FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – After a three-day Best Leader Competition, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital named its Commissioned Officer, Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year during an award ceremony at the hospital, March 23.
Capt. Trevor Rice, a social worker assigned to the hospital’s Social Work Intern Program, Sgt. Mohammad Mansaray, a combat medic specialist assigned to the Emergency Center, and Spc. Angel Galvez, a medical laboratory specialist assigned to Department of Pathology, were named Commissioned Officer, NCO and Soldier of the Year, respectively.
“It speaks volumes about what each of these warfighters voluntarily went through and completed. When we talk about Army Medicine, we talk about readiness. We want to ensure our Soldiers are part of a ready medical Force to support the Army mission to deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars,” said Master Sgt. Johnny Thompson, BACH’s senior enlisted leader.
During the competition events like an 11-mile ruck march with a 60-pound load, combat water survival skills, tactical combat casualty care, day and night land navigation and stress shoot simulated conditions Soldiers could encounter caring for casualties during combat operations. Competitors were evaluated on their ability to perform each task in an accurate timely manner.
Competition coordinators also incorporated an Army Combat Fitness Test, marksmanship, an oral board, written exam and essay to round out the events.
“When we have Soldiers participate in training like this, they display desire and determination to become the best in their profession and set the standard for others to emulate,” added Thompson, praising all the competitors for their enthusiasm and perseverance.
“This is very humbling. It was a tough competition and I want to thank the [cadre] and my fellow competitors for this opportunity.” said Rice.
Mansaray also said that he was thankful for the opportunity and looks forward to training with his teammates and representing the hospital at the next level of competition later this year at the Medical Readiness Command, East, Best Squad Competition at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
For Galvez, this will be his second consecutive year representing BACH at the regional level.
“I’m excited. I’ve got my notes from last year and I’m ready to work with the team,” said Galvez, thanking his wife, lab team and leaders for their support.
Enlisted participants were previous BACH Soldier or NCO of the Quarter winners. The competition originated from the Soldier and NCO of the Year Competition, but with the inclusion of commissioned officers O1-O3 last year, was renamed Best Leader.
Other participants were Capt. Jennah Janney, Department of Physical Therapy; 1st Lt. Dylan Richardson, Nutrition Care Division; Sgt. Christian Shemo, Emergency Center; Cpl. Jillian Yim, Mother-Baby Unit; Spc. Stephon Clarke, Department of Surgery; and Spc. Alim Umarov, Emergency Center.
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