BAGHDAD--Quick--how many nations were present at the signing of the Geneva Convention? What are the six groups individual awards can be grouped into? What are three field-expedient methods of land navigation? Now, imagine pondering these questions having completed--all in the previous 36 hours--an 8-mile road march in full body armor, immediately followed by a rifle range, a mentally-taxing battery of Soldier tasks and drills, and a full Army Physical Fitness Test with chin-ups.
That's exactly what seven candidates did--three Soldiers and four noncommissioned officers--while competing Sept. 26-27 for the right to be called the 2011 2nd "Dagger" Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Soldier and NCO of the Year and represent the Dagger Brigade at the 1st Inf. Div. competition.
"The NCO and Soldier selected as the NCO and Soldier of the Year are expected to demonstrate a high degree of physical fitness, technical proficiency, demonstrate proficiency in their warrior tasks, and demonstrate support of the Army Values by their actions," said Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney R. Lewis, command sergeant major of the Dagger Brigade and a Lynchburg, Ohio, native. "What impressed me most about the candidates was their physical fitness levels and their knowledge of the boarded subject areas."
Though each competitor gave their all and brought credit upon themselves and their units, there could be only one winner per division. Sgt. Luther Snow, an infantryman with Company B, 1st "Vanguard" Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment and a Culpeper, Va., native, won the NCO division while Sgt. Steven Salas, a satellite operator with "Griffin" Special Troops Battalion and a Woodbridge, Va., native, who competed as a Soldier, as he had won the Soldier of the Quarter competition as a specialist, came out on top among the Soldiers.
Because Salas is now an NCO, one of the runners-up in the Soldier division, Pfc. Robert Hamberg, a tanker with Company C, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment and a Lincoln, Neb., native, will represent the brigade at the 1st Inf. Div. competition.
"My fellow competitors all did really well and represented their battalions really well," said Salas. "There was a kind of camaraderie amongst the candidates, where you push each other, and you don't want anyone to do less than their best."
The formal board was the final hurdle for the candidates, and took place the morning of the Sept. 27, following an early-morning APFT. The previous day began at 4 a.m., with the eight-mile road march around Camp Liberty, Iraq. The road march was then followed immediately by a 'stress shoot' at which the candidates fired 40 rounds at various targets from three firing positions. Some candidates shot extremely well, while fatigue was evident with others. After a short break, the candidates reconvened for a battery of tests on their warrior skills, such as assembling weapons, headspace and timing on an M-2 .50-cal. machine gun, first aid, calling in a medical evacuation, and land navigation.
"Preparing for the competition was a months-long process, and to prepare, I was road marching every week and running every other night," said Snow. "I was constantly drilling on my Soldier tasks until they became muscle memory."
Snow credited a pair of Soldiers who work under him, Spc. Brandon Dupree and Pfc. Cole Marr, with being vital in his preparation, as they were with him during the road marches and helping him with his run.
For his part, Salas, who as a satellite operator, doesn't usually work with weapons systems like the M-240B and M-249 machine guns, coordinated with his battalion arms room to get his hands on some with which to practice his Soldier tasks.
Both Snow and Salas have told their families of their victory and are justifiably proud of their achievements.
"Excellence is demonstrating superiority," said Lewis. "To be selected as the NCO or Soldier of the Year, Soldiers are required to perform every task to the highest standard and prove they are the best in everything they do."
Lewis believes the Dagger Brigade representatives are capable of bringing credit to the brigade at the division competition and even beyond.
"I am confident the winners will represent the Dagger Brigade in an outstanding manner at the division-level competition," he said. "The Dagger Soldiers are prepared to win at the division-level today, and with continued preparation, they will represent the brigade at the Army-level."
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