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    NCOs, Soldiers of the Year from 10 Commands Face-off in 5th Annual "Best Warrior" Competition

    Best Warrior Competition

    Courtesy Photo | FORT LEE, Va. (Oct. 4, 2006) - Sgt. 1st Class Jason H. Alexander, Third Army Area...... read more read more

    FORT LEE, NJ, UNITED STATES

    10.03.2006

    Story by Sgt. Danny McCormick 

    U.S. Army Central   

    By Sgt. Danny McCormick
    U.S. Army Central, Third Army PAO

    FORT LEE, Va. (Oct. 2, 2006) – Twenty Soldiers representing ten commands throughout the Army come together to vie for the title of "Best Warrior" in the Department of the Army's 5th annual Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year Competition at Fort Lee, Va. Oct. 2 to 6.

    The Soldiers face the board, which is presided over by Sgt. Maj. Of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, on the first day of the competition – an event that had been held last in previous years.

    The competitors are:

    Sgt. 1st Class Jason H. Alexander, representing U.S. Army Forces Command, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. He is a healthcare specialist with the Third Army Area Support Group at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and a native of Upper Darby, Penn.

    Sgt, Delroy G. Barnett, representing U.S. Army Europe, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. He is a healthcare specialist with the 123rd Main Support Battalion at Dexheim, Germany and a native of Hollywood, Fla.

    Staff Sgt. Stacy-Lyn D. De La Hoz, representing U.S. Space & Missile Defense Command, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. She is a satellite communications systems operator with the 53rd Signal Battalion at Fort Meade, Md. and a native of Anchorage, Alaska.

    Spc. John S. Emmett, representing U.S. Army Europe, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. He is a signal support systems specialist with the 21st Theater Support Command at Kaiserslautern, Germany and a native of Greenwood, Ind.

    Spc. Xeriqua Garfinkel, representing National Capitol Region, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. She is a military policewoman with the 241st Military Police Detachment at Fort Meade, Maryland and a native of Washington, D.C. born in the Dominican Republic.

    Spc. Edward A. Hull, representing U.S. Special Operations Command, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. He is a CH-47 Chinook helicopter repairer with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Ky. and a native of North Platte, Neb.

    Spc, April N. Johnigan, representing Training and Doctrine Command, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. She is a protocol specialist with the Victory Support Battalion at Fort Jackson, S.C. and a native of Tyler, Texas.

    Sgt. Dustin W. Jorrick, representing U.S. Army Korea, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. He is with the 52nd Medical Battalion at Seoul, Korea and a native of Fremont, Calif.

    Sgt. Joseph m. Krafft, representing U.S. Army Material Command, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. He is an electric bass guitar and sound technician at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md. and a native of Canton, Mass.

    Sgt. Anthony M. Lark, representing U.S. Army Medical Command, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. He is a medical laboratory specialist with the U.S. Army Health Clinic at Vilseck, Germany and a native of Lansing, Mich.

    Sgt. Corey E. Luffler, representing U.S. Army Korea, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. He is an intelligence analyst with the 1st battalion, 15th Field Artillery at Camp Hovey, Korea and a native of Pickering, Ohio.

    Sgt. Patrick J. Mann, representing U.S. Space & Missile Defense Command, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. He is a satellite communications systems operator with the 53rd Signal Battalion, V Space Brigade at Landsthul, Germany and a native of Rib Lake, Wis.

    Staff Sgt. Mario O. Medina, representing U.S. Army Medical Command, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. He is a healthcare specialist with the Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, Wash. and a native of Las Vegas.

    Staff Sgt. Douglas W. Norman, representing U.S. Special Operations Command, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. He is an indirect fire infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Ga. and a native of Casper, Wyo.

    Staff Sgt. Leon J. Presley, representing Training and Doctrine Command, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. He is a unit supply specialist with the 14th Military Police Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. and a native of LaGrande, Ore.

    Spc. Bryan E. Raya, representing U.S. Army Pacific, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. He is a trombone player with the 25th Infantry Division (Light) Band at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and a native of Fresno, Calif.

    Staff Sgt. Jeremy J. Samsel, representing National Capitol Region, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. He is a military policeman with the West Point Military Police Company at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. and a native of Warsaw, N.Y.

    Staff Sgt. Travis G. Stoufer, representing U.S. Army Pacific, is competing in the NCO of the Year competition. He is a military policeman with the 247th Military Police Detachment ay Torii Station, Okinawa and a native of Liberty, Mo.

    Sgt. Brian D. Waddy, representing U.S. Army Forces Command, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. He is an intelligence analyst with the 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command at Fort Bliss, Texas and a native of Philadelphia, Penn.

    Spc. Dexter R. Woods IV, representing U.S. Material Command, is competing in the Soldier of the Year competition. He is a cavalry scout with Soldier Systems Center at Natick, Mass.

    After facing the board, the Soldiers will compete in the Army Physical Fitness Test, a written exam and essay, day and night urban terrain navigation, warrior task testing, weapons qualification and the infamous 'Mystery Events' that will test not only their physical abilities, but their mental sharpness, attention to detail and their quick response to changing events.

    The week long event will end without a winner being named. That will be done at a ceremony the following week.

    During the weekend between the competition and the announcement, the competitors will gather together in Washington, D. C. to watch another annual Army competition – The Army 10-Miler - which will be run on Oct. 8.

    Then on Oct. 9, they will finally learn which of them will get to claim the title "Best Warrior."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.03.2006
    Date Posted: 10.03.2006 23:01
    Story ID: 7909
    Location: FORT LEE, NJ, US

    Web Views: 712
    Downloads: 226

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