Jeremy Stimac earns distinction as Enlisted Soldier of the Year
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He was chosen for the honor over 48 other enlisted men of the same and lower grades as the enlistee who best embodies the traits of a professional soldier.
A two-year veteran of I Troop, Stimac joined the unit after serving a four-year active duty stint in the regular Army. He is currently a member of one of the unit’s mortar platoons and is qualified in air assault, as well as an expert on the M16 assault rifle.
According to I troop 1st Sgt. Willie Bowers, the Soldier of the Year competition is Army-wide and strives to bestow the honor on soldiers who meet such criteria as a vast knowledge of military subjects, weapons sufficiency, exemplary fitness and marksmanship scores and who possess a neat appearance and a superb military bearing.
After being selected for the honor by the unit’s platoon sergeants, Stimac will advance to squadron-wide competition next month in Cookeville where he will be judged by a board of five non-commissioned officers on proper wear of the uniform, confidence and knowledge. Should he win there, he would then advance to the regimental Enlisted Soldier of the Year competition in Knoxville.
Once again selected as I Troop’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year was Sgt. William Johnson, who won the troop honor last year and continued all the way to the 1st Army competition in Florida, after winning at four levels of increasing difficulty: unit, squadron, regiment and state.
“Specialist Stimac and Sergeant Johnson are two of the brightest and best of America’s young men and we’re proud they’re a part of the McMinnville unit. It’s men like these who’ve helped this unit to excel over the past few years,” said Bowers.