SAN ANTONIO - Eighteen soldiers, representing the subordinate commands of United States Army Medical Command, competed for the 2012 MEDCOM Soldier of the Year and Non-commissioned Officer of the Year titles during the MEDCOM Best Warrior Competition June 3 through 8.
This week-long competition took place at Camp Bullis and Joint Base Fort Sam Houston and was organized and run by Southern Regional Command, with support from other MEDCOM subordinate commands.
Triple-digit temperatures this year made the demanding competition that much more difficult.
This challenging series of events is meant to test the physical and mental stamina and warrior task knowledge of each of competitor in order to select the best of the best to represent the MEDCOM at the Army Wide Best Warrior Competition.
The competition consists of the Army Physical Fitness Test, weapons qualification, warrior tasks, an oral board, a mystery event, combatives, day and night land navigation, and a written exam with an essay.
Staff Sgt. Craig Wayman, from U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, Md., won the title of MEDCOM NCO of the Year, and Spc. Henry Odele, from Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, Fort Polk, La., won for MEDCOM Soldier of the Year.
The winners were announced during the awards ceremony and luncheon and were presented the Army Commendation Medal.
MEDCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Donna A. Brock applauded the Soldiers and NCOs for taking on the challenge and implored them to continue to be the best.
“We are proud of each and every one of our competitors,” Brock said. “These Soldiers and NCOs embody the very best of Army Medicine.”
Wayman and Odele will represent MEDCOM at the U.S. Army Best Warrior competition Oct. 15 through 18 at Fort Lee, Va., and as Wayman put it, “They better get ready for MEDCOM because this time, we’re bringing the heat!”