REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – Army Materiel Command recognized their top warriors during a luncheon here July 30, after 11 of the organization's best competed in the AMC Best Warrior Competition at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, July 25-28.
Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Price, who serves as a combat engineer advisor with the U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is AMC's noncommissioned officer of the year. Spc. Christian Kerkado-Colon, who serves with Corpus Christi Army Depot in Texas, is AMC's Soldier of the Year.
During the event, AMC’s senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Alberto Delgado, congratulated all the participants, praising their hard work and determination.
“I often say this is the land of the free because of the brave. You are the best of our nation’s best and are indeed the brave,” he said.
Delgado said the competitors embody the strength and values of the Army. They tested their Army knowledge and physical strength through a variety of challenges, including an obstacle course, various range tests, simulated live fire scenarios and more.
Installation Management Command’s senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Ulloth, led the Soldier/NCO board, where Soldiers answered questions from six sergeants major. Ulloth said the competition tests each Soldier, challenging them physically, mentally and emotionally. Leaders and fellow Soldiers mentor them along the way.
"It helps them to push them along because it’s not easy and you want to get the best out of all of them,” said Ulloth. “That’s the key to it. Even if you encourage them a little bit, it goes a long way.”
Price, a Utah native, has served in the Army for 11 years and has deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
"I am very honored that I was able to pull ahead and get that first place and represent AMC at the headquarters Department of the Army level,” he said.
For Price, the most challenging obstacle was night land navigation due to the thick terrain. One of the positive experiences Price had was learning more about his fellow Soldiers and sharing experiences.
“I will say that there is a lot of lifetime friends that I will have from this competition,” he said.
Kerkado-Colon is a Puerto Rico native who enlisted in the Army National Guard in November 2016. His assignments include one tour to the Republic of Honduras and being activated to assist with Hurricane Maria relief. He said becoming AMC’s Soldier of the year is an honor.
“I’m very happy about it, and I definitely proved to myself that I can accomplish more than what I’d expect,” he said.
The runner up for NCO of the year is Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Tyndall. He serves as an Operations NCO with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Army Sustainment Command in Rock Island, Illinois.
The runner up for Soldier of the year is Spc. Alexander Haydon. He serves with the U.S. Army Garrison Headquarters and Headquarters Company at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Price and Kerkado-Colon will compete in the Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia and the Pentagon later this year.
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