Fort Drum NCO earns 'Best Warrior' title

By Mrs Michelle Kennedy (Drum)April 5, 2012

usa image
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Ryan Mason completes a pushup during the Installation Management Command Atlantic Region NCO of the Year physical fitness test last month. Mason won the coveted title. The competition required Soldiers to complete a PT test, written exam, weapon... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Durr Jr. and Davis D. Tindoll Jr., Installation Management Command Atlantic Region senior enlisted adviser and director, present Sgt. Ryan Mason with the NCO of the Year trophy. Mason, U.S. Army Garrison chaplain's assist... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- One of Fort Drum's own proved his mettle and bested his competition during the U.S. Army Installation Management Command Atlantic Region's Best Warrior Competition at Fort Jackson, S.C., last month.

Sgt. Ryan Mason, a U.S. Army Garrison chaplain's assistant, took home the coveted title of NCO of the Year during the weeklong competition March 18-23.

Mason was required to pass a series of boards to earn the bid to compete at the event in Fort Jackson.

"It's a competition designed to test the best Soldiers in each of the respective garrison units in the Atlantic Region," Mason said. "It comprised … a series of events that tested us physically and mentally."

Soldiers and NCOs from across IMCOM's Atlantic Region were tested on skills of brains and brawn. Competitors were required to demonstrate their skills in several events: warrior tasks and battle drills, physical fitness, a written examination and essay, weapons qualification, urban warfare operations, obstacle course and other evaluations.

"I enjoyed (competing) and I had a lot of fun, but I'm not going to lie -- it was not easy," Mason said. "It was very demanding."

With only a little more than three years in the Army under his belt, Mason beat out his peers for the NCO of the Year title.

"I started out as (a private) … and (was promoted) to sergeant in January of this year," he said.

Mason said he chose to be a chaplain's assistant because it was a job where he could be himself.

"I'm being paid for just being me … and I love it," he explained. "There's no part of being a chaplain's assistant that I don't like.

"You have different influences in this branch, and it's great," he continued. "The people I work with are great. You get opportunities that (Soldiers) in other (military occupational specialties) don't get. A chaplain's assistant is one of the only MOSs where my first-line supervisor is an officer. It definitely matures you a lot."

Mason credits all the Soldiers in his company with his success, adding that the support he's received is "phenomenal." One of his biggest supporters -- and the person he especially credits for his success during the recent competition -- is Sgt. 1st Class Jeramiah Witt, senior chaplain assistant NCO.

Witt not only got him ready for the Fort Drum and Atlantic Region events, but he is helping Mason prepare for the big IMCOMwide competition later this month.

Witt said although Mason's preparation was a company effort, he served as his sponsor during the competition.

"Once we arrived at Fort Jackson, I made sure he had what he needed to stay focused on the competition so he would not have to worry about the little things," he said. "I wanted to keep him focused on the upcoming event, kind of like the coach in the corner."

The company also will play an integral role helping Mason prepare for the IMCOM NCO of the Year competition during the next three weeks. Witt said he and other NCOs will help Mason brush up on Soldier skills like marksmanship, warrior tasks and battle drills, day and night land navigation, ruck marching and board presentation.

"Sgt. Mason is dedicated to being a professional Soldier and NCO," Witt noted. "He constantly wants to learn more and be the best at what he does. He doesn't settle for mediocrity, and (he) pushes himself to accomplish every task.

"Sgt. Mason has spent countless hours training and preparing for this competition," he continued. "I have no doubt he will represent our unit and installation proudly."

Mason said he intends to focus on every aspect of the competition -- not just his shortcomings, but the events he excelled in, too.

"I'm going to definitely focus on (my shortcomings), study like crazy and continue to push myself," Mason explained. "I'm still going to retrain on the areas I did well in, because there's always room for improvement."

"(In order to do well at a competition like this), don't let your shortcomings fluster you or stop you from doing great in the next area," he added. "Keep pushing forward and, in the end, you can only do your best. After it's all said and done, go back, sharpen those tools (and) learn as much as you can."