USASOC NCO and Soldier of the Year announced

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Jun. 29, 2012) – The U.S. Army Special Operations Command announced the winners of this year's Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year during a ceremony at the USASOC Headquarters, June 29.

The NCO of the Year was Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy White, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. The Soldier of the Year was Spc. Saral Kumar Shresta, United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne).

The runner-up for NCO of the Year was Staff Sgt. Sean M. Tedder, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne). The runner-up for Soldier of the Year was Spc. Andrew D. Pottoff, 75th Ranger Regiment.

"It isn't the fact that we take men and women who want to be Soldiers; it's that we take men and women and turn them into Soldiers," said Command Sgt. Maj. George Bequer, USASOC command sergeant major.

The competition, which started on June 25, featured representatives from seven subordinate commands within Army Special Operations Forces. The competitors were judged and graded on various events such as: the Army Physical Fitness Test, Combatives, Land Navigation, a Stress Fire range and concluded with a military board featuring a panel of the command sergeants major throughout the command.

The NCO and Soldier of the year will represent USASOC at the Sergeant Major of the Army’s Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year "Best Warrior" competition in October.  They will also represent the Command at many military functions over the next year. The Runner-up NCO and Soldier of the Year must be prepared to assume the responsibility for representing the command if for some reason either of the winners cannot complete their year’s tenure.

"It is important that we maintain the tradition of striving for excellence," said Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, USASOC Commanding General. "Know how proud we are of you and what you represent."

This year's competitors were:

United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School
Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy White
Spc. Dalan Deng

United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne)
Staff Sgt. Sean Tedder
Spc. Saral Kumar Shresta

United States Army Special Operations Aviation Command
Sgt. George Sanchez
Sgt. Angel Colon

Military Information Support Operations Command
Sgt. Cardia Summers
Pfc. Madison Love

95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne)
Sgt. 1st Class Steven Barron
Spc. Vikram Parmar

75th Ranger Regiment
Staff Sgt. Paul Baker
Spc. Andrew Pottorff

528th Sustainment Brigade (Airborne)
Staff Sgt. Timothy Goodale
Spc. Christopher Wessel

 http://www.soc.mil/UNS/Releases/2012/June/120629-02.html