Photo By Ryan Morton | Sgt. 1st Class Charles Mize, from Lexington, N.C., and a member of the 2nd of the...... read more read more
The "Hooah" spirit was in the air as enlisted Soldiers from the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade competed for the respective titles of 2010 Soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year at Army Support Activity-Dix, April 7-9.
The qualifiers competed in events including the Army Physical Fitness Test, weapons qualification, Army Warrior Tasks, and the grueling boardroom where the Soldiers in Class A uniforms answered a multitude of questions asked by a panel of senior NCOs.
Victory was bittersweet for Spc. Sean Hedgepeth, the Soldier winner from Trenton, N.J., and Sgt. 1st Class Bobby Williams, the NCO winner from Water Valley, Miss. The contestants work has just begun as they prepare for the next level of competition--the 1st Army Division East level at Fort Knox, Ky., May 3-6.
"I was excited when I found out I was going to Fort Knox," said Williams, a 1st Training Support Battalion, 307th Regiment Soldier, after receiving the news of his victory.
"I've got to study more for the board. I've got to shoot more with the M-16 or M-4, and M-2 (50-caliber machine gun), and prepare more for the AWT and know them more by the book," he said.
The registration for the event took place April 7 and the first part of the competition was the APFT at 5 a.m., April 8. It encompassed three events; push-ups, sit-ups, and a timed two-mile run. The contestants do as many push-ups and sit-ups as they can in a two-minute period, and run two miles afterward.
Following the APFT, they moved to weapons qualification portion where they had to garner points with the M-16 rifle and 50-caliber machine gun. In the afternoon, the Soldiers moved on to conduct 11 different AWTs. The participants tested their skills in areas including map reading, land navigation, and first aid.
The next day, April 9, the contestants took part in the grueling board portion of the competition where a panel of senior NCOs grilled the candidates on their knowledge of Army-related topics. Some of those included drill and ceremony, military bearing, military education programs, military justice, and battle training.
While the competition was a challenge it also represented a quality educational experience, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Mize, a participant from Lexington, N.C. and a 2nd Training Battalion-315th Regiment Soldier aid. "I think it was a very good learning experience. Going through a competition like that is good because it reemphasizes our Army Warrior Tasks and drills," he added.
Hedgepeth explained the event gives each Soldier the chance to evaluate his or her skill set. The competition helps a servicemember become a better Soldier and future noncommissioned officer.
"It lets you know where you're at as a junior enlisted Soldier and whether you're ready to go forward or if you have a lot more things to work on," Hedgepeth said.
Williams agrees with his fellow Soldier.
"It feels good to know I can be called the 72nd FA Bde. NCO of the Year and can use this experience to help better prepare my younger NCOs and junior enlisted Soldiers for a competition like this," Williams said.
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.19.2010 13:02 |
| Story ID: | 48354 |
| Location: | FORT DIX, NJ, US |
| Web Views: | 140 |
| Downloads: | 117 |
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