South Dakota Army National Guard names Soldier, NCO of the Year

YANKTON, S.D. - The South Dakota Army National Guard brought four enlisted Soldiers and four non-commissioned officers to Yankton, April 20-22, to compete in the state's Best Warrior Competition, which names the Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, respectively.

After the three-day competition, Staff Sgt. Shane Wilkinson, with Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, was named the 2017 SDARNG Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year and Spc. Lucas Scott, 842nd Engineer Company, the SDARNG Soldier of the Year.

"The importance of this event is readiness," said State Command Sgt. Maj. James Hoekman, the SDNG's senior enlisted leader. "Everything we do in the National Guard is to support our two missions, which is to have a ready force to engage, fight, and win our nation's wars, and to be ready to perform our state mission when called upon."

Day one of the competition began with a very brief welcome from Hoekman, a quick shakedown and inspection, and competitors were soon taking the Army Physical Fitness Test, comprised of push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run.

Following the APFT, Soldiers took an exam on map reading, grid coordinates and terrain association. After handing in their exams, they changed into the Army Service Uniform for an interview board comprised of four command sergeants major, a uniform inspection and a proficiency test on drill and ceremony.

"The competition is rigorous - both physically and intellectually," said Hoekman. "We're bringing back the field craft and the warrior skills that every Soldier should have."

The following day began at dark, with a night land-navigation test, a timed ruck march, and once the sun had risen, a daytime land-navigation course. Various stations followed, designed to test warrior tasks and battle drills, such as the ability to evaluate and treat a casualty, to set up radio communications and request medical evacuation, vehicle maintenance, knowledge and proficiency on various weapons systems and reacting to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and/or explosive materials.

The third day of the competition included an essay and exam and then command sergeants major complete the final grading and evaluations.

"This year's competition was extremely close," said Hoekman. "The Soldiers were very well prepared. In fact, the Soldier of the Year competition came down to a tiebreaker on an exam. Our competitors maintained the high level of expertise that always has been known in the South Dakota National Guard."

Wilkinson and Scott will move on to the Region 6 Best Warrior Competition next month at Fort Lewis, Washington, where they will represent the SDARNG against Soldiers from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota.

"It was an honor to even be selected to compete," said Scott, of Rapid City, who has served in the SDARNG just under three years.

Joining Scott in the Soldier of the Year competition were Spc. Derek Kocer, Company B, 139th Brigade Support Battalion, the 2017 Soldier of the Year runner-up/alternate; Spc. Brianna Bohn, 740th Transportation Company; and Spc. Elijah Houchens, Company C, 189th Aviation Battalion.

"It means a lot to me," said Wilkinson, a Faulkton native and member of the SDARNG for 19 years. "I trained hard for this; not only for this competition but the brigade-level competition as well."

Wilkinson's fellow NCOs in the competition were Sgt. Austin Pearce, 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, the 2017 NCO of the Year runner-up/alternate; Sgt. 1st Class Cindy Erickson, 1st Battalion, 196th Regiment (Regional Training Institute); and Staff Sgt. Thomas Wanzek, Joint Force Headquarters.

While Wilkinson and Scott will move on to represent South Dakota in the regional competition, and potentially nationally, it was the year leading up to the competition that ultimately affects the organization as a whole.

"You have to refresh yourself when preparing for a contest like this," said Wilkinson. "As a result, it will allow me to provide my Soldiers with more quality training."

"We want all of our competitors to bring the skills back to their respective units and to work with their leadership to continue stressing the importance of training warrior tasks and Soldier skills," Hoekman said. "This all comes back to readiness."

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