Sgt. Philip Grant was named the V.I. National Guard NCO of the Year and Spc. Wilfred Todman won Soldier of the Year Sunday after a tense two-day competition which tested Virgin Islands National Guard soldiers on fitness, warrior skills, and Army knowledge.
Grant, a member of the Recruiting and Retention Command, was also the VING soldier of the year in 2009. He is currently a wheeled vehicle mechanic, who graduated from Recruiting and Retention school in 2007, and took part n Operation Iraqi Freedom from April 2007 to April 2008.
He also completed Reserve Drill Sergeant School in Fort Jackson in 2010.
Grant graduated from the St. Croix Educational Complex in 2002 and is pursuing a degree in accounting and mathematics at the University of the Virgin Islands.
Todman attended Charlotte Amalie High School in St. Thomas and got his GED in the technical school program, then joined the VING in 2007. Since last April Todman has been a survey team member of the 23rd WMD-CST and is working as a CBRN NCO.
Other guardsmen who competed were: Pfc. Jonathan Coston, of the 652nd Engineering Platoon, Pfc. Kareem Peterson of the Joint Force Headquarters, Sgt. Stephen Hodge from the 786th Battalion, and, Sgt. Hillroy Williams from the 104th Troop Command.
The six competitors kicked off the contest Friday night with a social event and briefing, and Saturday they performed a physical fitness test, Army warrior tasks, and a map reading test. Sunday, they all participated in a six-mile road march and then took turns in half-hour increments of a formal board ceremony, which included a question and answer session.
Saturday’s events took place at the William Roebuck Industrial Park and tested soldiers on several key Army warrior tasks: conducting a vehicle search in a tactical environment, evaluating a casualty, maintaining an M9 pistol, and use of signal techniques in the field.
“The competitions and road march were very strenuous, and tested us on all aspects of physical fitness, but I really enjoyed doing it,” said Petersen, who joined the VING just two years ago.
Hodge, who came over from St. Thomas for the event said, “It was challenging and I’m glad I was able to perform to the best of my ability; but the map reading was the best because it required more concentration and thought processes,” he said.
Sunday, the formal interviews were conducted by the board’s president, State Command Sgt. Maj. Mona L. Barnes, Command Sgt. Maj. Pedro Morales, and Command Sgt. Maj. McIntosh. The questions focused on an array of subjects, covering drill and ceremonies, Army history and programs, first aid and current events. The non-commissioned officers received more in-depth questioning focused on the duties required of an NCO.
During the board, the participants were asked to give a brief history of their lives, and at the end they were asked if they had any comments for the board. Of the contestants that commented; Todman gave a very impressive answer when he replied:
“I just want to let you know that society has this perception of the Army that we are just about weapons – but we showed them with this competition, that we — highly trained soldiers are the best weapon that the military and society have to offer.”
After announcing the winners, Barnes concluded that the “winners displayed the overall qualities necessary to be a leader and compete amongst the best the Army has.”
The winners go on to compete in the Region III Soldier and NCO of the Year Competition April 11 through15 at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
