FORT LEE, Va. (July 29, 2021) – Kenner Army Health Clinic has one of the 16 Soldiers competing in the U.S. Army Medical Command 2021 Best Leader Competition July 25-30, held on the Island of Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Spc. Bricen Bolson, KAHC Radiology specialist, was selected to represent the Regional Health Command-Atlantic in this year’s competition.
“Spc. Bolson is an outstanding Soldier and represents the core values of the Army,” said Sgt. Kelsie Bischoff, KAHC Radiology supervisor. “As an X-ray tech, he has exemplified hard work and proven [to] be [a] dedicated Soldier.”
“Bolson has taken on any tasks given and completed his national registry and is prepping now for the Interservice Physician Assistant Program,” Bischoff added. “For him to compete at the Army Medical Command Best Leader Competition, he is demonstrating what hard work and dedication can lead to and the opportunities that become available when a Soldier puts in hard work. We are proud to have him here in Radiology and at Kenner.”
In preparation for the competition, Bolson trained with other Kenner Soldiers on multiple occasions on everything from physical training to chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosive training to medical lane training. He was trained by Sgt. 1st Class Jasson Martin from Troop Medical Clinic 1 on Tactical Combat Casualty Care to better prepare him for the competition. We have full faith in his abilities to perform his best out in Hawaii and wish him the best of luck!”
The Best Leader Competition originated to promote “esprit de corps” throughout the Army while recognizing Soldiers and noncommissioned officers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values and embody the Warrior Ethos. The competition recognizes Soldiers who demonstrate superb military bearing, communication skills, knowledge of various military subjects and the ability to perform a variety of Soldier/Warrior skills above their peers.
To earn the right to compete in the annual MEDCOM competition, the Soldiers first competed and won at the unit and Regional Health Command levels in Ft. Stewart, Georgia. The challenge consisted of warrior skills such as water survival, an obstacle course and day land navigation, combat casualty medical care under pressure, a written test, an oral board, a tactical CBRN lane, a ruck march and a “stress shoot.” There was also a “mystery event” which was detainee operations.
“The competition is in Hawaii and will be much harder as Spc. Bolson will be going up against all of the Regional Health Command winners,” said Medical Company Commander Capt. Javier Colon, who also participated in one of the Regional Health Command competitions.
“Spc. Bolson will do an outstanding job and has what it takes to bring home first place,” Colon added. “He is hungry to win and has what it takes.”
The competitors currently competing in Hawaii represent the Army’s four regional medical commands: RHC-Pacific, RHC-Atlantic, RHC-Central, and RHC-Europe.
The MEDCOM Soldier and NCO of the Year will be announced in an award ceremony at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii on July 30, 2021.
Keep up with the competition on social media: at www.facebook/OfficialArmyMedicine on Facebook and @ArmyMedicine on Twitter.
All images and video from the competition will be available at https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/ArmyMedicineBestLeaderCompetition.
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