A military policeman assigned to U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart became the U.S. Army Installation Management Command and the National Capitol Region Noncommissioned Officer of the Year during the National Capitol Region Best Warrior Competition, held July 12-16 at Fort Belvoir, Va.
Staff Sgt. Christopher M. McDougall represented IMCOM-Europe and outscored his peers to earn both titles of top warrior.
McDougall won outright, placing first among 14 competitors from six Army commands vying for the right to move on to the Army Best Warrior event, scheduled for Oct.17-22 at Fort Lee, Va.
While two previous Stuttgart NCOs have won the IMCOM title in the past three years, only McDougall has made it to the Army level.
“It’s an honor to get to compete at that level,” said McDougall. “Only a handful of NCOs make it to the Army level. It’s nothing I expected to achieve when I started this process.”
McDougall has about two months to prepare for the Army competition. “I have a lot more training to do,” he said. “I’ll focus on the oral board piece, combatives and my overall fitness level — basically I’ll continue to build on where I am at now.”
IMCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola outlined the skills required for a Soldier to win at this level.
“To have been selected as such, the NCO and Soldier must have exhibited superlative ability in marksmanship, fitness, tactical operations and cognitive ability,” he said.
“Their success is a reflection of not only their commitment, self-discipline, tenacity and inherent abilities; it is an example of the command that sponsored them … ,” he added.