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The time had come once again for the Soldiers and NCOs of the 59 th Ordnance Brigade to gather at Redstone for the Soldier and NCO of the Quarter and Year competition, Aug. 20-21. The winners of the event's quarter competition competed immediately in another board to determine the year's winner.
The Soldiers and NCOs were tested in weapons qualification at the EST 2000, took an Army Physical Fitness Test, a written exam, and new event, the Urban Orienteering Course. Topping off the competition was the formal board where the Soldiers and NCOs came face-to-face with 59 th sergeants major.
One motivated Soldier was originally studying for a promotion board when the opportunity to compete arose. She jumped at the chance.
"I was strongly encouraged by my sergeant major to attend the competition. It's beneficial to my career in the Army and helps prepare me for future assignments and promotions," said Spc. Angelia Mowery, a resources manager with the EOD Training Battalion (Provisional) at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. "I've been studying for a promotion board from the past few months now so heading into this competition helps me prepare for that.
"This competition is about finding the best Soldier (and NCO) in the (brigade)," she said. "To win, you needed to excel in the events including the Urban Orienteering Course, the APFT, and weapons qualification. It's an honor to be here competing."
Mowery faced some challenges during the competition but gave it her all and pulled through.
"We participated in a quick fire qualification at the EST 2000, which was the hardest for me," she said. "I hadn't participated in quick fire since basic training so that was a little different and challenging.
"The Urban Orienteering Course was also challenging for me. I don't know much about Redstone so I really had to focus on plotting my points and finding my way around," Mowery added. "It's definitely different from your normal land (navigation) course. It's very testing but also beneficial."
"The Urban Orienteering Course was definitely the most challenging event through the competition," said Staff Sgt. James Kennedy, a member of the 73 rd Ordnance Battalion at Fort Gordon, Ga., and winner of this quarter's NCO competition.
"It really pushed you to focus on your map and the land marks around you," he said. "Not being from Redstone made it a challenge but I believe I fared pretty well."
Though the UOC was difficult for most of the competitors, it's an event Kennedy feels he needs to teach others about.
"The Urban Orienteering Course was fun and I think I'm going to teach the Soldiers I work with a little more about it. It's a training exercise that is extremely helpful to today's Army and I truly believe this needs to be taught during Sergeant's Time Training,'" he said.
With Kennedy's victory in the quarter competition, he headed back into the board room one more time to be judged for the NCO of the Year award. He finished second to April's NCO of the Quarter winner, Staff Sgt. Scottie Williams, platoon sergeant with B Company, 73 rd Ordnance Battalion. Although Kennedy didn't win the overall award, he's looking toward the future and more competitions.
"My goals are to continue competing until I win the NCO of the Year award," Kennedy said. "I enjoy the challenge of competing and look toward being the best at everything I do. (Not winning) the NCO of the Year award isn't going to stop me one bit. It helps motivate me to train harder, study harder and to keep moving forward."
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