Photo By Sgt. Daniel Lucas | Sgt. Paul Gunderson, 322nd Combat Support Battalion, prepares to evaluate a simulated...... read more read more
DES MOINES, Iowa - Once a year, the best soldiers from units under the 103rd Expeditionary Support Command gather in one place to compete to represent the 103rd ESC in the 377th Theater Support Command level of the Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer of the Year competition.
On March 9 at Camp Dodge, Iowa, 10 soldiers tested their knowledge and skill in events such as the Army Physical Fitness Test, Advanced Warrior Tasks, Land Navigation, a 10 kilometer road march, weapons qualification, an essay and a board conducted in their Class A uniform.
“Each event measures a different aspect of a soldier to determine who is most qualified to be soldier or NCO of the year,” said Master Sgt. Michael Valery, operations sergeant, 561st Regional Support Group, organizing non-commissioned officer in charge of the 103rd ESC Soldier of the Year Competition. “The APFT and 10k road march measures a soldier’s endurance, AWT tests battle skills a soldier will use during wartime, Land Navigation tests a soldiers ability to find his way around the battlefield without the aid of modern technology, and the Essay and Class A board tests a soldiers knowledge, writing and communication.”
He added the competition was great opportunity as a senior NCO to pass on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of leaders.
During the event, Col. Glenn Kolin, commander, 103rd ESC, remarked the competition was held during the 64th anniversery of the Truman Doctrine and offered some excerpts of former President Harry S. Truman’s speech.
“I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way… We must keep that hope alive. The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms. If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world – and we shall surely endanger the welfare of this nation.”
That is what the competitors where doing here and making themselves better for it, said Kolin. “I applaud their effort.”
At the end of every event the points were tallied and two soldiers stood out amongst their fellow competitors, Sgt. Paul Gunderson from the 322nd Combat Support Battalion and Pfc. Darren Huff from the 960th Quartermaster Company. Both soldiers received the Army Accommodation Medal and will represent the 103rd ESC in the next level of the competition.
“The best advice I can give to a soldier who wants to compete is to never stop training,” said Huff. “Never stop training, physically or mentally.”
| Date Taken: | 03.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2011 15:37 |
| Story ID: | 67486 |
| Location: | DES MOINES, IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 179 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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