FORT LEE, Va. - The Combined Arms Support Command recognized the winners of its annual Best Warrior/Drill Sergeant of the Year Competition today at an early morning ceremony on Fort Lee’s Seay Field.
Specialist Jaleel Hunn, a 92A automated logistical specialist won CASCOM Best Warrior of the Year; Staff Sgt. Ryan Columbare, a 42R musician, won Best NCO of the Year; and Staff Sgt. Cabot Cobb, a school of music instructor, won Drill Sergeant of the Year.
The three were personally congratulated by Maj. Gen. Rodney D. Fogg, CASCOM and Fort Lee commanding general, and Command Sergeant Maj. Jorge C. Escobedo, CASCOM CSM. Each Soldier was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement in regard to their respective selections.
Fogg spoke favorably about all 15 participants who undertook the four-day competition, saying they embarked upon a journey of self-improvement; sacrificing much in pursuit of bettering their knowledge, skills and abilities.
“Whether you won or not, you’re still winners,” he said. “You’re all going to be better Soldiers having gone through this.”
This year’s Best Warrior Competition was a nonstop rigorous test of Soldier skills that consisted of the Army Combat Fitness Test, Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills, weapons ranges, land navigation, an essay, a 50-question general knowledge exam and a 12-mile ruck march.
The combination of physical and mental tests allowed each competitor to display their proficiency as a total Soldier. Each event was graded, and the winners were selected by the best overall score.
Competitors began each day around 4 a.m. and endured high temperatures mixed with humidity throughout the week.
The three winning Soldiers are now set to compete in the Training and Doctrine Command level of competition set for June 20-24 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
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