By Sgt. Tony Hawkins, USASOC PAO (USASOC News Service)
Fort Bragg, NC – The U.S. Army Special Operations Command announced the winners of its 2010 Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Competition in a ceremony June 11th.
Staff Sgt. Jacob Barner, an armament systems repairer who now serves as the enlisted recruiter with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, was chosen as the NCO of the year. Spc. Justin Hinton, from Regimental Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, was named the Soldier of the year. Both will be continuing on to represent USASOC in the Department of the Army competition at Fort Lee, VA, later this year.
“Across our command, the Soldiers in each of those units provide unique skills that are important to the nation out on the battlefield,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Parry L. Baer, USASOC command sergeant major. “We have a combination of those unique skills when we bring everyone together for a competition at this level. I think the highlight is that each of these Soldiers competing in these basic skills, whether it is rifle marksmanship or combatives, are all fairly equal. Even though they are all unique, everyone works together and competes here on an equal basis.”
The competitors faced a 3-day-long challenge testing both their mental and physical capabilities. The event began with a physical fitness test, followed by rifle marksmanship qualification, and day and night land navigation courses. On the second day, the contestants were pitted against each other in a double-elimination Modern Army Combatives tournament, and later that day their skills were tested with common tasks ranging from calling indirect fire to treating a casualty on the battlefield. The final day of competition consisted of an oral board made up of each command sergeant major from the major subordinate units of USASOC.
“I’m blown away,” said Barner, who participated in last year’s competition only to return for the win this year. “After competing last year, I wasn’t going to give up. I learned something new with each event. The competition really requires you to give it your all.”
For winning the competition, both Barner and Hinton received prizes from sponsors of the event including several thousand dollars in cash, gift certificates and other prizes, as well as their choice of a Glock pistol.
Barner said for this year’s competition, he renewed his focus, spending more time at the range, conducting PT and combatives, and staying up nights going over the Army study guide.
Thinking of next year’s competition, Barner had words of advice to Soldiers and NCOs who would like to participate.
“The best advice I can give is there’s nothing better than staying focused on studying and learning the events,” he said. “Read the study guide every night, even if it’s for only 20, minutes. It will go a long way. Once you lose your focus or start thinking how difficult it is, that’s when you begin to lose.”
Baer thanked all of the competitors for their hard work making it to the USASOC-level, and expressed his gratitude in all they do for the command.
“To each of the competitors, while you went through various competitions to get here, you do work each and every day out there for the nation,” Baer said. “You have to be very proud when looking back over the past nine years of the contributions, the dedications and self-sacrifices that each of these NCOs and Soldiers has given for this country. I want to thank each of you for what you do every day, and for the dedication and determination you all showed during this competition.”
The runners-up for the competition were Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Robles and Spc. John Sanders, both from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
Each are responsible for filling in for Barner or Hinton should one be unable to compete at the Army competition.
The other competitors in the event were:
Sgt. 1st Class David Burns, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne)
Staff Sgt. Kevin Weiss, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)
Staff Sgt. Roger Campbell, 528th Sustainment Brigade (Airborne)
Sgt. 1st Class Kai Christensen, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Staff Sgt. Kirk Woody, 75th Ranger Regiment
Spc. Ashley Rivera, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne)
Pfc. Leif Johansson, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)
Spc. Steven Sellers, 528th Sustainment Brigade (Airborne)
Spc. Derek Safko, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Pfc. Lawrence Schores, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
Both runners-up and the other finalists received Certificates of Achievement, as well as various prizes from sponsors of the event.
