2010 “Soldier of the Year” Makes History

US Army ^ | 10/25/2010 | US Army

[mainstreetradical.com]

Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston announced Sgt. Sherri Gallagher as the Soldier of the Year at a ceremony held at the annual Association of the United States Army convention Oct. 25.

This is the first time a female has earned Soldier of the Year since the competition’s inception.

Gallagher, an instructor and marksmanship competitor with the Army, spent nearly a year competing before being honored. The competition consists of physical training, battle drills, weapons proficiency, medical tasks and detainee operations.

“It was a huge honor,” Gallagher said. “The competition was amazing, and now I go wherever the Army needs me.”

Cash and prizes come with winning the Soldier of the Year competition. Gallagher will receive gift cards, an iPad, a laptop, cash and other prizes, all totaling nearly $10,000.

Her goal is to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics as a marksman, and she knows the trick to accomplishing that objective.

“Keep working,” Gallagher said. “Complete small goals first, and everything will fall in to place.”

SSG Christopher McDougall was presented the award of Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. To learn more about the winners and the 2010 Best Warrior Competition, visit www.army.mil/bestwarrrior/2010.

[mainstreetradical.com]

This didn't get much press but our military needs to be applauded often. First female Soldier of the Year!

[rlmorel]

ping for later...

[bolobaby]

One of the comments on the site is:

“Sad that it took so long...”

Um. Hello?

It’s mostly an objective competition. While there are some subjective measures, the only way this could be “sad” is because women have been in the military so long and yet none have raised themselves to this level until now. Indeed, that *is* rather sad.

Is that sexist? I don’t know.

* I was first runner-up for 1st Army NCO of the Year in 1994. If I had won, I would have been one of the five NCOs to compete for the national title.

[Ramius]

Cool... 2012 Olympics. Good luck to her!

[Renderofveils]

It’s mostly an objective competition. While there are some subjective measures, the only way this could be “sad” is because women have been in the military so long and yet none have raised themselves to this level until now. Indeed, that *is* rather sad.

And she did it in her first three years in uniform. (Although it must be nice to be in a MOS that can fast-track to BNCOC like that.)

[kenmcg]

“Gallagher, an instructor and marksmanship competitor with the Army, spent nearly a year competing before being honored. The competition consists of physical training, battle drills, weapons proficiency, medical tasks and detainee operations”

Soldier of the Year??? Or political correctness in the US Army. Doesn’t appear that the competition includes being in harm’s way or battling enemy combatants.

[jimfree]

The Navy SOY gets promoted to chief petty officer (E7). Does the Army do that? An E5 Navy awardee spends a certain amount of time at E6 before making 7.

She is going places.

[jimfree]

Oh, looks like the Army tiers it with the SOY and NCOOY. Navy might do something similar now - haven’t been involved for a couple decades.

[ladyvet]

I was a “Soldier of the Year” in Europe back in 1982. I don't know how they do it now but back then you studied history, training manuals, etc. and went in front of boards where they ask a bunch of questions.

[Dick Vomer]

Soldier of the Year??? Or political correctness in the US Army. Doesn’t appear that the competition includes being in harm’s way or battling enemy combatants.

It depends on what your definition of a "soldier" is. I can't wait till the first JAG officer gets Soldier of the Year for bravery while prosecuting Marines in combat or winning the reinstatement of a gay/lesbian/transgender soldier. Yeah, that's the ticket.

The soldier of the decade was the corpsman who went forward, covered my dad's body while starting two IV's, and the corporal who dragged him back while they tried to find the rest of his leg. Or my Sgt.Maj who was at the Frozen Chosin, Vietnam and is 88 years young and playing racquetball a couple of times a week. He showed me more about being a Marine and a man than anyone other than my father.

Of course neither one of those guys thinks gays should serve openly in the Marines, can't grasp the concept of women in a combat unit and didn't kiss a lot of a## while they were in the Marines.

[Ben Mugged]

The only true measure of a warrior is the number of enemy killed.

[killermedic]

I feel ya! it is funny because they mention PT as part of the reason she was given the honor. Good for her but everybody knows that females have a different PT standard. I feel bad for the males who have to go back to their units and explain that they got beat by a girl!

[Trod Upon]

If there are differing PT standards then they didn’t get beaten by a girl, because they weren’t really in the same contest.

[fr_freak]

This didn't get much press but our military needs to be applauded often. First female Soldier of the Year!

Why? Why should any of us be happy about the first female Soldier of the Year? Why is that a good thing except as a submission to political correctness?

Let me put it this way: I cannot imagine a scenario in which a female Soldier of the Year is a good thing for our Army. I am not familiar with all of the requirements for this honor, but there must be a physical component to it, or it's not soldiering. If there isn't a physical component, then that means that this award is just a political dog and pony show. If there is a physical component, then we are forced to believe that either 1) despite the fact that men are physically stronger and faster than women, a woman outperformed all men in those physical tests based on a single standard, or 2) that there is a separate standard for women. If #1 is true, then our men are severely underperforming. If #2 is true, then we are back to the political dog and pony show. Either way, we lose.

This is a victory only for political correctness, and I am surprised to see anyone cheer that here.

[Ben Mugged]

The fact she is a woman is not an issue for me. Some of the best combat pilots are female and they make awesome snipers. My issue is in the measure of effectiveness as a warrior. We have developed politically correct measurands to fit our politically correct Army.

[ladyvet]

Back when I was competing there was NO physical component to it. If there is one now I can't believe she is competing on an even field with the men.

I would have thought they would have phased these competitions out by now. They were rather silly then and considering that we are now at war with soldiers dying and being injured it just doesn't seem right.

[killermedic]

Oh I know the merits females bring to the fight.. some of our best interrogators are women, however, for a competition like this.... it really wasn’t the same competition is all I am saying. and you are right.... Combat is what determines a warrior.