U.S. Army South Non-commissioned Officer and Soldier of the Quarter

Courtesy Photo | Army Sgt. Jonathan Vasquez and Army Spc. Juan Jackson pose in a photo while attending boards at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Feb. 9. Vasquez won Non-commissioned Officer of the Quarter, while Jackson was runner up for Soldier of the Year for U.S. Army South.  

03.20.2009

Story by Sgt. Michael Baltz 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

Sgt. Jonathan Vasquez won the Soldier of the Quarter award for United States Army South by competing in a non-commissioned officer board at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The board, which ran Feb. 13-17, gave Vasquez an opportunity to go stateside to compete against his peers.

"It is everything a Soldier lives for," Vasquez, a trooper from the 525th Military Police Battalion, said. "When you get the opportunity to represent the entire battalion, it is pretty honorable."

Vasquez, a wheeled vehicle mechanic stationed at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, says he lives by the Army values day-to-day, and that is what helped him with this accomplishment.

"The Army values are all found in the NCO creed," said Vasquez, who is from the Dominican Republic. "As an NCO, the creed is something I live by."

His most enjoyable moment of the board was when he got to sound off with the NCO creed.

Vasquez said having seven sergeants major in front of you can be rather intimidating, but he was confident.

"The attitude you have to have is to win," Vasquez said. "Every question they ask is situational."

The 28-year-old was groomed for this board when he won NCO of the Quarter in January for his battalion. It was a learning experience, explained Vasquez.

"He is a very dedicated individual," 1st Sgt. Rodney Sanchez said. "He takes time to make sure he is a well-prepared NCO. For someone to win that board, it takes a lot of dedication and discipline. I am very proud of him."

Vasquez not only had the support of his command, but also from his fellow troopers.

"He motivated me when I got here," Spc. Charles Daniel said. "I now max my physical fitness test at 300; before I got here that wasn't happening. He continues to challenge me."

Daniel says that Vasquez always stays positive regardless of the situation and that he always has a smile.

"He is a very social person," Daniel said.

Vasquez, who has been in the Army for more than three years, served in Iraq in 2008.

Vasquez wasn't the only trooper who traveled to Texas. Spc. Juan Jackson, also with the 525th, placed as a runner-up for Soldier of the Year for USARSO.

"It feels good," Jackson said. "I am glad I can be an example for my fellow Soldiers."

This was the third board Jackson has participated in. When he becomes an NCO he plans to continue to participate in boards.

• Date Taken: 03.20.2009
• Date Posted: 03.27.2009 10:38
• Story ID: 31688