ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Illinois -- The U.S. Army Materiel Command's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year signed up for three more years of Army service, Feb. 20.
A nine-year veteran with tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Staff Sgt. Kevin Hopson, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, said he hopes to participate in the Army's flight program.
"I was a 19 year old PFC (private first class) when I rode in my first helicopter," Hopson said. "I felt nothing but pure exhilaration as we flew over Baghdad and could not stop smiling for hours after the flight. Since that day it has always been a dream of mine to become a helicopter pilot."
Hopson added that his time at Rock Island Arsenal has been valuable.
"This command and the community have been great to me and my family," he said. "Being in a logistics
command has definitely broadened my Army knowledge and has given me an insight at the incredible amount of work it takes to keep the Army running."
In June 2014, Hopson beat out other noncommissioned officers in ASC's Best Warrior Competition at RIA. The annual four-day event is open to all ASC Soldiers in grades/ranks E-4 (corporal) through E-7 (sergeant first class) and tests a range of important Army skills.
Hopson later won at the U.S. Army Material Command BWC and competed at the Department of the Army level in October 2014.
"One of the greatest things about being in the Army is knowing that my family will be taken care of no matter what," said Hopson. "I have never had to worry about if my family would have a place to sleep or food to eat. It is for that reason and the opportunity to serve our great nation that I was more than happy to continue to serve in the United State Army."
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