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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
The 2015 Kentucky Army and Air National Guard’s Outstanding Soldiers, Airmen and NCOs of the year were honored with the Kentucky’s Enlsited Exceptional Performance Award (K.E.E.P.), during the awards presentation March 14, in Louisville, Kentucky. The annual Outstanding Airman and Soldier of the Year awards dinner honors Kentucky’s finest Airmen and Soldiers who are recognized by their peers for dedicating themselves to the welfare and security of our nation. (U.S. Army National Guar photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky Soldiers of the Year stand united, ready to represent the Bluegrass at regional competition
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall,” is a phrase most Kentuckians see daily, yet may not even realize it. It’s the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s motto, etched on the seal and embroidered on the state flag.
Marine Sgt. Maj. Gary Smith, 4th Marine Logistics Group, command senior enlisted leader, reminded the attendees of the 2015 Outstanding Airmen and Soldier of the Year Banquet of the importance of the motto during his keynote remarks, specifically for Guardsmen.
The Kentucky Army National Guard’s Soldier of the Year, Spc. Christopher Jones (right), an infantryman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry (Mountain Warriors), stands with his battalion leadership following the Outstanding Airman and Soldier of the Year banquet March 14, in Louisville, Kentucky. Jones said his leadership, which includes Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Roberge, the 2014 Senior NCO of the year, helped prepare him for the competition and experience as a means to pass the torch to younger generations of the Mountain Warriors. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson, 133 MPAD)
“In keeping with the motto of this great, American state – Kentucky – ‘united we stand, and divided we fall,’” he said. “In the totality of the Kentucky National [Army] and Air Guard, you all must emulate this motto all the time.
“And I believe you do it exceptionally well,” he said.
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Smith was the senior enlisted leader for operations in the Horn of Africa when the Kentucky National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery deployed there in 2012 in support of operations in the region.
“Not only are you nationally known,” he told the audience of more than 400, “but you are well established on the international level. Your legacy and reputation may have got you there, your talent has, and will keep you in the game.”
Smith said that the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard’s ability to thrive in joint environments is what keeps the organization successful, and what made the awards evening exceptional. Smith said all service branches were represented either by uniformed personnel or the retirees in the audience.
For the Army Guard honorees, the awards banquet recognized their efforts after nearly a year of preparations that included intense studying for company-level, all the way to state-level, competitions and boards, and extreme mental and physical determination. An opportunity for senior leaders to congratulate the Army Guard Soldiers before they depart for the regional competition held in the Virgin Islands in April.
“The entire state has put forth the effort into us to succeed,” said Staff Sgt. Jessie Mascoe, fire directional specialist, Bravo Battery, 1/623 Field Artillery, and the 2015 NCO of the Year for Kentucky.
“It makes it a lot easier when you have people who back you, you know you’re not the only one,” Mascoe said about the preparations leading up to the regional competition. “Sgt. 1st Class Taheny is our sponsor, so our success rests on his shoulders as well.”
The Kentucky Army National Guard’s Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the year, Sgt. 1st Class Jay D. Taheny, Kentucky Recruiting and Retention Battalion, is honored with the Kentucky’s Enlsited Exceptional Performance Award (K.E.E.P.), during the awards presentation March 14, in Louisville, Kentucky. The annual Outstanding Airman and Soldier of the Year awards dinner honors Kentucky’s finest Airmen and Soldiers who are recognized by their peers for dedicating themselves to the welfare and security of our nation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gina Vaile-Nelson)
Sgt. 1st Class Jay Taheny, a recruiter for the Kentucky National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, said his experience training new recruits for Basic Combat Training proved helpful for his role as sponsor for the Kentucky delegation. As Senior NCO for Kentucky, he has developed a training plan to ensure the Kentucky team is ready to stand out among the competitors.
“Sgt. Maj. Smith talked tonight about engaging the heart, and that’s classic leadership in my mind,” Taheny said.
“You can send people emails and tell people what to do all day long, but unless you actually go out there and show them what to do, and lead by example, you’re never going to earn the respect and without respect, you’re a leader in name, but not a leader in person.”
Taheny said it’s important to help train the Soldier and NCO of the year before the competition so that Kentucky competes as a united front.
For Spc. Christopher Jones, an infantryman assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry (Mountain Warriors), the attention to his own personal success by leaders at every level is what has inspired him to become a better Guardsman and a fierce competitor. With an Expert Infantryman Badge under his belt, he said the knowledge passed down from his fellow infantrymen is crucial to his success.
“They are a really good support group. They are always there, and I really appreciate everything they do for me,” Jones said. Even if that means picking up the phone anytime of day for personal related issues, at a second’s notice, they are there.”
