Fort Belvoir names NCO, Soldier of the Quarter

By Justin Creech, Belvoir EagleMarch 7, 2013

Sgt. Patrick Wilson, 12th Aviation Battalion
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Spc. Cody Forsythe, 212th Military Police Detachment
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U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir held its Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter boards Thursday at the garrison headquarters building.

Sgt. Patrick Wilson, 12th Aviation Battalion, helicopter mechanic, earned the NCO of the quarter title, while Spc. Cody Forsythe, 212th Military Police Detachment, military policeman brought the Soldier of the quarter honors back to his unit.

Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Chester D. Grelock; Headquarters Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Carolyn Reynolds; 12th Aviation Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. William Yeargan; Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical U.S. Army Element Troop Command South, Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Craig; and Master Sgt. Tamika Wynn, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Coordinator comprised the selection board.

The board chose Forsythe and Wilson from a combination of 17 NCOs and specialists because they best exemplified the characteristics the selection board looks for: professionalism, confidence, military bearing and how well their uniform fit.

Reynolds said she looked for specific traits.

"Their knowledge and confidence," Reynolds said. "If they didn't know an answer they would say so and not try to fake their way through it."

Candidates were notified three weeks prior to facing the board of their selection. Forsythe and Wilson said they were proud to have won and represented their units to the best of their ability.

"I'm surprised. I studied and prepared for it, but nobody expects to win, especially at this level," said Forsythe. "If your leaders have the confidence to send you to these boards you want to do your best to make them and your organization look good."

"I'm glad I studied as much as I did. I think we had a lot of good Soldiers and NCO's come out for this," said Wilson. "I didn't expect to win, but I'm glad I did."

The interviews required the NCO's to recite the NCO and Soldiers creed, while the Soldiers recited the Soldiers creed. Candidates were then asked to give a brief biography of themselves to the board and state their short and long-term goals.

Wilson and Forsythe said the award is the first step in what they plan to be long and successful Army careers.

"It's an accomplishment I can always look back at and be proud of," said Wilson. "I'm glad I was able to represent the unit and our chain of command well, since they were really pulling for me."

Forsythe, while justifiably proud to have done well, thinks the selection is also a statement on his development as an NCO.

"Yes, I won the board, but it's ultimately about preparing to lead Soldiers and benefitting them," said Forsythe. "That's all you can hope for, is to be a good leader."

The questions the candidates were asked covered various topics like drill procedures, the difference between sexual harassment and sexual assault, Army history and their chain of command.

The questions were asked in a rapid fire format to see how quickly the Soldiers could provide the answers.

Forsythe said being a Military Policeman helped him handle the pressure of the rapid fire set up.

"In my line of work, I talk to high ranking officials on occasion," said Forsythe. "So, it fazed me, but you just have to work through it."

Wilson said being asked questions on different subjects quickly is a good way to test how well a person knows the material, because of how fast you have to think of the answer.

"I think it really showed how much you know, having to jump from subject to subject," said Wilson. "You either knew the material or you didn't at that point."

Reynolds said the Soldiers and NCO's that did not win shouldn't be discouraged. They should take the critiques they were given and continue to improve themselves.

"We told the sponsors afterwards what to take back to the Soldiers to prepare them for future boards," said Reynolds. "We also told them don't stop coming just because you didn't win, the only way you are going to improve yourself is to continue to do it."