FORT BLISS, Texas - What does it take to be the best? The 1st Armored Division artillery challenged three Soldiers and two non-commissioned officers to answer that question during DIVARTY's Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer of the Year competition, held across Fort Bliss, Texas from April 15-17, 2015.
DIVARTY NCO of they Year Sgt. Anthony Spall, Cortez, Colo., native, medic, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, and DIVARTY Soldier of the Year, Spc. Raymond King, Deer Park, Ohio, native, cannon crew member, Battery B, 2nd Bn., 3rd FAR, answered.
Spall, King and the rest of the candidates competed in various events during the three-day competition. They completed the marksmanship qualification, day and night land navigation, combatives, warrior tasks and battle drills, an obstacle course, a written exam, a modified Army Physical Fitness Test and a leadership board. These events tested the Soldiers' capabilities to think and act in stressful situations.
"The competition we do here is to select the best and prepare them to face their competitors in the division level," said Command Sgt. Major Franklin Jacobs, DIVARTY Command Sgt. Major. "This competition was specifically designed to mirror the division level competition to give the Soldiers a better idea of the events in the higher level."
Ultimately, according to Jacobs the competition was designed to challenge them both mentally and physically, because if they aren't challenged at a brigade level, they'll be at a disadvantage at the division and higher competitions.
And now with the results in hand the two candidates are ramping up their preparation for the division level.
"Lots of studying, lots of combatives, more range time and more full days preparing for the division level," said Spall.
But with preparation comes motivation to excel during the upcoming competitions.
"My family and my friends motivated me, they kept pushing me, they gave me the drive to keep going during the competition," said King. "It feels good to win."
The competition isn't all glory for King and Spall, it reinforced the need to lead and share their knowledge and experience with their units.
"I learned things that I can show my guys and teach them, I would like to help other Soldiers compete one day too." said King.
As for Spall the competition or the next isn't the end of a journey he started at a company board months ago, but just the beginning for something every Soldier in the Army from private to general can be.
"Better, a better Soldier," said Spall.
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