Space and Missile Defense NCO, Soldier battle for the title of Best Warrior
September 30, 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense/Army Forces Strategic Command's top two Soldiers are readying to compete against 24 of the Army's top warriors from 12 other commands in the Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va., on Oct. 2.
Staff Sgt. Andrew B. Brown, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Sgt. Brandon Kitchen, Soldier of the Year, will compete in activities designed to test their knowledge and skills as a Soldier. Both Soldiers are part of the 1st Space Brigade, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colo.
The two competitors from USASMDC/ARSTRAT were selected to represent the command after winning the command-wide competition in Colorado Springs in June. They have been training for the Army-wide competition for the past several weeks, as the competition will test them in all areas of being a Soldier. Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler will oversee the Army-wide competition.
Brown is stationed in Colorado Springs with the 1st Space Battalion, and is a Joint Tactical Ground Station training and evaluations noncommissioned officer in charge.
"I'm very excited for the moment to be here, finally. All the training and mentorship I have received has prepared me to win the Best Warrior Competition. I'm ready to go forward and do my best and hope to bring the honor of this prestigious accomplishment back to the command," Brown said.
Kitchen, a Colorado Springs native, is stationed at Fort Detrick, Md., with the 53rd Signal Battalion, where he is a satellite communications operator.
"I am extremely excited to attend the 2011 Best Warrior Competition and represent the Space and Missile Defense Command as the Soldier of the Year. I cannot express how grateful I am to have experienced all of my training and competitions, because it has allowed me to grow as a Soldier, and as a leader. I look forward to spending a week competing with the top Soldiers in the Army to find out who truly is the Best Warrior," Kitchen said.
Beginning with a physical training test, where the Soldiers will compete in a timed two-mile run and perform pushups and situps, the week-long competition in Virginia will push all 26 Warriors physically and mentally.
A command sergeants major board will test Army knowledge in areas such as military leadership, current affairs, survival, and other focus areas of being a Soldier. During this board, the Soldiers will be evaluated on their answers, as well as their uniform appearance and how they conduct themselves in front of the Army's senior enlisted leaders.
The winner of the competition will be announced at the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting on Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C. The Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year will receive a cash award in recognition of their achievements, and go on to represent the Army at special events throughout the year.