Top NCO, Soldier selected to represent USASMDC/ARSTRAT at DA Best Warrior Competition

By Dottie White (USASMDC/ARSTRAT)June 11, 2010

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PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command held the Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year competition June 7-11 on Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and Fort Carson, Colo.

After the weeklong competition, Staff Sgt. James Harris was selected as the 2010 USASMDC/ARSTRAT Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Spec. Matthew R. McLeod was selected as the 2010 USASMDC/ARSTRAT Soldier of the Year.

Harris, who is stationed at Delta Detachment, 1st Space Company, Misawa Air Base, Japan, represented the Pacific Region, and McLeod, who is with Delta Company, 53rd Signal Battalion, Camp Roberts, Calif., represented the Western Region.

The competition was comprised of an administrative board, a written exam, a strenuous Situational Awareness Training Exercise, an Army Physical Fitness Test, day and night urban orienteering, and M-4 weapons qualification.

The other competitors were Westerm Region NCO of the Year - Staff Sgt. Jeremy Cutshall, 1st Space Battalion, 2nd Space Company (first runner up); European Region NCO of the Year - Sgt. Melinda Saltzmann, Alpha Detachment, 1st Space Company; Eastern Region NCO of the Year - Sgt. Andrew Knife, Bravo Company, 53rd Signal Battalion; Pacific Region Soldier of the Year - Spc. Daniel L. Flores, Delta Detachment, 1st Space Company, Misawa Air Base, Japan (first runner up); and European Region Soldier of the Year - Spc. Samuel A. Coker, Alpha Detachment, 1st Space Company.

Harris and McLeod will represent USASMDC/ARSTRAT Oct. 17-22 at the 2010 DA Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va.