Soldier of the year competition requires mental, physical toughness

Photo By Spc. Tobey White | Pfc. Jason Owens, a medic with the 201st Brigade Support Battalion, reports for the board during the Soldier of the Year competition, Nov. 9. Owens placed second in the competition.  

FORT KNOX, KY, UNITED STATES

11.10.2010

Story by Spc. Tobey White 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

FORT KNOX, Ky. - There’s no better way to get your blood pumping and legs moving than to begin the morning with a 12-mile ruck march up and down some of the steepest hills on Fort Knox, Ky. That’s what some soldier of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, found out in the early morning of Nov. 9, when they competed in the brigade’s Soldier and Noncommisioned Officer of the Year competition.

This was the first time that the brigade has held the competition since moving here from Fort Hood, Texas, last year. The ruck march was just the first in a series of events designed to test the mental and physical fortitude of Duke Brigade soldiers, said Sgt. Maj. James Bellar of Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 3/1 IBCT.

Only those soldiers who completed each event to standard were allowed to continue on in the competition. Immediately following the ruck march, Soldiers were expected to qualify with their weapons, followed by a land navigation course that would test their sense of direction. Afterwards, they would be tested on their knowledge of Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills.

For those who completed those tasks, sunset brought no rest. A second land navigation course was held, in the dark of night, as well as first aid exercise and an Army physical fitness test. Those soldiers still remaining went before a board and were tested on their knowledge of Army tasks by each battalion’s sergeant major.
Spc. Nathan Bray of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment and the winner of the Soldier of the year contest, said the APFT was the hardest part.

“It was difficult because it was 20 hours into the competition,” he said.

Soldiers were given two Meals-Ready-to-Eat at the start and were expected to ration them for the remainder of the events. This tested their ability to ration food and showed how well they were able to function given a lack of food, Bellar said.

“Everything is done to standard, but as you go the difficulty is compounded,” said, 3/1 Command Sgt. Maj. Drew Pumarejo.

This was the first time scheduling had allowed the event to be held. Earlier in the year the unit had conducted field-training exercises, live fire and training at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., in preparation of their deployment to Afghanistan early next year. With most pre-deployment tasks now out of the way, the brigade has more time to conduct events like this, Pumarejo said.

Staff Sgt. Shawn Wrzesinski, a squad leader for Commanchee Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, volunteered to compete because he saw it as a chance to represent the character of his company and his battalion. Finishing the 12-mile ruck march at 2 hours and 16 minutes, he said his job was to motivate other Soldiers to catch up to him.

Everybody’s motivation to compete was different. For Spc. Malcolm Sharpe, Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion 6th Field Artillery, the competition was a chance to impress the Sergeants Major and garner credit for his battery.

The competition was tough. By the end of the daytime land navigation course, only eight soldiers remained. Those who finished the competition needed perseverance and a will to succeed, Bellar said.

“When they say they’re Soldier of the Year, it will mean something,” Pumarejo said.

• Date Taken: 11.10.2010
• Date Posted: 11.10.2010 18:56
• Story ID: 59877
• Location: FORT KNOX, KY, US