Photo By Spc. Rochelle Prince-Krueger | U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Copeland, left, the senior enlisted advisor to the...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Seven soldiers and eight Noncommissioned Officers battled their way through a three-day competition to determine the 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s ‘Best Warrior’ during a soldier and NCO of the Year competition, March 25-27, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Webb, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and native of Prince George County, Va., outshined his competition by more than 50 points. He and Spc. Ronal Minas, an all-wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 1048th Transportation Company, Connecticut National Guard, will represent Task Force Provider and move on to compete at the 1st Theater Sustainment Command competition slated for later this year.
“The competition was tough,” said Webb, a multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainer and member of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade’s personal security detachment.
Webb’s competition hailed from the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 311th ESC and the 39th Joint Movement Control Battalion, who all underwent physically and mentally demanding tasks to determine who will be the best of the best.
The competition kicked off with an Army Physical Fitness Test, where the soldiers and NCOs were tested on their ability to complete two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and a two-mile-run.
“What better way to start your day than with a PT test?” asked Webb, who was the only competitor to score a perfect score on the first event.
After finishing the APFT, the competitors then completed a written exam and an essay, and then qualified with their M4 or M16-carbine rifle and an M9 pistol.
“I’m a people person, communication comes easy to me,” said Minas, who said he did well on the written exam and essay. “It felt great writing my thoughts out about what I would change if I were a command sergeant major for a day. My thoughts just started flowing onto paper.”
Minas said the most challenging part of the competition, however, was the land navigation, where he had five hours to plot and find locations throughout Kandahar Airfield while wearing his full-combat gear.
“Every time I would try to shoot an azimuth there was always a (barrier) in my way,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Minas and the rest of the competitors completed the roughly eight-mile course and found all eight points. But their day wasn’t over just yet. Next on the list was to complete hands-on warrior tasks and battle drills like putting together crew-served weapons systems, providing first aid to a simulated casualty and clearing a building.
“The purpose behind these tasks and drills is to help develop soldiers,” said Sgt. Maj. Gregory Green, the 3rd Sustainment Brigade’s operations noncommissioned officer in charge and Forrest City, Ark., native who helped set up the competition. “I remember doing stuff like this when I was coming up through the ranks. This builds confidence, builds a better warrior and an all-around soldier; competition is healthy.”
Webb agrees.
“Competition is among the things I love to do,” he said. “I’ve spent weeks preparing for this. You have to want it. If you train for something long enough and put in enough time into something that you want, then you are able to win.”
The sun set and the Soldiers were still finishing all of their tasks on Day two. Bright and early the next morning, they reported to a formal board preceding where they were quizzed on an array of Army regulations, subjects and manuals. A panel of senior NCOs and sergeants major graded the competitors on the accuracy of their answers and also on their military bearing and professionalism.
“When I woke up the last morning for the board I was sore and feeling beat, but then I thought to myself, ‘Just, one more day,’” said Webb. “I hold myself to such a high standard that I always walk out thinking that ‘I could have done better,’ but, I know I did my best.”
Webb and Minas will be training together for the upcoming 1st TSC competition.
“Spc. Minas is a good Soldier,” said Webb. “I look forward to working with and training him to give him whatever knowledge I have. As a leader, I’ve always encouraged Soldiers to go to boards and compete against other soldiers because it allows you to figure out what you are capable of.”
Webb said the competition required being mentally prepared.
“Yes, you have to be prepared physically, but having mental toughness will get you though the physical aspects. Without a strong mind, your body won’t follow it.”
Minas joined the National Guard mostly because his family served in the U.S. military. Webb said his patriotism pushed him to join the Army. Both soldiers said they enjoy their jobs and are anticipating their next move in their military careers.
“If you love what you do, then you don’t work a day in your life,” Webb said.
Minas said it was an honor just to be able to participate in the event.
“I’ve gained so much experience and knowledge while training for this challenge,” he said.
Webb said preparing for the competition helped him and Minas to the win.
“The training that we did was intense and rigorous,” he said. “But it was what we needed to give Task Force Provider the edge.”
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2013 12:23 |
| Story ID: | 104359 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | BRIDGEPORT, CT, US |
| Hometown: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Hometown: | PRINCE GEORGE, VA, US |
| Hometown: | YONKERS, NY, US |
| Hometown: | YUMA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 511 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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