CRDAMC's Soldier of the Year a 'Soldier's Soldier'

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and Regional Health Command-Central's Soldier of the Year, Sgt. Ian Ramsey has crossed the finish line in his quest to earn the Army's coveted title of "Best Warrior." Although he finished second in May's Army Medicine competition, it wasn't a loss, but a new journey for the 27-year-old Soldier.

"There's a responsibility that comes with that win," said Ramsey, who, after winning Army Medicine' central regional competition, was promoted to sergeant. "You've displayed that you have the capability to do these things, and now it's your duty to pass on what you know to the next generation of Soldiers."

Even though the preparation and the competition were grueling, the Seattle native said the experience has been invaluable.

"It just makes you a better Soldier because you're now more prepared mentally and physically for anything the Army might ask you to do. The more you know and the more you're able to do, the more useful you are to the Army and to your fellow Soldiers," he said, adding that training for the competitions has helped in gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of Army traditions and standards. "I was academically aware of these things, but I didn't really have a true understanding of the stewardship of professionalism that makes the Army great."

According to Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, the Best Warrior Competition recognizes "Soldiers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values, embody the Warrior Ethos, and represent the Force of the Future."

"It's the whole Soldier concept," Dailey said. "We want to make sure everyone is well-rounded."

Each leg of the Army Best Warrior competition tests Soldier's skills and aptitudes in urban warfare simulations, board interviews, physical fitness tests, written exams, and Warrior tasks and battle drills relevant to today's operating environment.

"It was an intense experience," said the x-ray technician who also doubles down as aide to CRDAMC's top enlisted advisor.

Ramsey, who enlisted in 2013, said one of the most challenging tasks throughout the competition was night navigation during the regional competition at Fort Polk, La., this past March.

"We're in the woods of Louisiana in a torrential rainstorm. It's basically one big forest so you can't really do any terrain association or even read your compass," he said, adding that abysmal weather conditions prevented celestial navigation. "It was pitch black with zero visibility. The only way to navigate out there was making sure the pace count was on point."

Additionally, footing was problematic because the rain had turned the ground into muck. Every step, he said, became wasted energy because of the amount of exertion needed to raise his muds-soaked boots out of the muck.

"It was tough, but exhilarating," he said, "but if it's not challenging, what's the point? The end result, after you think about all the steps you did to get to the competition, is 'Wow, I built this.'"

Ramsey, who loves obstacle courses and endurance running, said the most important take way from all the competitions is the value of year-round training and preparation.

"It's not just training when you know you're going to the board and are training up for it," he said, adding how grateful he is to the CRDAMC team who worked with his schedule and gave him training time. "It's really what you do the rest of the year."

Ramsey, according to CRDAMC Troop Command Sgt. Maj. Melissa McFrazier, exemplifies professionalism.

"He gives 110 percent effort in anything and everything he does," she said, praising him on his Soldier instincts. "Even though he's a newly promoted sergeant, he acts like he's been a sergeant for some time because of how he carries himself. He is a 'Soldier's Soldier' and a warrior and an example for others to emulate."

That dedication, she said, also was showcased during the Canadian forces' 2016 Starlight Challenge, an international competition for combat medics held May 13-15 at 2nd Canadian Division Valcartier, Quebec. This was the first year the United States has competed. More than 100 Soldiers manned the 20 teams that included Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

"Without any preparation or notice, his team came in third," she said, adding that the American team representing Army Medicine only had two days to learn the Canadian weapons systems and medical protocols.

Ramsey, who said he was honored to represent Army Medicine, said his team's success was a testament to Army training. "Our training is so standardized that we were able to work together even though we had never been on a team together."

Overall, he said, no matter how you finish in any Army competition it's about being your best.

"If you fail at one task, you move on and try to better at the next task," he said, encouraging Soldiers to go outside of their comfort zone and be that total Soldier and a steward of Army professionalism. "That's what the Army warrior competition has meant to me. If I'm just competing for myself, than I'm not part of the team. I might as well get out of the Army because being part of a team is one of the reasons I am in the Army."

Even though the Ramsey won't be representing Army Medicine in the 2016 Best Warrior competition, he still considers himself a winner.

"There are no losers in this competition," he said. "I'm honored to have competed and to have gained all this knowledge and experience. Even though I don't have any Soldiers now, one day I will. And I don't want to ever ask a Soldier to do something that I haven't done."

This fall, 20 of the Army's finest Warriors, representing 10 commands from across the Army, will compete in the 2016 Best Warrior Competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, Sept. 26 to Oct. 3, 2016.