Installation to host USAAC competition       Chris Rasmussen      Leader Staff

Fort Jackson will host the 2008 U.S. Army Accessions Command NCO and Soldier of the Year competition for the fourth year in a row. The competition, slated for May 6-9, will feature three Soldiers and six noncommissioned officers from USAAC subordinate commands battling it out during three days of events. The 171st Infantry Brigade will host the competition and is responsible for planning, coordination and execution. “Fort Jackson is the host site due to the facilities we have,” said Sgt. 1st Class Bradley Sperling, 171st Inf. Bde. S3 noncommissioned officer in charge. “USAAC doesn’t have the flexibility with ranges, land navigation sites and testing sites like Fort Jackson has.” The competition will consist of an Army Physical Fitness Test, zeroing and qualifying with an M-16A2 rifle, day and night land navigation courses, hands-on warrior tasks, a board appearance, a written essay and a 50-question exam. Winners of the Fort Jackson competition, held in April, will participate. Other commands participating in the event include U.S. Army Cadet Command, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, U.S. Army Accessions Command Support Brigade and U.S. Army Garrison. “The competitions help highlight the incredibly talented and skillful NCOs and Soldiers we have,” Sperling said. “The skills that are tested during competition are real world skills that each and every NCO and Soldier need to possess.” Hands-on testing of common tasks will be based on knowledge contained in the Soldiers Manual of Common Tasks and include Skill Levels 1-4, as appropriate for rank. Each competitor will be allowed to use a unit NCO as a coach. Candidates may practice on Fort Jackson ranges and land navigation courses before the competition. However, ranges and courses designated for the NCO/SoY program may not be used within 60 days of the competition. Winners will represent USAAC during the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command competition in July. Runners-up will be designated as alternative candidates in the event the winner cannot compete in the TRADOC event. The Department of the Army competition will be held in September or October. “These types of competitions build esprit de corps for the units and post. Another positive benefit is the overwhelming pride an NCO or Soldier feels when they win a competition,” Sperling said. “To win against 200 Soldiers in your unit is nice, but when you win against an entire post of a couple thousand and then against five major commands with many thousands of Soldiers is incredible.”