3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

Story by Christopher Kozloski

MOSUL, Iraq – Competitions are one of the crowning moments in an enlisted Soldier's career. It gives them the opportunity to push themselves and test their mental and physical endurance.

For three days in October, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion brought Soldiers together at Forward Operating Base Marez for their Soldier of the Year and Non-commissioned Officer of the Year competition.

Non-commissioned officers and Soldiers competed in a round-robin style competition that tested their knowledge and abilities on a series of basic Army tasks such as physical fitness endurance, administering basic first aid, and basic rifle marksmanship.

"You have a lot of people that are book-smart and you have some people that are hands on and some people are good at physical fitness," said Master Sgt. Wendell Franklin, operations chief for 3rd BSTB and key coordinator for the competition. "I wanted to give people an opportunity to capitalize on their strengths and work on their weaknesses [through competition]."

The competition kicked off with a physical fitness test. The Soldiers ran through a standard Army physical fitness test in order for the judges to gage their physical endurance.

After the physical fitness test, the Soldiers demonstrated their skills at four different stations with different tasks to complete. Each Soldier moved from station to station testing their knowledge on assembly, disassembly and maintenance of the .50 caliber machine gun and the 240B automatic machine gun, basic first aid and evacuating a casualty, setting up a radio and conducting a radio check and conducting vehicle maintenance.

"In going through these stations, it reinforced the fact that there are many aspects about being a proficient Soldier," said Spc. Randy Bago, a Soldier with the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Fires and Effects Coordination Cell. "The events were challenging, especially to the Soldiers that don't do them on a daily basis."

On day two, the Soldiers moved on to a test of basic Army knowledge and military bearing by standing on a board. Boards are essentially a panel of judges who ask the Soldier a series of questions related to basic Army knowledge.

All of the competitors agreed that the board was the easiest part of the competition for them.

"We studied every night prior to this competition," said Spc. Clinton Mampel, a Soldier from A Co., 3rd BSTB. "I definitely think that the board was the easiest part for me. We were prepared for it."

The third and final day of the competition led the Soldiers to the rifle range for some hands on basic rifle marksmanship. The Soldiers lined their sights up and shot at targets down-range, racking up points for every target they "hit the black" on.

Some of the competitors felt that this portion of the competition was the hardest for them.

"The hardest part of the competition for me was probably the [rifle range] qualification," said Sgt. Victoria Siler, a Soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd BSTB.

The culmination of the competition was an honorary banquet. The Soldiers joined Lt. Col. Quinton Arnold, commander of the 3rd BSTB, and Command Sgt. Maj. Derrick Taylor, the command sergeant major for the 3rd BSTB, to celebrate the completion of the competition and recognize the winners.

Though the competition was close, Siler took home the honor of 3rd BSTB's Non Commissioned Officer of the Year while Mampel was awarded Soldier of the Year. Each was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for their success in the competition.

For Siler, this competition brought out the best in her and offered her a chance to represent her leadership.

"It has to be in your heart. It has to be something you want to do," said Siler. "At least try and put your best foot forward. You are not only reflecting yourself but you are also reflecting your senior leadership."

When asked about his overall thoughts of the competitors, Franklin said that he was impressed with each of the Soldiers that competed and felt like they came prepared.

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