Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bobb, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,...... read more read more
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By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq — The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, called for its best Soldiers and junior sergeants to showcase their tactical and technical proficiency in a test to be called the "Raider" Brigade's 2008 Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer of the Year Dec. 14-15 at Forward Operating Base Falcon.
Following a military board, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bobb, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., announced Spc. Ian Vertefeuille and Staff Sgt. Travis Coley as the 1st BCT 2008 Soldier and NCO of the Year.
Coley, an infantry squad leader, and Vertefeuille, a lab technician at the Cobra Medical Clinic on FOB Falcon, excelled during the two-day competition against their peers, outscoring six other candidates during several events designed to test their combat proficiency and general military knowledge, said Bobb.
The 1st BCT's command sergeants major and senior leaders reached across combat outposts and joint security stations in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad to convene the contest for more than 3,800 Soldiers and NCOs of the 1st BCT, culminating with one final board to test the overall military bearing and knowledge for the competitors, said Sgt. Maj. Ronald Smiley, operations sergeant major, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Based on the "Total Soldier Concept," the two-day event began with pre-combat checks and inspections before a trip to the Engagement Skills Trainer, where Soldiers put their muscle memory to the test during a reflexive fire simulation, said Smiley, who organized the contest.
The hands-on portion of the competition involved a series of tactical combat-related tasks that included first aid, weapons proficiency and marksmanship; it culminated with a mystery event – a written examination to test the Soldier's general military knowledge.
The winners of the competition earned the right to represent the Raider Brigade at the 2008 4th Inf. Div.'s Soldier and NCO of the Year competition to be held at Camp Liberty, said Smiley, who hails from Lake Village, Ark.
Coley, assigned to Company B, 1st "Regulars" Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., said he credits his success to his NCOs and senior leaders in his unit, who coached and mentored him in preparation for the competition.
"I think this will be great for [1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt.]; it's a great unit with an amazing sergeant major," Coley said. "The whole time I have been here he has been challenging me as an NCO providing me with NCO professional development."
Coley told the members of the board that he should be selected to become the Raider Brigade's NCO of the Year because immediately following the competition, he was returning to his Soldiers and his combat mission.
"I'm doing it for all those guys who are on patrol constantly that are 'boots on the ground' that don't have a lot of time but have a lot of heart," said Coley, who hails from Hickory, N.C.
The Soldiers and NCOs won their battalion's monthly, quarterly and annual competition to earn a chance to compete at the brigade level, which can be a challenge for combat Soldiers who must focus on the mission in a combat zone or are engaged in guard duty at their patrol bases, said Coley.
"It means a great deal to me to win this, especially for all the other 'Regulars' that are back on COPs and JSSs throughout Baghdad," he said.
The biggest part to preparing for competition is building self-confidence and not quitting, said Vertefeuille, Raider Brigade's 2008 Soldier of the Year.
"This is a great opportunity," said Vertefeuille, a native of Spokane, Wash., assigned to Co. C, 4th "Packhorse" Support Battalion, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. "And I think everybody should be given the chance to be recognized and stand out amongst their peers."
Vertefeuille also thanked his chain of command, which he said provided him with the inspiration to compete and the desire to be the best Soldier in the brigade.
Competing in military contests is good professional development for Soldiers looking to become leaders, said Vertefeuille, who added he will impart the gained experience onto his Soldiers.
"It is constant guidance, mentorship and being there with the Soldiers; we keep them informed on everything," said 1st Sgt. Rakimm Broadnax-Rogers, a native of Montgomery, Ala., and the senior enlisted leader of the Cobra Troop Medical Clinic, Co. C, 4th Supt. Bn. "For the purpose of the board, all the basic knowledge and everything else, we involve the Soldiers in our NCOPD program ... there is no discriminating factor whether Soldiers are practicing in a board or not. We test their daily knowledge on a daily basis, and that is what it is all about."
The Soldiers who stepped up to the challenge during the competition were: Spc. Jamal Tmatk, a combat engineer from Koror, Palau, assigned to Co. E, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt.; Spc. Lukas Rybak, a cavalry scout from Brooklyn, N.Y., assigned to Troop C, and Sgt.; Christopher Watkins, a cavalry scout from Bosnall, Calif., assigned to Troop B, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regt.; Sgt. Windy Klein, a combat medic from Westmoreland, Kan., Spc. Ian Vertefeuille, an X-Ray lab technician from Spokane, Wash., assigned to Co. C, 4th Support Bn.; Spc. Michael Perez, a human intelligence analyst from Austin, Texas, and Sgt. Matthew Gordon, a human intelligence collector from Grand Rapids, Mich.; assigned to Co. A, 1st Special Troops Bn.
The winners of the competition were presented a U.S. Army Commendation Medal and various Raider Brigade paraphernalia, to include a utility tool and thermal blanket and a portable video game. Each participating Soldier was also presented a Certificate of Achievement and a Raider Brigade Coin.
| Date Taken: | 12.17.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2008 03:11 |
| Story ID: | 27795 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 458 |
| Downloads: | 338 |
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