Camp Arifjan hosts 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer of the Year competition

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers and NCO?s competing in the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer of the Year competition, May 13-15, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait pose for a picture in front of an M915 truck.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

05.15.2009

Courtesy Story

20th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — Soldiers and non-commissioned officers from the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) and its subordinate units competed here, in a three-day competition, May 13-15, to determine the top Soldier and NCO of the command.

Sgt. David Leakey, a 45th Sustainment Brigade small arms/artillery repairman won the top NCO of the year for the 1st TSC. Spc. Andrew Hein, a utilities equipment repairer, also from the 45th Sustainment Brigade earned the top Soldier of the year.

"The competition was very stiff competition; there were a lot of really good NCO's. I did the best that I could and I'm happy with the results," said NCO of the year, Sgt. Leakey, from Lewisburg, Ky.

In the months leading up to the event, commands under the 1st TSC held company, battalion and brigade level boards in order to send representatives to the competition as brigade Soldiers of the year.

"I feel good," said Soldier of the year, Spc. Hein, from Alpena, Mich. "I prepared with a lot of [physical training] and studying [warrior task testing] tasks every day."

Brigades represented in the competition were the 1-145th Armored Regiment from California, 14th Human Resource Sustainment Center from Fort Bragg, N.C., 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Hawaii, 594th Transportation Company from Fort Campbell, K.Y., 4th Sustainment Brigade from Fort Hood, Texas, and 45th Sustainment Brigade from Hawaii.

Throughout the course of three days, participants competed in five different events including an Army physical fitness test, M-16 weapon qualification, warrior tasks training, written examination, and formal board.

"This is the first competition we had as the TSC. We didn't want to do a board where Soldiers just go and answer some questions and what not," said Master Sgt. Jose Hernandez, 1st TSC G3, who organized the event. "We wanted to capture the total concept of a Soldier and I think this gives us an excellent snapshot at what they really are."

Day one consisted of an APFT and weapons range; the next day Soldiers rotated around five different stations where they were evaluated on warrior training tasks such as first aid, communications, assembly and disassembly of an M-16 rifle, land navigation, and operating a vehicle in a convoy. On the final day, Soldiers took a written examination which consisted of 50 multiple-choice questions and an essay, followed shortly by an oral board consisting of rapid-fire questions from senior non-commissioned officers.

Sergeants major of the board were Edgardo Coronado, Erik Frey, Michael Schultz, Gene Williams, Annie Walker and 1st TSC Command Sgt. Maj. Danfert Espinal.

"I think all Soldiers did great. They came prepared and studied hard," said Espinal. "Of course everybody wants to win but it's not about winning, it's about what they learn from this experience."

Competitors agreed the experience brought to the table new learning opportunities as it challenged them to venture outside their day to day military occupational skills — from human resource specialist to infantry — and demonstrate their ability to be the best in all common military tasks.

"I learned a lot through this competition. I'm a mechanic, so I didn't know anything about convoy operations and was kind of weak on land navigation," said Spc. Anthony Kemp, 594th Transportation Company. "Our sergeant major from 4th Sustainment Brigade set up a whole lot of training lanes in order for us to go through what we were going to do here at this [competition]. So I learned a lot about basic soldiering skills as far as operating in a convoy and different things like that."

Although some competitors struggled more in certain tasks and prevailed in others, Espinal explained the competition was about their overall performance as an NCO or Soldier and their willingness to defeat the challenges.

When asked what he thought made a good NCO / Soldier of the year, Espinal said, "First, a Soldier's motivation to accept the challenge to compete among his peers at different unit levels; second, his ability to demonstrate the determination, discipline, endurance and perseverance to finish strong. The NCO of the year is very similar; an NCO who clearly possesses the strength, discipline, endurance, tactical and technical knowledge to train Soldiers and lead them to win."

Awards were given for all five events to the NCO and Soldier with the highest scores in each event, as well as an Army Achievement Medal and AAFES gift certificate for both NCO / Soldier of the year runner-ups. The NCO and Soldier of the year overall winners were presented an Army Commendation Medal, plaque, AAFES gift certificate and coin which all competitors received for their participation as well.

Both Leakey and Hein will move on to compete in the USARCENT NCO / Soldier of the year competition in June.

• Date Taken: 05.15.2009
• Date Posted: 05.20.2009 14:12
• Story ID: 33866
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW