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FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. (June 27, 2008) - It takes a special breed
to be a warrior in U.S. Army Central. It takes a person who is
always ready at a moment's notice to do whatever is required to
accomplish the various and challenging missions necessary to keep
the nation safe in a tumultuous 21-century world.
To be the best of this highly distinguished unit is an honor
that Staff Sgt. James Garlitz, a finance noncommissioned officer
with the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), and Spc. Justin Nelson,
an intelligence analyst with Special Troops Battalion, USARCENT,
can claim.
After three rigorous days of competition that challenged every
aspect of their training, skills and abilities, Garlitiz, a native
of Annapolis, Md., and Nelson, a native of Bridgeport, Texas earned
the titles of USARCENT NCO and Soldier of the Year for 2008 at Fort
McPherson, Ga., June 27.
"To be selected as the NCO and Soldier of the Year takes a real
commitment to excellence, a dedication to professionalism and a
drive to win," said Command Sgt. Maj. John D. Fourhman, USARCENT's
command sergeant major. "It also takes leaders at the unit level to
be coaches and mentors to the Soldier before and during the
competition," he added.
During the event, the warriors took an Army Physical Fitness
Test and a written examination on general military topics,
completed a weapons qualification range, negotiated a day and night
land navigation course, were evaluated in a number of critical
Warrior tasks and battle drills and appeared before a board of
sergeants major who evaluated their knowledge, appearance and
military bearing in a number of key areas.
Also competing were:
Sgt. Iraq Bleckledge a human resource NCO with Area Support Group,
Qatar
Sgt. Troy Henley, a human resource specialist with Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, USARCENT G1
Division
Staff Sgt. Karl Runningen, a chemical operations NCO with the Area
Support Group, Kuwait
Spc. Teddy Thelwell, a human resource specialist with Area
Support Group, Qatar
Spc. Richard Yoos, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the Area
Support Group, Kuwait
"All of the Soldiers who competed here are winners," said
Fourhman. "They've all proven themselves by winning boards at unit
levels and being recommended by their commands. All of them will
return to their units better prepared and better educated to
perform their tasks."
Nelson confirmed these words.
"I feel like I have left every board I went to smarter than when
I went into it. All of the boards I have gone to, I've learned
something that will help me in life and in my career," he said.
Garlitz said the stiff competition of the other participants
kept him sharp throughout event.
"I have to say that at every portion of the competition I was
pushed to be even better than my standard of excellence would have
been because I was constantly worried about somebody else doing
better in this or that. I was thinking if I wasn't perfect,
somebody else was going to win," he said.
Fourhman said at this level of competition, with the caliber of
warriors who were present, winning often comes down to something as
simple as doing one more push up or hitting one more target than
the others.
Garlitz and Nelson will go on to represent USARCENT and compete
at the U.S. Army Forces Command 2008 NCO and Soldier of the Year
competition at Fort Hood, Texas, in July.
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