bests in the push-ups, sit-ups, or two mile run, all to increase their chances of winning the coveted title of MEDCOM Soldier of the Year.
"I PT on my own time, maximize gains by doing extra push-ups and sit-ups, and maintaining the fundamentals," said Olive Branch, Miss., native Sgt. Lisa A. Eaton, orderly room NCO, headquarters and headquarters company, 1st Med. Bde., 13th ESC.
"I have the whole package – physical, mental, spiritual," said Trinidad and Tobago native Spc. Samantha I. Mendez, 10th CSH, Fort Carson, Colo., "I'm a good representative for what Army Soldiers are supposed to be."
Following the APFT, the next event was the weapons qualification. Designed to test one of the skills most valuable to the Soldier, the range went hot at nine a.m. sharp to allow the competitors maximum time to accomplish their mission. When the smoke cleared at the end of the day, the competitors where in a tight race for first place. It would take all of their field expertise to set themselves apart the next day.
The next event was the Warrior Tasks and Drills lanes, with a medical twist. The Soldiers had to coordinate and lead a squad through a tactical environment while providing medical care to simulated casualties and then evacuate them, said Master Sgt. Hosea Craighead, future plans NCOIC, HHC, 1st Med. Bde., 13th ESC.
"We're grading them on the only five of the ten tasks, but they still have to perform all the tasks to standard because they don't know which ones we're grading," said Craighead, a Waynesville, Mo., native.
At the end of the day, while all the Soldiers sat in the shade trying to recover from the event, the judges graded each competitors individual effort.
"The Soldier's did very well," said Craighead, "They were always interacting, learning from their mistakes, because there's always room for improvement."
In the end, Spc. Jose Rivera, HHC, 1st Med. Bde., 13th ESC, won Soldier of the Year.
"I just went in with confidence, it's the most important thing," said Rivera, a Bayamon, Puerto Rico, native.
"He set's himself apart from the rest of the Soldiers he works with, and motivates others to do better," said Rivera's supervisor, Staff Sgt. Tatanisha Hurst, patient admin. NCO, HHC, 1st Med. Bde., 13th ESC.
The title of NCO of the Year was awarded to Sgt. Linda Joyce, orderly room NCOIC, B co., 21st CSH, 1st Med. Bde., 13th ESC.
"She is always striving for perfection, constantly studying, preparing herself, for this board," said Joyce's sponsor, Sgt. Sonny Lizarraga, lab section sergeant, B co., 1st Med. Bde., 13th ESC.
The winner's were awarded an Army Commendation Medal in a ceremony, Sept. 5, 2008, at the Warrior Conference and Catering Center.
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2008 17:22 |
| Story ID: | 23386 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 473 |
| Downloads: | 375 |
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