Page 14 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior 4-1-16

14 High Desert Warrior www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin
April 1, 2016

Army Values

Soldier, NCO of the Quarter selected after competition

Story and photos by Gustavo Bahena

Public Affairs Office Soldier of the Quarter, third quarter, fiscal year 2016: Non-commissioned Officer of the Quarter, third quarter,
Spc. Alan Ibarra of 2nd Transportation Company, 1916th fiscal year 2016: Sgt. Eric Cano of Fort Irwin United States
After a post-wide competition here recently among seven service Support Battalion. Army Garrison.
members, a junior Soldier and a sergeant were selected as the National
Training Center Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer of the Quarter Staff Sgt. Toni Oneill, of Operations Group, pulls a training
for the third quarter in fiscal year 2016. dummy on a tactical roll-up stretcher.

Pfc. Alan Ibarra was named Soldier of the Quarter for the Third
Quarter. Ibarra serves as a petroleum supply specialist with 2nd
Transportation Company, 1916th Support Battalion under the 916th
Support Brigade

Sgt. Eric Cano of Fort Irwin United States Army Garrison was
named NCO of the Quarter of the Third Quarter. Cano is a military
policeofficerwithHeadquartersandHeadquartersCompany,USAG.

The contest, in mid-March, challenged three Soldiers and four
non-commissioned officers in several events and a board paneled by
NTC Command Sgt. Maj. Edison Rebuck, 916th Support Brigade
Command Sgt. Maj. Sean Rice, Operations Group Command Sgt.
Maj. William Justice and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Command
Sgt. Maj. Carl Ashmead.

Ibarra said he felt satisfaction, and his wife and family in Prescott
Valley, Ariz., are proud of him. He enlisted in 2014 and Fort Irwin
has been his only duty station. He competed and won Soldier of the
month boards at his battalion and brigade, before participating in the
post-level challenge. The toughest part for the competitive athlete (he
starts as the center midfielder on the Fort Irwin post soccer team and
is on the All Army Soccer squad) was preparing for the knowledge
portion. Studying became intense, but the work paid off.

“It’s a good experience,” Ibarra said about competing. “You get out
what you put in. If you slack, obviously you’re not going to do as good.
If you really focus on it, you’re going to do well.”

His sponsor, Sgt. Marcus Blackston – a squad leader with Mainte-
nance Platoon, 2TC – said advance preparation is critical to success.

“That is the biggest key in doing anything in the military,” Blackston
said. “You prepare for an opportunity and when an opportunity comes,
you’re ready to accept it.”

Cano stated the most challenging part was preparing for the board
while maintaining a busy duty schedule as an MP in a department that
is responsible for this post’s safety and security. He feels a great sense of
accomplishment and recognizes the win can help advance his career.

Cano’s message to others about competing: “Put 110 percent in
your performance and compete for yourself – the rest will come with it.”

Ibarra and Cano now have the opportunity to compete for NTC
Soldier and NCO of the Year this summer.

Blackston mentioned that Ibarra’s ultimate goal is to win at United
States Army Forces Command.

“He has a goal and I want to see him achieve and I want to see him
succeed,”Blackstonsaid.“Ifit’ssomethingthatyouwant,andyouhave
that ‘go ahead to get up and go,’ then you’re that much more powerful
as a person, you’re that much more confident.”

Spc. Kyle Edwards, of Operations Group, goes through a Sgt. Frank Torralba, of the 916th Support Brigade, jumps Spc. Edward Warner, of Fort Irwin United States Army
procedure of tending to a chest injury on a training dummy. into a tire during a physical fitness challenge, March 21. Garrison, lifts a truck tire at the physical fitness challenge.

For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil