APG police officer proves mentally tough

By YVONNE JOHNSON, APG NewsOctober 7, 2009

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Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Jeremy Rondone, a civilian police officer with the Aberdeen Proving Ground Directorate of Emergency Services, right, and his partner, Staff Sgt. Martin Rodriguez of Colorado Springs, Colo., check map coordinates during the Ar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

A police officer with the Aberdeen Proving Ground Directorate of Emergency Services competed in the Army Reserves' 100th Division Training Command (Total Army School System) Best Warrior Competition held at Fort Knox, Ky., Aug. 14 to 18.

An Army reservist since 2007, Rondone was with the APG military police Battalion, which has since been deactivated, before joining the civilian police force in 2004.

He and other police officers serve and train with the 2nd/80th Military Police headquartered in Owings Mills, Md.

Rondone, who was recognized as his unit's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year in May, holds the rank of staff sergeant.

He said he knew he was eligible for the competition, but wasn't told "You're the guy" until July.

"I had about three weeks to get ready," he said.

Getting ready meant reviewing the competition's events and requirements and studying up on common tasks and Soldier skills.

He said he crammed all the studying in he could while performing his regular duties as an APG police officer.

During his five years of active duty, Rondone served in Kosovo, Macedonia and Fort Lewis, Wash., where he said, "We were always put to the challenge."

He said he knew he would have to draw on his military experiences.

"I was determined to do well," he said. "I'd done warrior-type competitions before, and I knew I could do it."

The competition itinerary was very demanding, he said.

Day 1 consisted of the Army Physical Fitness Test followed by timed events at the rappel tower and obstacle course that included navigating a rope bridge.

Day 2 included Warrior Training Task stations such as first aid, reporting intelligence information and employing a claymore mine.

Competitors competed in a 6.2 mile road march on Day 3 and were additionally challenged by 'Misery' hill, which is 200 meters long with a 20.6 percent incline. The day ended with weapons qualification.

The final day was a land navigation course and a board appearance before a panel of command sergeants major.

Competitors also had to submit an essay detailing their short, medium and long-term goals for their military careers.

Rondone said that although the requirements were more rigorous than he expected, he was extremely pleased with his performance.

Throughout the competition he was partnered with Staff Sgt. Martin Rodriguez who came in second-place during last year's competition.

He said the friendly competition between he and Rodriguez helped his performance.

"I had a decent score on the PT test but I was a little disappointed on the run," he said, noting his score of 287 out of 300.

However, his time on the rope bridge and rappel tower was the fastest of the competitors at 3 minutes, 8 seconds.

His strength was in land navigation, Rondone said.

"When I was at Fort Lewis, we did land navigation all the time. I went through it so fast, when I came in, the first sergeant looked at his watch and asked if I was lost. I told him I was done and he said I was the first one in."

He said he grabbed an MRE [Meals Ready to Eat] and napped for 90 minutes before anyone else came in.

He said the pace of the competition was grueling with a night land navigation course following the day course.

Competitors rose about 5 a.m. and their days ended around 10 p.m.

His biggest challenge came the day of the board when he was told he would have to wear the Class A dress uniform.

"I didn't have Class A's," he said. "The brigade sergeant major gave me his credit card and I got them and had them altered the day of the board."

He missed four out of 27 questions before the board.

He said that although he wasn't sure if he'd won, he knew he'd done well and that all the studying and focus had paid off.

He credited fellow police officer and reservist Matt Long for sponsoring and supporting him throughout the competition.

"He was fighting for me every step of the way. I don't know what I would have done without him," Rondone said.

Rondone finished third overall. His partner, Staff Sgt. Martin Rodriguez of Pueblo, Colo., was named the NCO of the Year.

Rondone said he will "absolutely" return to compete again next year.

"I learned what you can achieve with toughness and determination," he said. "I exceeded my own expectations, and I know I can do even better next year. If he can do it, so can I."

The NCO of the Year runner-up was Staff Sgt. Christopher Anderson from Lunenburg, Mass. The Soldier of the Year was Pfc. Joshua Cole from Salem, Ind., followed by runner-up Spc. Junior Victor from Palm Garden, Fla.

The top two Army Reserve Command Best Warrior regional winners will represent the Army Reserve at the Army-level Best Warrior competition at Fort Lee, Va., Sept. 28 to Oct. 2. The Army-level winners will be announced in Washington, D.C., Oct. 5.