Female Soldiers win top spots, move forward in Army competition

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Julie Hampton 157th Infantry Brigade, shakes hands with 1st Army East Command Sgt. Maj Marvel Dean; after being announced as 1st Army Div East Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Belynda Faulkner)  

CAMP SHELBY, MS, UNITED STATES

05.18.2010

Courtesy Story

177th Armored Brigade

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. – Sgt. 1st Class Julie Hampton, 157th Infantry Brigade, and Spc. Ashley Killian, 188th Infantry Brigade, defeated 18 Soldiers to win the First Army Division East's Non-commissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year titles May 6 at Fort Knox, Ky. These winners mark the first time the division has hailed two female competitors in the annual competition.

During the week-long competition, these Soldier-competitors were tested in their Army aptitude by conquering board interviews, physical fitness tests, written exams, and tasks and battle drills relevant to today's operating environment. This event is one of several levels leading up to the Department of the Army's Best Warrior Competition.

"The events in the competition were very challenging for all the competitors," said Command Sgt. Maj. Herlon Stephens, 177th Armored Brigade command sergeant major. "The level of professionalism of our Soldiers representing the First Army Division East was a treat to behold."

The competitors comprised of Active Duty and Reserve Component Soldiers from the nine brigades across the division, and each had a sponsor to support and guide them on their journey through the contest.

For some, the most difficult of all the events was the board appearance.

"We got the board out of the way first," said Spc. Chad Mann of the 177th Armored Brigade. "After that was over, we didn't have to stress about it anymore."

For others, the physical aspect of the competition weighed more heavily. Combatives began the third day of competition, and the challenge remained true to policy.

"According to combative doctrine, everyone is a Soldier; there is no distinction between male and female," explained Staff Sgt. Greg Moxcey, 177th Armored Brigade combatives instructor. "The enemy won't make a distinction, so we don't train with any."

Sgt. James Sawyer, 205th Infantry Brigade, turned out as the top athlete in this rigorous test.

"Combatives were tough as expected," said Stephens, "but the 8-mile road march, with tasks at stations along the way, made each competitor and sponsors dig deep and demonstrate the intestinal fortitude each had."

But, in the end, it was Hampton and Killian who demonstrated the greatest "intestinal fortitude" that Stephens knew existed in each competitor.

"The competition was tough," said Killian. "There were a lot of great Soldiers out there wanting to win it as bad as I did. I felt so accomplished when Command Sgt. Major Dean said my name -- I went out gave it everything I had."

Though a winner herself, Hampton commended her Killian on her win.

"I was in total shock; winning is overwhelming," Hampton said. "In my brigade it was the first time two females had won there, and watching Killian -- such a young female Soldier win was outstanding."

The pair will contend for the top spots in the First Army competition with the hopes they continue to the U.S. Army Forces Command competition.

• Date Taken: 05.18.2010
• Date Posted: 05.18.2010 12:41
• Story ID: 49894
• Location: CAMP SHELBY, MS, US