Top Soldier, NCO Pair to Move on to Statewide Competition

By Sgt. First Class Roy Henry,

Georgia’s 78th Homeland Response Force named its enlisted and noncommissioned officer Best Warriors of the Year for 2012 after two days of intense weekend competition among 10 competitors vying for recognition as the best Soldier or NCO among their peers.

Taking the title of Soldier of the Year was Spc. Sharon Lee, a turret mechanic with Columbus’ 82nd Maintenance Company. Sgt. 1st Class David Krempa, an instructor with the 122nd Regional Training Institute’s Military Intelligence Academy, won Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. The two will now go on to state-level competition set for March to take place at .

“There were others among the six of us (the junior enlisted) who were just as worthy—I believe—of being chosen Best Warrior,” said Lee, who lives in Atlanta and works for Delta Airlines. “So having been chosen is quite a humbling experience, and quite a surprise. I will give my very best to represent my unit and the 78th HRF at the state competition.”

Krempa, who also lives in Atlanta, says participating in the Best Warrior Competition was also a humbling experience for him, and adds that he, too, is quite proud to have been chosen to represent his command in March.

“More importantly, though, competing and then being selected sets the right example—in my mind—for the Soldiers I lead,” he explained. “It tells them that, with the right mindset along with the right study materials and training, they can not only compete—and possibly be selected—but also come away a better Soldier for having put forth the effort.”

Among the events used to test competitors’ physical endurance and knowledge of basic Soldiers skills were the Army Physical Fitness Test, weapons familiarization and marksmanship, vehicle and detainee searches, and a testing of their ability to call for medical evacuation. Soldiers were also graded on map-reading skills and how long it took to complete a four-mile march carrying a 30-pound backpack. 

It is a tough, intense competition, and rightly so, says Command Sgt. Maj. Grady Gayton. Easy is never a true test of one’s will to win, or one’s mental and physical toughness.      

“Based on what I saw as I visited each event and watched each candidate compete, I found myself feeling prouder than ever before about being a Soldier,” said Gayton, the HRF’s senior enlisted leader. “There were great displays of the ‘no quit, drive on’ spirit that defines the dedication and commitment we each have in being the best at our profession—that of Citizen-Soldier.”

About those who were not selected to represent the 78th at the state competition, Gayton makes it clear that they should be proud as well.

“They should return to their units with heads held high, and with pride in their hearts,” he said. “Each gave his all to representing his fellow Soldiers and his commander. The can-do attitude and professionalism exhibited during this competition says volumes about the pride those Soldiers take in being who they are and in the job that they do for our state and for our nation.”  

124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment