FORT SILL, Okla. (May 14, 2015) -- Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Sophia Burdulinski was named the 2015 Fort Sill Drill Sergeant of the Year (DSoY) during a ceremony May 7, at the 95th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception) complex.
Hundreds of fellow drill sergeants and Soldiers, 434th Field Artillery Brigade leaders and cadre, post leaders, family and friends cheered as the F Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery drill sergeant was announced as the winner. She beat out four other drill sergeants after a grueling four-day competition that challenged them to their limits.
"I'm excited and looking forward to TRADOC," said Burdulinski, who will compete for the Army DSoY title at the Training and Doctrine Command competition Sept. 7-11, at Fort Jackson, S.C.
Also competing were drill sergeants (Sgt. 1st Class) Calyl Cecilo, E Battery, 1st Battalion, 19th FA; (Staff Sgt.) Mario Camacho, E/1-79th FA; (Staff Sgt.) Franco Peralta, D/1-31st FA; and (Staff Sgt.) Hunter Perkins, E Company, Defense Language Institute English Language Center -- San Antonio, which is administratively attached to Fort Sill.
Command Sgt. Maj. Taylor Poindexter, 434th FA Brigade CSM, said the intense competition was designed to select the right DSoY.
"They did this early in the morning to late in the evening," Poindexter said. "They were challenged physically, mentally and daily to ensure that they're character, their commitment, their confidence and their professional bearing were taken into account."
After 65 events, only two points separated Burdulinski from the second place finisher. No runner up was announced, said 2014 Fort Sill DSoY (Staff Sgt.) Lindsay Hultman, who designed the competition.
In his speech, Col. José Thompson, 434th FA Brigade commander, said the five competitors represent the best of the best.
"They're the best leaders, and they're the best trainers of Soldiers," he said. "All five of them are better for having the willingness and the excellence to compete."
During the ceremony, Thompson and Poindexter presented all the competitors with the Army Achievement Medal.
Army Reserve DSoY (Staff Sgt.) Christopher Croslin, 1st Brigade, 95th Training Division, Norman, Okla., currently assigned to Fort Sill with the 434th FA "Destroyer" Brigade, assisted running the competition. In his speech, Croslin spoke about the history of the drill sergeant, and the missions given them today.
"The responsibility rests on the drill sergeants to ensure our Soldiers have the tools necessary to survive in combat, by producing competent and confident war fighters," said Croslin, who will be here until October.
As part of the ceremony, the hundreds of drill sergeants in attendance recited "The Drill Sergeant Creed" in unison: "... I will instill pride in all I train, pride in self, in the Army and in country."
Hultman reflected on her year as DSoY.
"It's been a great year, great experiences," she said. "I was able to see these (TRADOC) changes, and influence what's happening in the basic training environment."
Hultman said she will now help prepare Burdulinksi for the TRADOC competition. After that, Hultman will remain at the 434th FA Brigade and assist with Initial Entry Training and Advanced Individual Training.
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