404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Declares Soldier, NCO of the Year

Sgt. John Stimac, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs

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Spc. Christopher Bakeman of Chicago, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Chicago runs through an obstacle course.

CHICAGO, IL (08/22/2012)(readMedia)-- The 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) in Chicago, declared its Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year following a three-day competition Aug. 17 to 19 at the Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles.

The Soldiers and NCOs representing battalions throughout the 404th competed in events that tested mental and physical readiness, Army knowledge and Soldier skills.

Spc. Christopher Bakeman of West Chicago, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade took the title of the 404th's Soldier of the Year.

Staff Sgt. Adam Therriault of Ottawa, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 766th Engineers Battalion in Decatur, won the 404th's NCO of the Year.

Bakeman and Therriault will go on to compete for the Illinois National Guard's Soldier and NCO of the Year competitions Sept. 13 to 16 at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles.

Bakeman said he was honored to represent the 404th MEB in the competition.

"I had a month and a half to study, prepare and train," said Bakeman.

He said there was some great competition.

Therriault said he enjoyed the competition, but said he knows he needs to work on a few things in order to do well in the state competition.

"I definitely need to improve in my land navigation and weapons qualification, so those are the things I will be working on for the next few weeks," said Therriault.

Command Sgt. Major Jerry Clements, senior enlisted adviser of the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade thanked all the participants for taking the time to participate in this event and said no matter if they won or not, it was an experience that will make them a better Soldier.

"I know the winners will do a great job in the state competition and will make the brigade proud," said Clements.

Photo by Sgt. John Stimac, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs/ Spc. Christopher Bakeman of West Chicago, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Chicago runs through an obstacle course during the Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Competition Aug. 18 at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles.

Photo by Sgt. John Stimac, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs/ From left to right: Spc. Christopher Bakeman of West Chicago, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Command Sgt. Major Jerry Clements, senior enlisted adviser of the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and Staff Sgt. Adam Therriault of Ottawa, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 766th Engineers Battalion.

Bakemand was declared the 404th's Soldier of the Year and Therriault the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year following a three-day competition Aug. 17 to 19 at the Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles.

Photo by Sgt. John Stimac, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs/ Staff Sgt. Adam Therriault of Ottawa shakes hands with Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Clements the senior enlisted adviser of the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade after he announced Therriault as the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year winner Aug. 19 Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles.