ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- After a long day of intensive competition, command sergeants majors from the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, congratulated ATEC's top Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer during the ATEC's first formal NCO and Soldier of the Year competition at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Oct. 1.
The NCO and Soldier of the Year Competition tests competitors' Army aptitude which involves conquering urban warfare simulations, board interviews, physical fitness tests, essays and warrior tasks and battle drills relevant to today's operating environment.
Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Prager, airborne test force shop foreman from Yuma Proving Ground, was named ATECs NCO of the Year and Spc. Chiquita Barrett, human resource specialist, ATEC headquarters, was named ATEC Soldier of the Year.
"This competition is an opportunity to recognize professional Soldiers that have decided to accept a challenge," said Maj. Gen. Peter D. Utley, ATEC commanding general. "These leaders live by the motto of 'what a leader must be, what a leader must know, and what a leader must do.'"
To be eligible for the NCO and Soldier of the Year competition, the NCO's and Soldiers had to first compete and win ATEC's quarterly board.
"This process entails many days of training and studying to come out as the best NCO and Soldier of the Year; and the commitment was evident in Sgt. 1st Class Prager and Spc. Barrett," said ATEC Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Orosz. "The top NCO and Soldier for any organization is a very prestigious title and is a true testament of the Soldiers character, competence, and commitment," he said.
The quarter winners in Fiscal Year 2014 are: Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Land, fire direction specialist, Fort Sill, Oklahoma was NCO of the 2nd Quarter; Prager and Barrett are the NCO and Soldier of the 3rd Quarter; and Staff Sgt. Scott Strahammer, research development test and evaluation from Electronic Proving Ground was named the NCO of the 4th Quarter.
"Instead of Soldiers competing at their home stations like ATEC has done in the past, I decided to have the Soldiers come together for the competition at Aberdeen Proving Ground here in Maryland," said Orosz.
All competitors participate in a formal interview in which they appear before a board of ATEC Command Sgts. Maj. to measure warrior competencies in various areas such as current events, code of conduct, land navigation, awards and decorations and first aid.
Serving on the board were Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Orosz, ATEC headquarters; Robert Austin, Army Evaluation Center; Jimmy Sellers, White Sands Missile Range; Alma Zeladaparedes, Dugway Proving Ground; Sean Ward, Yuma Proving Ground; and Kenneth Graham, Operational Test Center.
Warrior scores were based on the results of the performance testing and board appearance.
"Walking away from my first board appearance and competition as a Soldier, I learned that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, as long as you stay motivated," said Barrett. "This allows me to keep looking forward as I continue my career as a Soldier," she said.
Prager will represent ATEC in the Military District of Washington's competition next year. The event was deemed a success by Orosz whom credits Master Sgt. Sheila Sango, ATEC military career counselor and competition coordinator, for the integration, planning and logistics that went into executing this event.
"The overall the competition was outstanding," said Orosz. "Master Sgt. Sheila Sango was the backbone of the competition and pulled all the supporting units together. I appreciate her hard work and the support from each and every person that made this event possible," he said.
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