FORT SILL, Okla. (March 6, 2014) -- When Michael Shannon and his girlfriend, Tara Eisma, were at West Sioux High School in Iowa in 2003, they would cram for tests together. Now Sgt. 1st Class Shannon and his wife, Tara, still study together for his Army boards. He credits her with helping him win the 2013 Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill Noncommissioned Officer of the Year title.

"My wife deserves a lot of the credit. She probably knows just as much about the knowledge portion because she was the one who helped me," said Shannon, B Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery Advanced Individual Training instructor.

Shannon along with AIT Platoon Sergeant of the Year Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Everett, Drill Sergeant of the Year (Sgt. 1st Class) William Schmidt and Soldier of the Year Cpl. Jaypee Pardo were recognized for their accomplishments Feb. 26 at the Patriot Club. Hundreds of fellow Soldiers, families, friends and community sponsors attended the event.

Guest speaker Command Sgt. Maj. David Carr, 428th Field Artillery Brigade CSM, said the honorees represent the epitome of what a Soldier should be.

"They are passionate about being the best they can be," Carr said. He noted that each had to gothrough a rigorous process beginning at the battery or company level, that included a grueling board in front of senior NOCs, written and practical tests as well as a PT test. The process was repeated at the battalion and yet again at brigade levels.

Carr commended every Soldier who took on the challenge to compete in their respective category, and he called them all winners.

"I applaud all the competitors across Fort Sill who had the guts to get out of their comfort zones and strive for excellence," the CSM said.

Carr went on to quote President Teddy Roosevelt: "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena ... who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

AIT PLAT0ON SERGEANT

Everett, of B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery, said his role as an AIT platoon sergeant is to transition Soldiers from a basic training role into a Forces Command (FORSCOM) unit. He described the competition as very intense, and said he did not regret doing it.

What did it take to win? "Determination and support from my first sergeant and fellow NCOs," said Everett, who enlisted in the Army in October 2002.

Everett's supervisor 1st Sgt. Jimmie Marshal, B/2-6th ADA, said Everett's recognition was well deserved.

"His dedication to his job and his Soldiers is so far above the standard," Marshal said. "He's a great noncommissioned officer, who is always doing everything right."

DRILL SERGEANT

Schmidt of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 434th Field Artillery Brigade, said it was an honor to be Fort Sill DSoY.

He said as a squad leader in the infantry he always loved training his Soldiers.

"It's what we do, we train Soldiers," Schmidt said. So when he was selected to be a drill sergeant, training was not new for him.

Schmidt's supervisor 1st Sgt. James Wallace, D Battery, 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery, described the drill sergeant as an outstanding trainer.

"He cares about the Soldiers, and is passionate about his instruction," Wallace said. "And, he's never afraid to accept another challenge, like the drill sergeant of the year competition."

Schmidt placed second at the Armywide DSoY competition last summer.

NCO

Shannon said that as an NCO, he is expected to lead by example and set the standard.

"There's no better way than getting out there competing to be the best," Shannon said. "Iron sharpens iron, so shall one man sharpen another."

Shannon did not down play the rigors of the boards, but he said after a couple combat tours: "At the end of the day going in front of people -- it's just questions coming at you, not bullets."

He was at the ceremony with his wife, young son, Wyatt, and his parents, Lonnie and Pat, who made the drive through an Iowa blizzard.

SOLDIER

Pardo said he joined the Army for the full experience and competing in boards is part of that experience. He said it was a great feeling winning Soldier of the Year.

"It took a lot of hard work and dedication, and I sacrificed a lot of time," Pardo said.

The 22-year old Hawaii native recommended the competition to everyone.

"It's a good experience. Even if you don't win, you learn a lot just by preparing and competing," he said. Pardo will move on to the FORSCOM Soldier of the Year competition in July.

All of the honorees were presented Army Commendation Medals from ceremony hosts Col. Tracy Banister and Command Sgt. Maj. Dwight Morrisey, FCoE and Fort Sill chief of staff and CSM, respectively. They also received the FCoE CSM Coin of Excellence and numerous gifts from community sponsors.