| 73rd Troop Command Soldiers, NCOs compete for brigade honors |
196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment RICKENBACKER AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ohio - Five Soldiers from the 73rd Troop Command competed in the unit’s Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year competition, held here Jan. 19. Spc. Travis Tucker of the 585th Military Police Company won Soldier of the Year honors and Sgt. Gary Pence of Company B, 638th Aviation Support Battalion, won Noncommissioned Officer of the Year honors. “I want to pass this knowledge on to my Soldiers, because I hope to represent one of my Soldiers here soon,” Pence said. Said Tucker: “I think it’s an honor to not only represent my company, my battalion and my brigade, but to show that all of the hard work and dedication it takes to be a Soldier pays off.” The competition included an Army Physical Fitness Test—which consists of push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run—a reciting of the Soldiers’ Creed and a review board where senior noncommissioned officers questioned the troops on a wide range of issues including general military knowledge and current events. Sub-zero wind chills hindered Soldiers’ run times, but all agreed it was an equally adverse condition each competitor faced. Tucker, who finished first on the run, clutched his chest and said he ran much slower than usual. Following the physical fitness test, the troops showered and changed into their dress uniforms. They then reported to the review board, where they were instructed to execute a few facing movements before beginning the question and answer portion. Pence admitted afterward the current events questions threw him off a little, and said he plans to study the topics more in depth when preparing for the state-level competition. “I studied whenever I got a chance in between school and work,” Tucker said. He also said he plans to keep up his studying regimen in preparation for the state board. Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Glauner, the top enlisted Soldier in the 73rd, offered the competitors a piece of advice when facing a board or even an interview for a civilian job, and that was to relax. He stressed that these experiences are designed to help a Soldier grow. Glauner presented each competitor with a brigade coin for representing their respective battalions as Soldier and NCO of the Year. He said he would put in a good word for Tucker and Pence when they represent the 73rd at the state-level competition, scheduled for Feb. 16 at Beightler Armory. Tucker has served three years in the National Guard. Originally trained as an infantryman, he will be retrained as a military police officer this summer. Pence has served 7 ½ years in the Army, six on active duty. He deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division to Afghanistan in 2003 and with the 3rd Infantry Division to Iraq in 2005. The other competitors for 73rd Troop Command Soldier and NCO of the Year were Spc. Gregory McDowell of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 155th Chemical Company, Sgt. Danielle Lindsay of the 637th Chemical Company, and Sgt. Mike Lombardo of the 838th Military Police Company. -30- |
