LIVORNO, Italy - Being a good leader requires a great deal of strength, determination and patience, which was evident as two very determined Soldiers set out to prove they were worthy of being called the 598th Transportation Group Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2009.
The two Soldiers, Sgt. Scott Yeager and Staff Sgt. James Phillips, made the trip from the Netherlands to Camp Darby, to display their physical and mental fitness, as well as being able to show that they could zero their weapons and put bullets on their targets.
"This competition has taught me responsibility. It has taught me to grow up and also to be a better person," said Yeager "It also taught me that there is something worth aspiring to."
Phillips added that touching the lives of so many troops makes his career worthwhile.
"To be able to mentor and train Soldiers and to go through the things that I have over the years, that is what is most important to me and stands out the most."
Col. Stephen Farmen, commander of 598th Transportation Group, said he couldn't be more proud of the Surface, Deployment, and Distribution Command's NCOs.
"They have embraced the Year of the NCO in a very profound way and reinforced this message in putting together this tough, spirited, yet healthy competition which proved to be a real professional test for our NCOs," said Farmen. "Command Sgt. Maj. James Riddick and his sergeants major and senior NCOs put together a competition which amplified the main pillars of the Year of the NCO: education, fitness, leadership and pride in service."
After a great deal of preparation, experience and mental focus, Yeager was named the 598th Transportation Group NCO of the year.
"What an honor it is for Sgt. Yeager to win our group's NCO of the Year competition, in this, the year of the NCO," said Farmen. "Congrats to all our competitors, and I am confident Sgt. Yeager will be ready to rise to the occasion and make us proud at the upcoming 'big' SDDC competition in Hawaii."
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