CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Soldiers assigned to 33rd Financial Management Support Unit, Special Troops Battalion attends the 1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade’s noncommissioned officer/Soldier of the Quarter board Sept. 26 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
The 33rd Financial Management Support Unit is stationed out of Fort Drum, New York. The unit deployed in June 2015 to Kuwait, attaching to STB, 1st Inf. Div. Sust. Bde. upon arrival.
For the Soldiers from 33rd FMSU, it has been a long road to reach this level of the competition. The Soldiers first competed at the company level, called the NCO/Soldier of the month board. Once a Soldier outwits their opponent and wins at the company level, they get the nod to compete at the battalion level. At the battalion level they ask various questions that really get their minds in gear. The winners from each battalion, one NCO and one Soldier, then get the opportunity to compete at the Brigade Quarter Board which only happens once every three months.
“I didn’t want to mess up [as she smiles], just listened and tried and answer to the best of my abilities,” said Pfc. Krysta Pelletier, a 19-year-old native of Methuen, Mass., and one of the competitors from 33rd FMSU.
The brigade board was designed to test the Soldiers on universal Soldier tasks to determine who was the most well-rounded Soldier. Everyone at the board was asked different questions and then were required to showcase their Soldier skills on the spot during simulated exercises. The tasks included treating a simulated casualty, a nine line medical evacuation report and map reading followed by a written test.
“The tasks were not as difficult at first; it was more of a surprise than difficult,” said Sgt. Anthony Alvarez.
The motivation for competing in the board for the two Soldiers from the 33rd FMSU had similar tones, to make their family proud and show the other Soldiers in the unit that it can be done. Each inspired to lead from the front.
“My motivation was my family and the Soldiers coming behind me,” said Sgt. Anthony Alvarez, a native of New York City who competed to become the NCO of the quarter and one of the competitors from 33rd FMSU.
“Just because I am finance and I am a Pfc. doesn’t mean anything,” said Pelletier. “You can put the effort in and it will pay off eventually.”
Ultimately there could only be one winner in each category. Pelletier came out on top and was named the brigade Soldier of the quarter. After the board everyone congratulated everyone; this was the first brigade quarter board by 1st Inf. Div. Sust. Bde. and the first overseen by Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Harris, the 1st Inf. Div. Sust. Bde. senior enlisted advisor.
“I was shocked and was like no way!!!” said Pelletier. “It is a real honor and I am so proud.”