Air defenders compete for NCO, Soldier, KATUSA of the year

  • Published
  • By Pfc. Michael Vanpool
  • 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Nine air defenders of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade competed through four days of evaluations, sweating and testing in hopes of being named the 35th ADA Brigade NCO, Soldier and Korean Augment to the U.S. Army of the Year competition here May 4-7.

Sgt. Sean McSherry, Charlie Battery, 6th Battalion, 52nd Air and Missile Defense Regiment, was named the 35th ADA Brigade NCO of the Year. Sgt. Cody Thorington, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 6-52 AMD, was named the Soldier of the Year. Cpl. Choi, Bing Su, HHB, 6-52 AMD, was named the KATUSA of the Year.

This was a strenuous, four-day competition for all the Soldiers participating, said 35th ADA Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Jerome Wiggins during the awards ceremony May 7. The challenges faced this week will prepare them for the upcoming 8th Army NCO, Soldier and KATUSA of the Year competition and the Department of the Army NCO and Soldier of the Year competition.

The nine Soldiers came from installations across the Korean peninsula, including Osan AB, Suwon AB, Kunsan AB and Camp Carroll, to compete.

Competition began May 4, with a board led by Command Sergeant Major Wiggins and other senior NCOs of the 35th ADA Brigade. The board consisted of the NCO, Soldier and KATUSA of the Quarter board that all the competitors won prior to advancing to the SOY competition.

The second day started with a weigh-in and Army physical fitness test. The Soldiers then moved out to Yongin Mountain to test their land navigation skills. During both the day and night evaluations, they had to find points by climbing through the mountainous terrain armed with only a map, a pencil, a protractor and an azimuth.

The competitors continued warrior tasks during the third day, which began with qualifications on an M16 rifle at the U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys small arms range. Later that day, the Soldiers ran through various lanes which tested them on performing voice communications to request a medical evacuation and reacting to a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazard. They also evaluated simulated casualties and performed first aid.

The final event of the week-long competition was a 12-mile ruck march around Osan AB. The Soldiers had three hours and 20 minutes to complete the course, with several of the Soldiers finishing in just over two hours.

Following the competition of all the events, all the NCOs, Soldiers and KATUSAs were honored during an awards ceremony led by Col. Brian Dunn, 35th ADA Brigade commander, and Command Sergeant Major Wiggins. The three winners, who all received an Army Commendation Medal, a brigade commander's coin and additional items donated by a variety of establishments, will advance to the 8th Army NCO, Soldier and KATUSA of the Year Competition scheduled later this year.