By Justin Creech
Staff writer
Thursday, October 18, 2012

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir selected its Soldier and noncommissioned officer of the year after a tight competition Friday at Garrison Headquarters.

Staff Sgt. James Compton, A Company, Warrior Transition Battalion, and Spc. Alesia Nunez, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, were chosen as the U.S. Army, Fort Belvoir Garrison NCO and Soldier of the year after a selection process that considered six Soldiers.

“It’s a high honor,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Carolynn Reynolds, Headquarters Battalion, Fort Belvoir. “It’s saying you are the best of the best, you are the best NCO or E-4 and below on Fort Belvoir.”

Compton and Nunez were selected by a review board that included Reynolds, Garrison Command Sergeant Maj. Chester D. Grelock, Master Sgt. Anthony Brinson, Directorate of Emergency Services noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Master Sgt. Tamika Wynn, Fort Belvoir Sexual Harassment Assault Response Program coordinator and 1st Sgt. Robert E. Lillard, 12th Aviation Battalion.

Both are proud of their selections as it is an accomplishment for their units as well as themselves.

“I didn’t do this for me, I did it more for my unit,” said Compton. “Our sergeant major saw something in us that he wanted us to step forward. He said as busy as you guys are, I know you have it in you to go out there and win this for our battalion.”

“I had a rough start to the beginning of my Army career,” Nunez added. “To progress this quickly from having a Soldier of the quarter board two days ago to winning Soldier of the year, it’s a very proud moment.”

Compton and Nunez had just two days to prepare for the selection board after winning their respective Soldier and NCO of the quarter boards. Both took any free time they could to study, whether it meant getting up early in the morning, using their lunch break, or asking other unit members to quiz them.

“I have year-old twins, so I had to use some great time management,” said Compton. “I used early mornings before my kids woke up, my lunch breaks. I asked people to ask me questions and I read my regulations.”

Questions from the selection board included general military knowledge, first aid procedures, weapons knowledge, military history, chain of command knowledge and situational awareness

Situational awareness questions were asked to gauge the Soldiers leadership capability, according to Compton.

“We have Soldiers leaving (advanced individual training) or basic, and they come here with no sponsor, so to speak,” said Compton. “(When I’m on) staff duty, these Soldiers will come in and it’s my job to put them in the barracks. I can’t just put them in the barracks, I have to let them know where things are on post, how they can get there, what the other activities on post are.”

According to Reynolds, the selection board was “coming at them from all angles” with questions at any time in the interview.

Nunez admitted some of the questions were difficult because they are outside of her daily duties and experience.

“Working in a hospital, I don’t get a lot of experience with a motor pool or weapons,” said Nunez. “Those are things I really have to study, so questions on those subjects were tough.”

Having the experience themselves, Compton and Nunez advise future Soldiers who are up for this award to prepare diligently and give their best effort.

“Study while you can,” said Nunez. “Don’t try to cram it all into one night.”

“If they really want it, they will put their best foot forward,” said Compton.