Stuttgart NCO named IMCOM's 'Best Warrior'

By Ms. Susan Huseman (IMCOM)September 1, 2009

Stuttgart NCO named IMCOM's 'Best Warrior'
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

STUTTGART, Germany -- Staff Sgt. Ronald White, a U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Military Policeman, is Installation Management Command's top noncommissioned officer for 2009.

White represented IMCOM-Europe at the five-day National Capital Region Best Warrior Competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., July 18-23, beating out the top NCOs from IMCOM's six other regions.

He also took second place in the National Capital Region competition as IMCOM's representative, and will serve as alternate at the Army-level competition to be held at Fort Lee, Va., Sept. 28 to Oct. 5.

He narrowly missed winning the top title. "I imagine I lost by half a point," said White.

During the competition, White and his fellow NCOs underwent a comprehensive evaluation of skills, ranging from physical fitness to warrior tasks.

"I never knew I could accomplish something like this, or go as far as I have," said White, a traffic accident investigator for the USAG Stuttgart Provost Marshal Office.

Preparation is the key to his success. White spent months studying, drilling, appearing before mock boards and training physically. "It took a lot of late nights burning the midnight oil," he said.

He credits Staff Sgt. Edmund Whipple, Master Sgt. Gary Cryder and Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Q. Barbary as mentors and trainers. "Without these three, I would not be as far as I am now," he said.

While White is headed to the Army-level contest as an alternate, he is not resting on his laurels.

The Stockton, Calif., native is running four to six miles a day, hitting the gym for daily muscular endurance workouts, doing a 12-mile road march every week, and taking Spin classes. As far as his Army knowledge goes, "I've got all the books down," he said. "I just need to work on the boards a little, now."

He is prepared to represent IMCOM, should he be given the opportunity. "There's a chance I could compete," he said, "and I'll be ready."