Cav paralegals on trial ... to see who's best

By Sgt. Angel TurnerNovember 21, 2014

Cav paralegals on trial ... to see who's best
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Crystal Taylor, a court reporter assigned to the 1st Cavalry returns from a six-mile ruck march during the 1st Cavalry Division Paralegal Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Quarter Board at Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 13. This was the first c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cav paralegals on trial ... to see who's best
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Bryden Solonar, a paralegal specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, looks over a document for errors during the 1st Cavalry Division Paralegal Noncommissioned Officer and Soldi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cav paralegals on trial ... to see who's best
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Crystal Taylor (left), a court reporter court reporter assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division and Spc. Bryden Solonar, a paralegal specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cav. Div., hold their res... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas -Army Physical Fitness Test - check.

Weapons qualification - check.

Oral board and essay - check.

Six-mile ruck march in the cold - check!

For one group of Soldiers, these tasks were among those that stood between them and the title of "1st Cavalry Division Paralegal Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Quarter."

This is the first competition of its sorts in the past several years for the 1st Cav. Div. Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, who put together a NCO/Soldier of the Quarter Board specifically for division paralegals, which took place Nov. 12 through 14 here.

"I thought it would be good to allow the Soldiers an opportunity to compete against each other and designate a paralegal as the victor," said Sgt. Maj. Andria Robinson, the 1st Cav. Div. command paralegal sergeant major and organizer of the event.

The competition consisted of seven categories: APFT, weapons qualification at the Engagement Skills Trainer, a six-mile ruck march in less than two hours, a 25-question exam, a 500-word essay, hands-on testing and an oral board. Soldiers could receive a maximum of 50 points for each category.

"What's important to the Army is establishing a well-rounded Soldier, and we are supporting that effort by emphasizing the importance of professionalism, paralegal responsibilities as well and technical and tactical proficiencies," Robinson said.

For Sgt. Crystal Taylor, a court reporter assigned to the First Team, the opportunity to compete against her peers was something she looked forward to.

"It was a great opportunity to compete in this board. It gets Soldiers to be more competitive," said Taylor, a Kansas City, Kansas, native. "It promotes development."

But she admitted that she would have been happy skipping the oral board.

"I like being behind the scenes. I'm shy in front of people - that's why I'm a court reporter," she said, jokingly.

Despite her apprehension, Taylor won Paralegal NCO of the Quarter.

Joining her in the winner's circle was Spc. Bryden Solonar, a paralegal specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cav. Div.

"I feel proud that not only did I get to represent the division, but that I also bring those honors back with me to my brigade legal section," Solonar said.

Although only two Soldiers walked away as the official winners, Solonar said the board was bigger than the title.

"It brought a spirit of friendly competition between those of us who competed, and it was a team event for my whole shop," said Solonar, who hails from Yelm, Washington. "Everyone helped me in one way or another for preparation leading up to the board, and that made it a win for me and for my whole team."

For the division's senior enlisted paralegal, she said the next step for the competition is to bring in more units.

"My next goal is to request Soldiers to be able to go on to compete at the III Corps level," Robinson said.

If that plan goes through, and Division Troopers are called on to compete, Robinson said, "First Cav is ready to go."