Jones credited Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Roberge for mentoring him throughout the competition. He said the partnership was like a “torch being passed,” to him, which he will pass along next year to another Soldier within the Mountain Warriors.
Continuing the cycle – “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Anglin with the 201st Engineer Battalion appears before the board during the 2014 Kentucky National Guard Soldier of the Year competition in Greenville, Ky., Nov. 17, 2013. In addition to the board, Anglin and 13 fellow Guardsmen competed in such events as weapons qualification and land navigation over the three-day weekend. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
GREENVILLE, Ky. — Many basic Soldier skills are not always your everyday tasks; fieldstripping an M-16, searching a detainee, details of drill and ceremony. This knowledge is part of what should be in every Soldier’s toolbox and to a select few each year, these tasks become a competition. All combined, the proficiency of such tasks, along with marksmanship and physical fitness, push some to become the best of the best.
On the track, at the range and in the fields of the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center, 14 Kentucky National Guardsmen put their skills to the test in the 2014 Soldier of the Year competition, Nov. 15-17.
To see more photos from the event, click here.
Spc. Benjamin Joynt prepares to begin his push-ups during an Army Physical Fitness Test as part of the 2014 Kentucky National Guard Soldier of the Year competition in Greenville, Ky., Nov. 16, 2013. The APFT began an event-filled day for the competitors that took them from the gym to the range to the fields to the classrooms of the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“Getting back to the basics of soldiering, that’s what the Soldier of the Year Competition is all about,” said State Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Chumley Jr., who oversaw his first competition as the State Command Sergeant Major.
“I wanted to challenge them, I wanted to challenge them mentally, physically and spiritually. When they leave here, I wanted them to feel like they’ve earned something,” he added.
From the moment competitors arrived, the pressure was on. Soldiers, NCOs and Senior NCOs alike were forced to rely on their training and experience as the weekend tested their abilities as an American Soldier.
The Guardsmen first sat down for the written tests and essay questions to start the weekend out quietly on Friday evening. But before the sun rose on Saturday, the quiet was gone as each Soldier completed the Army Physical Fitness Test, then were off to the range for individual weapon qualifications. When the last round was fired, they traded their rifles for compasses and maps and negotiated the Muhlenburg County terrain in a challenging land navigation exercise.
While in the field, a variety of Army Warrior Tasks awaited each Soldier to test other skills.
Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Gray with the 238th Regiment loads a magazine into his M-16 during the 2014 Kentucky National Guard Soldier of the Year competition in Greenville, Ky., Nov. 16, 2013. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“The weekend was jammed packed for sure,” said Owenton, Ky., native, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Anglin with the 201st Engineer Battalion who was named NCO of the Year for the competition.
Spc. Christopher DeLeon with the 2123rd Transportation Company from Richmond, Ky., was the runner-up in 2012. After a year of working hard, studying and increasing his PT, DeLeon returned to capture the Soldier of the Year title this year.
“I feel accomplished, like I didn’t let anyone down,” he said. “I made them proud and I’m proud of myself. This feels great, it’s an awesome feeling.”
“I will take everything I have learned from Soldier of the Year and apply it to my 2123rd Soldiers and maybe be a sponsor for another Soldier to come here next year and train him to keep the reign of the 2123rd,” he added.
Chumley said he has been involved with similar competitions at various levels in his career and that the Soldiers inspire him each time. This year’s Soldier of the Year competition was just another reason why he loves doing his job.
“This weekend has been outstanding,” said Chumley. “The Soldiers here inspire me with their life stories and how the Kentucky National Guard has set them up with a good foundation and solid leadership skills. I’m just amazed every time we have one of these.”
2014 Soldier of the Year winners:
Soldier of the Year – Spc. Christopher DeLeon, 2123rd Transportation Co. from Richmond, Ky.
NCO of the Year – Staff Sgt. Nicholas Anglin, HSC 201st Engineers from Owenton, Ky.
Senior NCO of the Year – 1st Sgt. Matthew Roberge, 1/149th Infantry from Nicholasville, Ky.
Story by Sgt. Brandon Tagarook, 202nd Army Band Unit Public Affairs Historian Representative
Staff Sgt. Alexander Vinogradov, 75th Troop Command, prepares to throw a simulated grenade on the Individual Maneuver and Tactics Course at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., Nov. 17, 2012. Vinogradov was the winner in the NCO category for the 2012 Soldier of the Year competition. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Spc. Brian Ewalt)
GREENVILLE, Ky -Kentucky’s Best. That is what the State Soldier of the Year represents. It epitomizes what all Kentucky Army National Guard enlisted Soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and senior non-commissioned officers strive to be. This includes leadership abilities, general knowledge of Army Warrior Tasks, weapons training, land navigation, personal appearance, and physical fitness. These tasks are designed to stress the individual not only physically but mentally.
