IMCOM's top NCO and Soldier of the Year revealed, now headed to Texas

By Tom Budzyna, USAG Schinnen Public AffairsMay 12, 2011

IMCOM Europe's senior leaders cut cake with top Soldiers
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Today's ceremony is about our best
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It's about we will never quit, we will win, we cannot fail.
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We are the Army's home - and we keep our Army's competitice edge sharp!
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IMCOM Europe Best Warrior Competition
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HEIDELBERG, Germany - IMCOM Europe's Command Sgt. Maj. Barry E. Maieritsch announced who won the IMCOM Soldier and NCO of the Year Best Warrior Competition in a ceremony held May 12 here in the Village Pavilion on Patrick Henry Village.

Following a tough 3-day battle at the Grafenwoehr Training Area May 2 to 4 among 11 soldiers competing for the honors, USAG Benelux's Spc. Jonathan Melendez is IMCOM Europe 2011 Soldier of the Year and USAG Stuttgart's Staff Sgt. Jacob A. Brewster is IMCOM Europe NCO of the Year.

"Each competitor can claim to be among the best, but today is about the best of the best," said Maieritsch.

"The IMCOM Europe Best Warrior competition does something so important for the Army. It's a chance for our warriors to equally teach and learn something. It' an opportunity to have fun, but most of all it helps our warriors keep their competitive edge while at home in our garrisons," said Ms. Diane Devens, IMCOM Europe Region Director.

"I am very thankful to the Soldiers who competed and, especially, to the Soldiers and leaders who mentored and coached them. You all epitomize the Army Values and the Warrior Ethos," Devens said.

The atmosphere of professionalism and friendly rivalry was expressed in remarks made by U. S. Army Europe's Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel.

"The Best Warrior competition is the kind of event that gets other command sergeants major calling my office to talk about who has the best Soldiers and who might win," Capel said, which drew hearty responses from proud leaders anticipating their Soldiers would win the competition.

"Most of all, this competition event brings out the best in our people. We see that it's about: we will never quit, we will win, we cannot fail. Soldiers in this room are our nation's future warriors and leaders. One of you may be the next Sergeant Major of the Army - you just don't know it yet," Capel said.

"Ever since I arrived in USAG Schinnen in 2010 and started competing in boards, it was a personal goal to win this competition. I'm kind of shock now, but it'll settle in," Melendez said just before joining Ms. Devens and Staff Sgt. Brewster to cut the Best Warrior Competition cake.

The Best Warrior Competition received support from sponsors who awarded Staff Sgt. Brewster and Spc. Melendez each with prizes valued over $5,000. The sponsors included the Exchange, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Defense Commissary Agency, Delta Air Lines, Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, GEICO, Heidelberg Army Lodging, Heidelberg Sergeants Major Association, Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation, Pentagon Car Sales, Schmitz GMBH, TKS, USAA and the USO.

Staff Sgt. Brewster and Spc. Melendez can expect the next stage of the competition to be even tougher as they compete with winners from other regions at the IMCOM Best Warrior Competition in San Antonio, Texas May 23 to 27.

Related Links:

Follow the IMCOM Best Warrior Competition here