Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Heather Denby | Spc. Will Sheppard, a team leader assigned to the 988th MP Company, 4th Maneuver...... read more read more
Spc. Will J. Sheppard, a team leader assigned to the 988th MP Company, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, here on Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., was named 1st Infantry Division Soldier of the Year June 17 making him eligible to participate in the III Corps Soldier of the Year competition scheduled to take place at Fort Hood, Texas, next week. The III Corps Soldier of the Year winner will compete for the Army Forces Command Soldier of the Year title.
Sheppard has won numerous military boards at several different levels including; 988th MP Co Soldier of the Month (February), 92nd MP Battalion Soldier of the Quarter (3rd), 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Soldier of the Year (FY10), Maneuver Support Center of Excellence - Soldier of the Year (2010) and the 2010 Soldier of the Year for 1st ID at Fort Riley, Kansas.
“The 1st Infantry Division competition was physically and mentally challenging,” said Sheppard. “It was geared to find the best overall Soldier.”
Traditional competitions used to focus more on the military board but are now geared more toward overall assessment of the Soldier by incorporating hands-on warrior tasks such as first aid and land navigation, Sheppard said.
1st ID Soldier of the Year competitors are required to complete an Army Physical Fitness Test, day/night land navigation, assigned weapon qualification, an exam and a hand-written essay in addition to their performance in a military board.
Staff Sgt. Tyrone Smith, a squad leader assigned to the 988th MP Co, has observed Sheppard’s performance in both garrison and field environments.
“When Sheppard was assigned to be my Soldier, I didn’t want him,” said Smith.
“He looked kind of scrawny,” Smith said, “but when his first PT test rolled around and he ran it in 10 minutes, 30 seconds; I knew he was a hard charger.”
Sheppard was assigned as Smith’s gunner during the 988th MP Co deployment to Iraq in August 2008-2009. Sheppard now serves as one of Smith’s team leaders.
“I tell my Soldiers if you’re not self-motivated, it’s not going to do you any good [to go to a board],” said Sheppard. “But preparing for a board is a great way to gain some knowledge and competing sets you apart from the rest.”
Sheppard is currently applying for law school and plans to compete in the Annual MP Warfighter Competition slated to be held at Fort Leonard Wood in September.
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2010 15:16 |
| Story ID: | 51488 |
| Location: | FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI, US |
| Web Views: | 415 |
| Downloads: | 282 |
This work, 4th MEB Soldier to compete for III Corps Soldier of the Year title, by SFC Heather Denby, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
