FORT SHAFTER--Winners of the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier quarterly boards over the past year competed in a demanding battle for the titles of "Best Sea Dragon" NCO and Soldier in the command May 6 and 7.
"This competition allows Soldiers to step outside of their comfort zone and show that they are the best and are committed to excellence," said Command Sgt. Maj. Finis Dodson, senior enlisted leader, 94th AAMDC. "The Army needs Soldiers that are tactically and technically competent and resilient as well as those who are constantly seeking ways to better not only themselves but also those around them daily."
The competition is held annually in order to name the unit's Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the year. The competition usually lasts about five days, but this time it had to be cut to two days because of the unit's high operations tempo this year.
Brig. Gen. Dan Karbler, commander, 94th AAMDC said, "My hat's off to the leaders of the Soldiers in competition. Thank you for finding the time to give your Soldiers to prepare and participate in this year's Warrior Challenge; I know it was tough with how busy we've all been."
As winners of the "Best Sea Dragon" competition, Staff Sgt. Mark Giauque, information technology noncommissioned officer, was named 94th AAMDC's NCO of the Year and Spc. Christina Williams, information technology specialist, was named the unit's Soldier of the Year.
During the competition, the Soldiers' knowledge and physical endurance were tested in events ranging from the Army Physical Fitness Test, night land navigation, Warrior Tasks and Drills to interacting with the media, writing an essay, and being questioned by a panel of Sergeants Major in an oral board.
"It's all the things that I expected," said Giauque.
Just a couple of hours into the competition, both Giauque and Williams remarked they had no doubt they were going to be declared the winner by the end of the contest.
"I felt confident that I had a good chance of winning. That has to be your attitude when you come into a competition like this," Giaugue said.
"I have the 'will'," Williams said smiling as she pointed to her name on her uniform. "And, I have the heart and adaptability."
Even though the warrior challenge only lasted two days, the two days were completely crammed with events, and Soldiers were always kept in suspense of what event would be happening next.
"The way the unit ran the competition -- not having a set standard schedule for us to follow - they always kept us guessing as to what was coming next," said Staff Sgt. Brandon Bybee, operations plans and exercises noncommissioned officer, 94th AAMDC. "It really tested our reactions under pressure."
Giauque and Williams will go on to compete in the United States Army Pacific Command's Warrior Challenge, which will commence sometime in June. The USARPAC winners will then compete at the Army-level Warrior Challenge.
Williams said, "I'm not worried about the physical part, so I am going to keep my nose in the books and prepare myself mentally for USARPAC."
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