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76th IBCT Chooses a Soldier and NCO of the Year

Photo By Master Sgt. Brad Staggs | The 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Commander Col. Courtney Carr presents Spc. Aaron...... read more read more

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, UNITED STATES

04.01.2010

Courtesy Story

76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

By Staff Sgt. Brad Staggs

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. — The early morning spring temperature at Camp Atterbury was only 30 degrees when the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Cox II began reading the instructions on how to perform a proper push up to the assembled troops.

Ten Soldiers — five non-commissioned officers and five junior enlisted — from the 76th IBCT gathered in the pre-dawn hours in order to compete for the right to be called the 76th NCO of the Year and Soldier of the Year and go on to the coveted state competition in April.

"The Soldier of the Year competition recognizes excellence within the brigade," said Cox. "Most sergeants major have been Soldier of the Year at one time or another. These boards bring the tradition back and create a baseline for Soldiers."

Competing for the title of NCO or Soldier of the Year is not a matter of simply showing up. While Soldiers are constantly training and striving to improve, preparation for the competition begins weeks, and in some cases, months before the actual event.

While physical fitness plays a large part in the competition, it actually begins with a written essay. A question is sent to each competing Soldier and they are graded not only on content but also grammar, spelling and neatness. Out of a total 330 points possible during the competition, the essay alone is worth 50 points. It is one of very few tasks that are not dependent upon weather, a bad day at the range, or the speed at which a Soldier can walk six miles.

Over a two-day period, Soldiers are put through several physical challenges designed to demonstrate stamina, knowledge, and skills all Soldiers should know from the time they graduate from basic training.

The Army Physical Fitness Test kicked off the weekend competition. Soldiers can earn up to 50 points if they score a perfect 300 on their test. As the weekend progressed, the Soldiers realized that every single point counted in the contest.

Training Site 2B at Camp Atterbury not only served as the land navigation course but also the testing site for weapons familiarization. Soldiers had to find five points during the day and then return at night and find three different points. It was a daunting task since much of the course was covered in water following recent rains.

This was the first Soldier of the Year competition for Spc. Matthew Nunley, C Co., 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment.

"The land navigation course was the hardest part for me," said Nunley. "It was my first time and I think it went alright," he said.

At various points on the land navigation course, the sounds of weapons being disassembled and assembled could be heard as Soldiers did their best to explain to graders the exact steps they were going through according to the weapons manual.

The second day of the competition brought the rain that has a tendency to accompany military training. The only physical activity set for the day was the six-mile road course. Soldiers had to make the choice of whether to wear wet weather gear which could slow them down or simply deal with being wet. Most chose to be wet.

Sgt. Jonathon Hill of A Co., 113th Support Battalion, finished the six-mile road march in only one hour and 10 minutes, far ahead of his nearest competitor, and he earned 50 points in the process.

At the end of the competition each Soldier and NCO appeared before a board of senior NCOs to be quizzed about subjects ranging from current events to Army history to Army weapons systems. Soldiers also were judged on their appearance in uniform.

In the end, only two Soldiers could be named Soldier and NCO of the Year for the 76th IBCT. The honor of Soldier of the Year went to Spc. Aaron Barbarick of A Co., 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment. NCO of the Year was awarded to Sgt. Jason Thompson of C Co., 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment.

"To have both of these Soldiers come from the same battalion shows how much the battalion prepared them," said 76th IBCT Commander Col. Courtney Carr. "This contest identified the Soldiers and NCOs who exemplify the best, not only in technical knowledge but in intellect. I'm very proud of them."

Barbarick and Thompson will now go on to represent the 76th IBCT at the state level Soldier and NCO of the Year competitions April 10-11.