Photo By Sgt. Brian Johnson | Spc. Clinton Sheets, of Chillicothe, was chosen as the 16th Engineer Brigade enlisted...... read more read more
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Spc. Clinton Sheets of Chillicothe was chosen as the Ohio Army National Guard State Enlisted Soldier of the Year for 2005.
The Ohio Army National Guard consists of over 10,500 soldiers from all over the entire state. Their units consist of specialties that range from transportation to office work, infantry and many skills in between.
Sheets is a member of Alpha Company, 216th Engineer Battalion, based out of Chillicothe. The unit consists of carpenters, electricians, plumbers and heavy equipment operators.
The process for being selected Soldier of the Year is a very long and hard process. A soldier must be selected as company, battalion, brigade board winners before you can win state. This process requires vast knowledge and skills of numerous tasks, including military history, current events, drill and ceremonies, and common task training. He is one of only thousands of enlisted persons in Ohio that can win this award each year.
Soldiers go before a panel of five senior ranking noncommissioned officers from around the state.
Sheets’ platoon sergeant's, Staff Sgt. Martin Smith, of Portsmouth, reaction upon hearing the news that Sheets was names State Soldier of the Year was “that of extreme pride. He has been so dedicated to this cause and has the character of someone with whom everyone really appreciates and enjoys.”
Sheets, which had previously been selected as the 16th Engineer Brigade Soldier of the year in December, had this to say about this feat.
“Well, I think it took me awhile to comprehend that I was the state soldier of the year. Honestly, I have to say that there are a lot of good soldiers that went to Iraq from our company that are highly competent and professional. I felt as though any of the soldiers from my company could've done just as well with the proper preparation.”
Unit 1st Sgt. Christopher Wisener, of Portsmouth, said of Sheets’ accomplishment, “This is an outstanding achievement for this unit. It says with out a doubt what caliber of soldiers are in the Guard.”
Smith added, “I feel that this accomplishment is the single greatest display of unit pride and dedication that an individual has done to help promote our new facility and promote what we expect from our soldiers to accomplish as future leaders.”
Is this accomplishment a measure of the high standards that are held to Alpha Company?
Wisener added, “We all try to exceed the standards set forth. Each soldier is unique in his own ways. What we do is try to identify their strengths and weaknesses and build on them.”
What's next in the process for Sheets?
Smith said, “Spc Sheets will be going to Springfield, Ill., from 26-30 April to compete at the 1st Army Board. The process will include board questions, weapons qualifications, combat tactics, land navigation (day and night) and many more tasks.”
When Sheets, who is zoology major at Ohio University in Athens, was asked what his main concern about the next board was, his answer was, “I'm mainly worried about how I'm going to explain to my professors in college that I'm going to be gone for a few days! I'm sure they'll understand ... hopefully.”
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2015 21:35 |
| Story ID: | 161081 |
| Location: | CHILLICOTHE, OH, US |
| Web Views: | 39 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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