FORT KNOX , Ky. –
After a week of grueling competition and intense board appearances, U.S. Army Recruiting Command announced the winners of its Best Warrior Competition its newest Sgt. Audie Murphy Club inductees May 3.
Seven Best Warrior competitors and 25 SAMC hopefuls spent the week at Fort Knox demonstrating their leadership, knowledge and competence while competing amongst the best non-commissioned officers the command has to offer.
Best Warrior
The USAREC 2019 Best Warrior is Staff Sgt. Cayce Watson, Portland Recruiting Battalion, 6th Recruiting Brigade. He will move on to the Training and Doctrine Command competition happening at Fort Rucker, Alabama July 14-19.
The runner-up is Staff Sgt. Cain Pavlak, Columbus Recruiting Battalion, 3rd Recruiting Brigade. He will compete at the TRADOC level if winner last name is unable to participate.
These Soldiers along with Sgt. 1st Class Justin Austin, Recruiting and Retention College; Staff Sgt. Robert Bennett, Medical Recruiting Brigade; Staff Sgt. Brian Kimbrough, 1st Recruiting Brigade; Staff Sgt. Javik Grach, 2nd Recruiting Brigade; and Sgt. 1st Class Tad Snyder, 5th Recruiting Brigade, had to win at the brigade level in order to compete at the USAREC headquarters level. While at Fort Knox, the competitors demonstrated their Soldier skills through a variety of events throughout the week, to include a 12-mile ruck march, combatives, land navigation, and various weapons tasks.
“Clearly it took a lot of dedication, commitment to excellence for you to get here, because besides your daily duties being a recruiter you had to spend time to get up to speed on warrior tasks,” said Maj. Gen. Frank Muth, USAREC commanding general. “This says a lot about you as leaders, as non-commissioned officers and also as recruiters. I don't think anybody understands what it takes to be a recruiter and the commitment and professionalism you have to have. I'm very proud to stand up here and recognize all of you.”
Sgt. Audie Murphy Club
The following 17 NCOs have been selected for induction into the USAREC chapter of the prestigious Sgt. Audie Murphy Club:
Sgt. 1st Class Scott M. Bohdan 2nd Recruiting Brigade
Sgt. 1st Class Hanchieh Coldman 3rd Medical Recruiting Battalion
Sgt. 1st Class Jordan S. Ferrari Kansas City Recruiting Battalion
Sgt. 1st Class Nathan A. Hayes Albany Recruiting Battalion
Sgt. 1st Class Charles Osei Raleigh Recruiting Battalion
Sgt. 1st Class Jessica B. Schrecker Oklahoma Recruiting Battalion
Sgt. 1st Class Lee C. Smith Raleigh Recruiting Battalion
Sgt. 1st Class David M. Williams Richmond Recruiting Battalion
Sgt. 1st Class Robert D. Bennett 1st Medical Recruiting Battalion
Staff Sgt. Megan K. Cereo Syracuse Recruiting Battalion
Staff Sgt. Logan Doyle Seattle Recruiting Battalion
Staff Sgt. Johnathon Hagen Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion
Staff Sgt. Wigetes Ho Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion
Staff Sgt. Alyssa Mirea Denver Recruiting Battalion
Staff Sgt. Sarah G. Thompson Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion
Staff Sgt. Renaldo Velez-Gaud Albany Recruiting Battalion
Staff Sgt. Kara Wilson San Antonio Recruiting Battalion
The SAMC is a private U.S. Army organization for non-commissioned officers, and all those who wanted the opportunity to become part of the SAMC had to receive a recommendation from the battalion and brigade chains of command. The SAMC board consisted of an Army Physical Fitness Test, a written essay and an intensive board.
“This accomplishment says a lot about your teammates - you wouldn't be here without them,” said USAREC Command Sgt. Maj. Tabitha Gavia. “We know that your teammates supported you and helped you get through this ... we know that you belong to great teams.”
The official induction ceremony will take place at USAREC Headquarters on July 26.