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The two winners of the 2015 U.S. Army Forces Command Non-Commissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year Competition, are awarded engraved plaques for their victory at Fort Bragg, N.C., 27 Aug. 2015.
Sgt. Justin M. McLendon, centered left, Infantryman, A Co, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, U.S. Army Fort Drum & 10th Mountain Division, receives his plaque from Command Sgt. Maj. Scott C. Schroeder, left, Command Sergeant Major of U.S. Army Forces Command (#FORSCOM).
Sgt. James Gawlowski, centered right, squad leader, D Co, 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, receives his plaque from Gen. Robert B. Abrams, Commanding General of U.S. Army Forces Command.
Gawloswski serves as a squad leader with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. He endured five long days of exhausting and mentally challenging events while outperforming some of the top NCOs in today’s Army. The in-depth competition included events such as a nine-mile foot march, combat life saving test, rifle qualification, obstacle course, land navigation course, a stress shoot, Army Physical Fitness Test and a board appearance just to name a few. As an additional reward, Gawlowski will advance to the Army level NCO of the year competition where he will compete against the top NCOs at the Department of the Army level. Gawlowski said he learned a lot throughout the competition about himself from the trials he went through and the NCO’s at his side. He has this advice to give to NCOs and Soldiers competing in boards and competitions at all levels throughout the Army. “No matter how you feel you’re performing, you can’t give up. It’s easy to feel like you’re losing, that you’re not going to make it, that you should quit. But the most important thing you should do is just keep going. You may do a lot better than you think you did.”
McLendon serves as an infantryman with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. He endured five long days of exhausting and mentally challenging events while outperforming some of the top Soldiers and NCOs in today’s Army. As an additional reward, McLendon will advance to the Army level Soldier of the Year competition where he will compete against the top Soldiers at the Department of the Army level. After receiving numerous prizes, McLendon spoke about the intensity of the competition and had advice to give to future board competitors. “At every level, I would advise Soldiers to workout, do PT and study as much as you can. The biggest thing I’ve learned as a leader is understanding that there’s going to be things that are going to break me off. Just because I’m very successful at one event doesn’t mean I’m going to be successful at another; taking that and molding myself with it and understanding what my areas of weakness are so that I can work on those things and become a better and more well-rounded Soldier.”
(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jared Gehmann, 49th Public Affairs Detachment)
Sgt. Justin M. McLendon, centered left, Infantryman, A Co, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, U.S. Army Fort Drum & 10th Mountain Division, receives his plaque from Command Sgt. Maj. Scott C. Schroeder, left, Command Sergeant Major of U.S. Army Forces Command (#FORSCOM).
Sgt. James Gawlowski, centered right, squad leader, D Co, 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, receives his plaque from Gen. Robert B. Abrams, Commanding General of U.S. Army Forces Command.
Gawloswski serves as a squad leader with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. He endured five long days of exhausting and mentally challenging events while outperforming some of the top NCOs in today’s Army. The in-depth competition included events such as a nine-mile foot march, combat life saving test, rifle qualification, obstacle course, land navigation course, a stress shoot, Army Physical Fitness Test and a board appearance just to name a few. As an additional reward, Gawlowski will advance to the Army level NCO of the year competition where he will compete against the top NCOs at the Department of the Army level. Gawlowski said he learned a lot throughout the competition about himself from the trials he went through and the NCO’s at his side. He has this advice to give to NCOs and Soldiers competing in boards and competitions at all levels throughout the Army. “No matter how you feel you’re performing, you can’t give up. It’s easy to feel like you’re losing, that you’re not going to make it, that you should quit. But the most important thing you should do is just keep going. You may do a lot better than you think you did.”
McLendon serves as an infantryman with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. He endured five long days of exhausting and mentally challenging events while outperforming some of the top Soldiers and NCOs in today’s Army. As an additional reward, McLendon will advance to the Army level Soldier of the Year competition where he will compete against the top Soldiers at the Department of the Army level. After receiving numerous prizes, McLendon spoke about the intensity of the competition and had advice to give to future board competitors. “At every level, I would advise Soldiers to workout, do PT and study as much as you can. The biggest thing I’ve learned as a leader is understanding that there’s going to be things that are going to break me off. Just because I’m very successful at one event doesn’t mean I’m going to be successful at another; taking that and molding myself with it and understanding what my areas of weakness are so that I can work on those things and become a better and more well-rounded Soldier.”
(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jared Gehmann, 49th Public Affairs Detachment)
Accomplishments
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Good job. Awesome way to represent yourself and your command. Semper Fidelis.
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I love what SGT McLendon said at the end of article. What he said about understanding that while you might be successful at one thing, you must always prepare yourself because your early success doesn't mean you'll be successful in the next challenge. Great work by both leaders.
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