USAREUR soldier and NCO of year honored
Story and photos by Michael Tolzmann
USAREUR Public Affairs

USAREUR Soldier of the Year Spec. Alan J. Suskey (left) and USAREUR Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Staff Sgt. Erick R. Macher stand at attention after receiving Army Commendation Medals.

HEIDELBERG, Germany – The U.S. Army’s senior enlisted man in Europe announced May 3 the USAREUR soldier and noncommissioned officer of the year during the 11^th annual Soldiers’ Banquet here.

Spec. Alan J. Suskey, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18^th Military Police Brigade is the Soldier of the Year.

Staff Sgt. Erick R. Macher, Alpha Battery, 1-7^th Field Artillery is the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Suskey and Macher represented V Corps in each of their categories.

Hundreds of USAREUR officers and senior noncommissioned officers, civilians and guests, listen to words of Command Sgt. Maj. David L. Lady at the 11th annual Soldiers' Banquet at the Village Pavilion Ballroom, Patrick Henry Village, Heidelberg, on May 3.

Command Sgt. Maj. David L. Lady, USAREUR command sergeant major, made the announcement before a large audience at the Village Pavilion Ballroom, Patrick Henry Village.  Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, USAREUR commanding general, presented the winners with Army Commendation Medals followed by a rousing applause from the hundreds gathered there.

“It’s important to recognize USAREUR’s most talented, articulate, professional soldiers.  And we have a great group here,” Lady said.

Four soldiers and four noncommissioned officers attended as finalists, each representing their major subordinate command.  They were each introduced to the audience by their first-line leader along with a documentary-style video projected onto four large-screen displays throughout the ballroom.

Soldier of the year finalists:

• Pfc. Jeremy Arnold, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 21^st Theater Support Command; first-line leader is Staff Sgt. Tessa Jones.  Arnold represented the 21^st TSC.
• Spec. Brian J. Pehrson, 13^th Military Police Company, 22^nd Area Support Group; first-line supervisor is Cpl. Cory Ramirez.  Pehrson represented the Southern European Task Force.
• Spec. Robert D. Woyak, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 266^th Finance Command; first-line leader is 1^st Sgt. Anthony Bowling.  Woyak represented the Deputy Commanding General’s Units category.

Noncommissioned officer of the year finalists:

• Staff Sgt. Fidelis Etim, 574^th Supply Company; first-line leader is Sgt. 1^st Class Mark Sims.  Etim represented the 21^st TSC.
• Sgt. Gregory B. Gray, 13^th Military Police Company, 22^nd ASG; first-line leader is Staff Sgt. Derek Gaines.  Gray represented SETAF.
• Staff Sgt. Jennifer Smith, 415^th Base Support Battalion; first-line leader is Sgt. 1^st Class Claude Jones.  Smith represented the Deputy Commanding General’s Units category.

Command Sgt. Maj. David L. Lady (left) and Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs (right) congratulate Spec. Alan J. Suskey (left center) the USAREUR Soldier of the Year, and Staff Sgt. Erick R. Macher the USAREUR Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Suskey and Macher will represent USAREUR in the first ever Army-wide soldier and noncommissioned officer of the year competition later this year.

“I know they’ve worked through a rigorous process to get here.  In my book they are all winners.  The difference between them is negotiable and subjective,” Meigs said.

Soldier and noncommissioned officer of the year candidates reached the USAREUR-level competition following a highly competitive process through their respective major subordinate commands.  They were evaluated through a series of oral boards where senior noncommissioned officers quizzed the individuals on their Army knowledge.  They were also evaluated in areas such as their physical fitness and marksmanship abilities.  Only individuals recognized by the highest of Army standards are recommended to compete.