By Spc. Gregory J. Swars and Spc. Marlonbrandon D. Arellano
FORT GORDON, Ga. - Seven Soldiers represented their battalions in the 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical) Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year competition, at Fort Gordon, Georgia, which began Sept. 24 and ended Sept. 26 for a chance to prove themselves the brigade’s best.
The competition was a fight to the end leaving only two victors; Sgt. Erick O. Lozadamartinez, assigned to 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th TTSB, and Spc. Joshua D. Taylor, assigned to 63rd Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), who were named 35th TTSB’s NCO and Soldier of the year.
Lozadamartinez, a native of Arroyo, Puerto Rico, and Taylor, a native of Tampa, Florida, are both multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainers, and were announced winners during a ceremony Sept. 26 after surpassing their peers in a competition intended to determine who could defeat all challenges and come out on top.
During the competition, each of the competitors had to compete in a series of events testing their basic Soldier knowledge and skills. Upon arrival, all competitors had to prove they were with-in Army standards for height and weight during a weigh-in. They later took the Army Physical Fitness Test.
Each of the competitors had to take a written exam which consisted of an essay question. Every competitor had to demonstrate their skills in the land navigation event as well as the Army Warrior Tasks event. Competitors were also required to demonstrate their marksmanship abilities by qualifying with both the M16 rifle and M9 pistol.
“The most difficult part of the competition was shooting an M9 which is something that I have not done before,” said Taylor who is a native of Tampa, Florida.
In order to represent their battalions in the competition the Soldiers had to win the NCO and Soldier of the Quarter competitions for the brigade throughout the Army Fiscal Year 2014.
“I appreciate the faith that my leadership had to put me in the position, to think that I would win it,” said Taylor, about being chosen to compete.
This particular competition not only allowed the Senior Enlisted to assess the competitors’ abilities, but it also allowed each of the competitors to identify their strengths and weaknesses in reference to the basic Soldier skills, Taylor added.
Even though not everyone could walk away with a title, they were still afforded the opportunity for an often rare experience. They all were able to walk away with a clear knowledge of what they can do to improve their combat readiness and share their experience with peers, subordinates and leaders.
“It puts the Soldiers to another level, which made everyday a new challenge’” said Sgt. 1st Class Juan Steele, the NCO in-charge of the competition, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th TTSB Lozadamartinez and Taylor Will now represent the 35th TTSB in the next level of competition at the XVIII Airborne Corps.
During the award ceremony Soldiers in the brigade wished the winners the best of luck in the next competition where they will once again have a chance to prove themselves the best warriors.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2014 12:03 |
| Story ID: | 143761 |
| Location: | FORT GORDON, GA, US |
| Hometown: | ARROYO, PR |
| Hometown: | TAMPA, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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