Page 10 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, September 2020

10
High Desert Warrior September 2020
www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin
NTC competitor speaks about 2020 NCO
and Soldier of the Year Competition By Brianna Sheats
News
pany, Regimental Support Squadron was the Soldier of the Year and Staff Sgt. Brian Schrader ofHeadquartersandHeadquartersTroop,2nd Squadron was named the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
Aaron Nelson, Regimental Liaison for the Blackhorse Association, and Ricky A. Pring, Vice President of the Blackhorse Association and the 16th Regimental Command Sergeant Major (ret.) of the 11th ACR, were present to bestow the Cav hats. Nelson was also a former UH-60 Blackhawk pilot with Stetson Troop, 4th Squadron during the Blackhorse’s deploy- ment to Germany in support of Operation Gyroscope.
Pete C. Bayer Jr., President of the Black- horse Association and 61st Colonel of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ret.), also relayed his congratulations in a letter that accompanied the gift.
The 11th ACR wears a brown campaign hat instead of a black Cavalry-style Stetson to pay respects to its past as a Cavalry Regiment formed during the Spanish-American War.
The campaign hat in use at the time was based on the M1883 Campaign Hat. The previously worn regulation campaign hat made of black felt was criticized for its lacking
From SOLDIER, Page 9 durability and tendency to absorb and retain
heat when worn in sunlight. Many Troopers purchased and wore non regulation commercial alternatives instead, during the John B. Stet- son Company’s rise and peak. To standardize headgear, a new light-colored campaign hat, the M1883 Campaign Hat, was specified by the Quartermaster General in 1883. Its design would be further improved with the Hat, Ser- vice, M1911, and would remain the service cap in the contiguous United States until 1941, mostly unchanged, due to its ability to protect the wearer’s face and head from the sun and elements while being relatively comfortable to wear. To acknowledge that the 11th Cavalry had yet to be born when Stetsons were worn, we instead don brown campaign hats.
The ceremony was streamed live and can still be viewed on the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment’s Facebook page at www.facebook.co m/11thArmoredCavalryRegiment/.
For further information on the evolution of Cavalry hats, United States Army Headgear 1855-1902, by Edgar M. Howel and published by the Smithsonian Institute in 1975, is an excellent resource.
Contributor
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — A 75th Field Artillery Brigade Soldier from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, was named the FORSCOM NCO of the Year for 2020.
Fort Irwin also had repre- sentatives to compete in the competition, one being Staff Sgt. Joshua Jordan.
Due to COVID-19, the FORSCOM Best Warrior Competition was done by submitting a board packet.
The packet included a 500-plus word essay about the soldier’s squad, an Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) scorecard, weapons card, a biography and a personal data sheet.
“We also had to submit a video telling the board mem-
bers about yourself and why you should be FORSCOM NCO of the year for 2020,” Jordan said.
Jordan is a Transportation Management Coordinator for the 171 Movement Control Team at Fort Irwin.
Although Jordan is cur- rently stationed at Fort Irwin, he was born in Fort Lauder- dale, Florida.
He joined the Army at 18 to serve his country.
“I always wanted to have an impact on the world and be a part of something posi- tive that’s bigger than myself,” Jordan said. “As an 18-year- old, I realized the U.S. Army could provide me with that opportunity.
Family, soldiers and am- bition motivated Jordan to compete in the DA level Best Warrior Competition.
“As a father of two boys, I
See COMPETITION, Page 12
SAVING HEROES MONEY
When they BUY or SELL a home!
CALL ME TODAY! 760.662.9388
Claudia Rothwell
Vetted VA Realtor DRE# 01747984
Specializing in VA transactions
Stay Updated on the RE market and your VA Home Loan Benefit:
Se Habla Español
Gentle Dentistry Children, Teens & Adults
Military Dependents Welcome Cosmetic Dentistry • Root Canals Bridges • Crowns • Dentures
New Patients and Emergencies Welcome Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Dr. Hector M. Magpayo
Serving Barstow Community for 59 years
Formerly the Office of Dr. Gary Wilson
Hours:
9-6 Mon, Tue, Thur • 8-3 Fri Closed Wed & Weekends
Most PPO insurances accepted
256-2896
113 E. Mountain View, Barstow, CA Se Habla Español
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin