The Army Test and Evaluation Command and its subordinate command, the U.S. Army Operational Test Command, hosted its first Best Warrior Competition April 13, Friday, at West Fort Hood.

Six noncommissioned officers from across the command participated in a series of events, to include the Army Physical Fitness Test, warrior task testing, an eight-mile foot march, an obstacle course, a land navigation course, a general military knowledge test and an appearance before a selection board.

The five-day event was planned and coordinated by Master Sgt. Patrick Burke and Sgt. 1st Class Santos Rodriquez, both from OTC’s G3.

Staff Sgt. Michael English, OTC’s Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, won the competition with Staff Sgt. Elie Aoun, Maneuver Test Directorate, Fort Hood, as runner-up, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Graham, OTC’s senior enlisted adviser.

“We have a bunch of great non-commissioned officers,” Graham said, “and it is only fitting that we provide them with the opportunity to compete like the rest of the Army.

“Competitions such as these do a lot for an organization,” he said. “It builds on camaraderie, through the spirit of competition, and focuses on leader development, which is one of our number one priorities.”

According to Graham, OTC’s commander, Brig. Gen. Scott Spellmon, made sure it was a well-planned, resourced and executed event.

“The CG and I could not be prouder of our (noncommissioned officer corps),” Graham said.

“The Best Warrior Competition was very well done,” Spellmon said. “I appreciate all the directors for sending their soldiers to participate, and I particularly want to thank Command Sgt. Maj. Graham for being a force behind what will now be an annual event.”

Rounding out the competition were Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Casquette, Army Evaluation Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; Staff Sgt. Ricardo Sandoval, Integrated Test and Evaluation Directorate, Fort Bliss; Sgt. Brian Bjorke, Electronic Proving Ground, Fort Huachuca, Arizona; and Sgt. Austin Kleemeier, APG.

“The competition was a lot of fun,” English said. “It was fun doing soldier tasks that I don’t get to do during my day to day job.

“A great deal of planning and effort obviously went into this competition,” he added. “All in all, it was great to get together with my peers and compete.”

The winner, English, and runner-up, Aoun, are forces to be reckoned with, Graham declared.

“We just might have the next NCO of the Year for our Army right here in OTC,” he said.

OTC is the Army’s only independent operational tester, conducting operational tests in realistic environments to determine if equipment, technologies and systems the Army is considering for purchase are suitable, effective and survivable. OTC’s directorates are located at Fort Hood; Fort Bliss; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Bragg and Fort Huachuca.