Lightning Warrior Week brings together NCO and former platoon sergeant

FORT HOOD, Texas - When Sgt. Timothy Vandruff, a Patriot fire control enhanced operator/maintainer from Kansas City, Kansas, arrived at 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade in April, he wanted an opportunity to show his leadership who he was as a leader.

Vandruff participated in Lightning Warrior Week, here, Sept. 22-26, and earned the title of "Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter."

The quarterly competition pits handpicked Soldiers from each unit in the brigade against each other to see who can perform the best in events including land navigation, weapons qualification, combatives, Army tasks and battle drills, and an interview board, held by the brigade's senior-enlisted Soldier, Command Sgt. Maj. William Maddox.

"I did want to better my own career, but at the same time, the whole purpose is to better the organization," Vandruff said.

Vandruff's senior leadership believed he had what it took to win the competition and knowing that motivated him throughout the week, he said.

The pressure to win didn't just come from the Soldiers within Vandruff's battalion. He also couldn't let down his former platoon sergeant and mentor, Master Sgt. Howard Hill, who refereed the combatives match and was a member of the board.

The two first met when Hill became Vandruff's platoon sergeant in 2011 during a deployment to Bahrain.

Though Vandruff deployed as a specialist, he became a sergeant by the end of the deployment.

"He was one of my most reliable NCOs," said Hill, who now serves as the noncommissioned officer in charge of 69th ADA Bde.'s electronic missile maintenance section.

Vandruff said Hill taught him a lot, including "never be satisfied where you're at; you can always be better."

Vandruff's perseverance during Lightning Warrior Week proved that the lessons instilled by Hill weren't in vain and that Vandruff lived the Warrior Ethos, Hill said.

"He's learned to understand that no matter what the situation is, you're not going to be perfect or get everything right, but you keep charging with that attitude and that will to win," Hill said.

Hill refereed the combatives match between Vandruff and another NCO, which Vandruff won by submission.

For Vandruff, the match felt like just training with Hill as his coach years ago, he said.

The final event of the competition was the board, where Vandruff sat in his dress uniform in front of several senior NCOs, including Hill, and answered questions about general military knowledge.

This was the hardest event, Vandruff said.

"It gave me more jitters because I've been on mock boards with [Hill] before, and he's very intense and very demanding," said Vandruff. "I know that he expects the most out of me."

Hill said that he does have different expectations for his former Soldier.

"I asked the same questions [to the competitors], but I have a higher expectation for [Vandruff]," Hill said. "I do have a sense of pride for him and a sense of responsibility for how he performs."

By winning the competition, Vandruff set the example for his Soldiers and showed them what right looks like, Hill said.

However, he said he hopes that the success doesn't end with Vandruff.

"It doesn't just stop with [Vandruff]," Hill said. "[He has] to ... teach [his Soldiers] now and bring them to the board at this level."

Lightning Warrior Week highlighted the best of the best, and at the end of the week, the brigade held an NCO Induction ceremony to emphasize the accomplishment of Soldiers who earned the rank of sergeant over the last quarter.

The III Corps senior enlisted Soldier, Command Sgt. Maj. Alonzo J. Smith, spoke at the NCO Induction Ceremony as a special guest. At the ceremony, both the brigade and the III Corps command sergeants major recognized Vandruff on his win.

Hill attended the ceremony and watched as his former Soldier received an Army Achievement Medal for winning the competition.

"He's built his foundation and he's doing very well," Hill said."I'm proud of him."