Col. Tracy Banister, FCoE and Fort Sill chief of staff, congratulates Spc. Jaypee Pardo, A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, and Fort Sill's Soldier of the Quarter, after presenting him with an Army Commendation Medal while Sgt. Kenneth Mo...

FORT SILL, Okla. -- Spc. Jaypee Pardo, A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, was named the Fort Sill Soldier of the Quarter, but his peers said he should've been named Soldier of the decade.

"He is humble, selfless and a consummate teammate. Pardo deserves every award and accolade he obtains for many reasons, the least of which is winning boards. Specialist Pardo is the Soldier of the Quarter, but he is our battery Soldier of the decade," said Sgt. Kenneth Moore, 2-5th FA.

Command Sgt. Maj. Sam Young, Field Artillery School CSM, pointed out that Pardo has achieved a lot already at a young age. At 22 years old, Pardo has been in the Army for almost two and a half years. He joined the National Guard in 2011, but quickly went active duty.

"Here's a young Soldier who did everything he could to prove he was a professional," said Young.

Pardo rose through the ranks with hard work, first being promoted in Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, S.C., for overall outstanding performance and later in Advanced Individual Training here as a 13D, automated tactical data systems specialist, where he was the distinguished honor graduate.

"These competitions are tough. It's not just a board like the old days might have been. Nowadays we do an actual competition," said Young.

Pardo competed against others on post in an Army Physical Fitness Test, warrior skills test and a board. Moore said he is a hard worker, a fast learner, and an exceptional leader.

Young challenged the Soldiers in attendance to follow Pardo's footsteps in competing. He said Pardo had focus and that helped him win over the other competitiors.

"Competitions like this make Soldiers and notice what I like to call chinks in their armor," said Young.

He said to be a professional they must seek excellence throughout their entire career.

"It's easy to figure out your strengths, and as Soldiers, we love to talk about our strengths but what are your weaknesses? You have to identify those weaknesses, and you have to work on them."

Pardo was assigned to operations in Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 2-5th FA, but is now a member of A Battery, 2-5th FA's Fire Direction Center.

He received many gifts from local community sponsors and an Army Commendation Medal for his Soldier of the Quarter achievement.