Year of the NCO: Vanguard Bde Announces Soldier, NCO of Quarter

By Staff Sgt. Tanya Polk, 4th IBCT, 3rd ID Public AffairsJune 4, 2009

Vanguard Bde Announces Soldier, NCO of Quarter
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FORT STEWART, Ga. Aca,!" Two combat arms Soldiers outshined their competition at the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's 3rd Quarter Board, May 26. Specialist David Quintero, Battery A, 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, and Corporal Gregory Touzani, Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, were named the Vanguard Brigade's Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter, respectively. Both troops will represent their brigade at the 3rd Infantry Division-level competition slated for Friday.

Each winner competed against four Soldiers in a battle to be recognized as the 'best of the best' and were drilled on a series of Army-related topics by 4th IBCT command sergeants major.

Board President and Vanguard Brigade Command Sergeant Major Louis Torres said the competition was stiff and though there can only be one Soldier and NCO selected to advance, all board participants were winners for having made it this far. The senior enlisted advisor explained that prior to the brigade-level board, Soldiers must first attend their perspective battalion competition.

Specialist Quintero, a native of Wallis, Texas, said he won the 1/76 FA board having only two days notice. He said preparing for the 4th IBCT board was a lot more demanding, but that sacrificing his personal time to study for the competition was well worth it.

"You have to go above and beyond," Spc. Quintero said, adding that he studied every chance he got for three weeks before the brigade board. "You have to do what's necessary to separate yourself from your peers."

The field artilleryman said help from his unit leadership and mentorship from his older brother, a sergeant stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, aided his win.

"They gave me good pointers," Spc. Quintero said. "You can always learn a little something from everybody."

Command Sergeant Major Torres said the young Soldier broke a brigade record as Spc. Quintero walked away with the highest amount of board points; his score even trumped the NCOs'.

Corporal Touzani said it was self-confidence that pushed him to the top of the competition.

When asked how he felt he'd fair out at the division-level board, the junior NCO hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, said, "No doubt, I'll do well."

The 3rd ID Soldier and NCO of the Quarter results will be announced in next week's edition of the Frontline.

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