“A lot of studying, a lot of preparation, a lot of time went into it,” said Sgt. Nicholas Anglin from 138th Fires Brigade Signal Co., when asked about how he prepared for the event. “Preparation is a year round training. You never stop learning, never put the books down.”
Annually, the best of the best gather to test and push themselves in a variety of Army training tasks. They met at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., Nov. 16-18.
The Soldier of the Year is not only a competition but a tool to learn about what it takes to be successful. Spc. Christopher Deleon with the 2123rd in Richmond, Ky., plans on going to Officer Candidate School and possibly switching to active duty. When asked how this experience will train him to be a good officer he replied, “It’s very knowledge based. It’s got me to study all the Army Regulations, Field Manuals, and Army Warrior Tasks, so when I become an officer I can teach my Soldiers how to peform and how to better navigate through situations as such.”
Non-commissioned officers participating in the 2012 Soldier of the Year competition speak with members of the board at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., Nov. 17, 2012. Soldiers said going in front of the board was the most stressful part of the event.(Kentucky National Guard photo by Spc. Brian Ewalt)
One of the most stressful events of the weekend definitely seemed to be going in front of the board. The board is made up some of the Kentucky Guard’s senior leaders. Not only were competitors asked certain questions about basic Soldier knowledge, but they were also judged based on how well their uniform appeared. Several Soldiers said the questions asked were among the most important in doing well.
“It really comes down to the questions,” said Deleon. “You can know your battle drills, you can know land navigation, but if you go to the board and you just don’t know the questions…it’s pretty much the biggest thing. Make sure your uniform looks clean and pretty and study the book.”
Soldiers said the whole event felt like everyone wasn’t there to compete but to help each other out. Fellow competitors cheered others during the Army Physical Fitness Test. If there were any questions on how to use a map and compass everyone was more than willing to help out.
“I am awe-inspired, I’m humbled, and I am proud of everyone who participated,” said State Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Armstrong about this year’s group. “What a great group of Soldiers. If you’d all been down and witnessed what I saw on the PT track, a lot of heart and soul. A lot of heart and soul out on the compass course, and it hasn’t stopped all through the competition. I am very humbled to be one of the senior leaders of the Kentucky Guard.”
The event was broken up into three different categories. Enlisted, NCO, and Senior Enlisted. Here are the results for each category.
Enlisted : Winner - Spc. Nicholas Ray, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
1st Runner up - Spc. Christopher Deleon, 75th Troop Command
NCO: Winner - Sgt. Alexander Vinogradov, 75th Troop Command
1st Runner up - Sgt. Cody Ashcraft, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
Senior Enlisted: Winner - Master Sgt. John Hazlett, 238th Regiment
1st Runner up: 1st Sgt. Mathew Roberge, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
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Story and photo by Sgt. Paul Evans, Headquarters Headquarters Company 103rd
Competitors for 2011 Soldier of the Year line up alongside their respective brigade sergeant majorsduring the Soldier of the Year competition’s closing ceremony at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., Nov. 21.
GREENVILLE, Ky. (Nov.17, 2010)—“Whatever you do…do it as well as you possibly can,” said Command Sgt. Maj. David Munden to the competitors of the 2011 Kentucky National Guard Soldier of the Year competition Nov. 19.
Eleven of Kentucky’s finest did just that in an attempt to win the top-honor for Kentucky’s enlisted at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center Nov. 19-21.
After three days of competition, the winners are:
• Soldier of the Year: Spc. Kelly Burch,1123rd Sapper Company
• Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Staff Sgt. Jess Willard, Alpha Company, 149th Brigade Support Battalion
• Senior NCO of the Year: 1st Sgt. Christopher Morgan, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry
The Soldiers represented the best of their brigades. Soldiers completed basic Army Warrior Tasks, an Army Physical Fitness Test, weapons qualifications and essay writing. The weekend concluded with an interview and inspection by a board of three sergeant majors.
2011 Senior NCO of the Year 1st Sgt. Christopher Morgan, NCO of the Year Staff Sgt. Jess Willard, and Soldier of the Year Spc. Kelly Burch display their trophies at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., Nov. 21 during the competition awards ceremony.
“Many late nights looking in my study guide, doing some PT and weapons training,” Willard said lead him to a successful victory.
The winning Soldiers will be recognized at the annual Outstanding Soldier and Airman the Year banquet in March.
