GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Spc. Luis Berber arrived in the European theater in mid-February 2010, and less than two months later he was tasked to prepare for the Installation Management Command - Europe's Soldier of the Year competition which would take place in early May.
The competition requires a dedication far beyond the average sport because it exhibits to officers and noncommissioned officers the kind of professionalism much needed within today's Army. The skills these Soldiers demonstrate saves lives.
A quiet 21-year-old, Berber has proven his skill in combat. He is a tried and true Iraqi Freedom veteran, having served a year as a military policeman with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, prior to joining the MP unit at Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr.
And yet, as new as he is to the USAG Grafenwoehr military police, he has made his presence known.
Berber made his mark competing in the Soldier of the Year competition for Installation Management Command Europe. And, as if to prove it wasn't just luck, Berber went on to become the IMCOM Soldier of the Year.
The competition isn't a mere race to a finish line, but a grueling series of tasks that includes demonstrating day and night land navigation skills, strength and endurance marches, a weapons qualification, comprehensive understanding of Army regulations, and the confidence to address a board of superior officers in a question-and-answer session, in addition to writing a 700-word essay on an unknown topic.
When asked why a Soldier so new to the unit was chosen for this daunting task, Sgt. 1st Class Lloyd Young, noncommissioned officer in charge of Berber, said: "Simply put, Berber is a good Soldier. He does his job and what is asked of him. What sets him above is that he takes pride in whatever it is he is tasked with."
Always up for a challenge, Berber thoroughly prepared himself, showing his unit and NCOIC their faith in him was well-founded. Preparing for it meant focusing on nothing but the upcoming challenges, so Berber was tasked with doing just that. However, he had only two weeks between the local SOY board before he had to compete at the European-level.
Every morning after PT Berber sat down to study Army rules and regulations and prepared for other aspects of the competition.
Berber credits Sgt. Robert Brech, noncommissioned officer in charge traffic section, with being his biggest influence during the preparation phase. He said Brech and Young provided all the training materials and pushed him to succeed.
"Spc. Berber is an outstanding Soldier," said Brech. "He is what all junior enlisted service members should strive to be: dedicated to the mission, energetic, eager to learn and morally sound."
After winning the European-level of the competition, Berber found himself with a new set of challenges at the national level. He had to be ready for urban navigation and prepared to compete in grueling hand to hand combatives.
"The competition in Washington was fierce," said Berber. "There was a lot of tension when we first got there, and the weather was very different than what I had been training in."
Another difference between the Grafenwoehr and D.C. competitions was the order in which participants faced the oral board.
"In Grafenwoehr, I had to wait from 0900 to 1600 for my turn to face the board," said Berber. "In D.C., I was the first one to go in. It was less stressful not to have to sit and wait all day."
Young accompanied Berber to the D.C. competition and said one of the things that stood out about Berber's strength of character came during the early morning combatives competition.
"I enjoyed watching Spc. Berber during the combative tournament," said Young. "He was recently certified level one and he had not had a lot of experience, so the day prior Staff Sgt. McDougall and myself went over some basics with him as a refresher."
"The competition started early and Berber fought about five times before the announcement was made about breakfast," said Young, "but without looking up I knew he would not leave."
Young said Berber could have left to go eat breakfast, but if he wasn't present when his next fight was called, he would have been disqualified.
"Berber fought about three more times until he was simply outmatched and although he was sore and drenched with sweat, he never gave up."
Berber saw the competition as a good experience Aca,!aEURc a stepping stone toward something better in his future.
"Even if I didn't win," said the Exeter, Calif., native, "at least I could say it was something I attempted."
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