FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, June 12, 2015) ��- The U.S. Army Special Operations Command announced the winners of this year's Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year during a ceremony concluding USASOC's 2015 Best Warrior Competition, June 12.
This year's NCO of the Year, Staff Sgt. Rodney O. Cabebe, and Soldier of the Year, Spc. Emanuel L. Moore are from U.S Army Special Operations Aviation Command.
"What impressed me about this year's competition the most is the Soldier's love for service," said Command Sgt. Maj. George Bequer, USASOC command sergeant major. "This competition is about Warrior Tasks. At the end it's the NCO's responsibility and the Soldier's responsibility to carry out orders; it's about training, it's about combat tasks, it's about shoot, move and communicate."
Cabebe, a radio and communications repair NCO, has served 11 years in the military and serves as a combat skills instructor for the Army's only Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion, Fort Campbell, Ky.
Moore, a radio and communications repair specialist, has served in the military for 18 months and is assigned to1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.
"It truly is an honor and I look forward to competing at the Department of the Army level," said Moore.
The runner-up for NCO of the Year was Sgt. Robert A. Love, 75th Ranger Regiment. The runner-up for Soldier of the Year was Spc. Alexander W. Van Meter, 75th Ranger Regiment.
This year's USASOC Best Warrior Competition, which started on June 8, featured representatives from four subordinate commands within Army Special Operations Forces. The competitors where judged on the following events: written essay and general Army subjects exam, The Army Physical Fitness Test, a stress fire range, day and night land navigation, combatives, Army Warrior Tasks testing, and concluded with a military board featuring a panel of sergeants major from across the command.
"Every one of [these Soldiers] represents the traits of the ARSOF Soldier," said Lt. Gen. Charles T. Cleveland, commanding general for USASOC.
The NCO and Soldier of the year will represent USASOC at the Sergeant Major of the Army's Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the year "Best Warrior" competition in October. The runner-up NCO and Soldier of the Year must be prepared to assume the responsibility for representing the command if for some reason either of the winners cannot complete their requirements over the next year.
This year's competitors were:
1st Special Forces Command (Airborne)
Staff Sgt. Lukasz Herbst, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Spc. Dillon Corcoran, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School
Sgt. 1st Class Artom Neekonov
Spc. Jeffrey A. Walter
United States Army Special Operations Aviation Command
Staff Sergeant Rodney O. Cabebe, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
Spc. Emanuel L. Moore, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
75th Ranger Regiment
Sgt. Robert A. Love
Spc. Alexander W. Van Meter
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