JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- (Sep. 3, 2015) A Mission and Installation Contracting Command Soldier missed the top spot by only a few points in the 2015 Army Materiel Command's Best Warrior Competition Aug. 24-28 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
Sgt. 1st Class Enes Memic, a contracting specialist with the MICC-Fort Polk contracting office in Louisiana, was named the runner-up non-commissioned officer of the year for AMC. He will represent the AMC if the winner is unable to compete in October.
The competition featured 10 Soldiers from various units across AMC, testing each individual with challenges of physical and mental toughness to be named the command's best warrior.
"Sergeant Memic is absolutely phenomenal," said Lt. Col. Tom Kelley, director of the MICC-Fort Polk contracting office. "We are very proud of his achievement and the positive news it brings to the Army Contracting Command, MICC, 419th Contracting Support Brigade and our office. We share his wife Anna's excitement, and we are glad that he is able to celebrate his achievement with the recent birth of a healthy son."
Memic was satisfied with his performance, but felt he could do better in a few of the events. Prior to entering, Memic spent months training for the competition.
"Physically, I prepared by following an online training program," he said. "I trained for warrior tasks and battle drills by studying the "Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks" and simulating the tasks whenever possible. I also practiced shooting at the Engagement Skills Trainer whenever I got the chance and did a mock board with a group of Audie Murphy-qualified senior NCOs with the 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Polk."
Even his fellow Soldiers noticed the New York City native's determination for improvement.
"Sergeant Memic remained focused on preparing for the competition for the past couple of months," said Sgt. 1st Class Aurelio Medina, 743rd Contracting Team NCO in charge. "I was very impressed with Sergeant Memic's performance and how much better he has done since the ACC Best Warrior Competition."
During the competition, Soldiers faced each event without any prior knowledge of what was coming next. Each Soldier participated in 28 events, employed five different weapons systems, expended about 5,000 rounds of ammunition and travelled more than 40 miles of diverse terrain. The final day began with a 12-mile ruck march followed by a formal military board where competitors faced questions from six command sergeants major from throughout the organization.
For Memic, the final day was the toughest.
"The 12-mile road march was the toughest event, only because it came at the end of an exhausting three days of competing," Memic said. "It was the first time in my Army career that it took me more than three hours to walk 12 miles."
Even though he did not win the top prize this year, he won the respect and support of his command and fellow Soldiers.
"Sergeant Memic studied and prepared physically, even with a newborn child at home," Medina said. "That takes hard work and dedication to be the best Soldier, not only in the AMC, but also the U.S. Army."
As for competing next year, that is for Memic to decide. As far as his command thinks, he has a good chance of being even better.
"Seeing what he has done this year, we are confident that he will win AMC's competition next year," Kelley said.
Social Sharing