Gutierrez, Obray await NCO & Soldier of the Year results

Timothy L. Hale
Army Reserve Public Affairs

The 2008 Dept. of the Army NCO and Soldier of the Year "Best Warrior" is complete and Army Reserve "Best Warriors" Staff Sgt. Francisco Gutierrez and Spc. David Obray along with the other 22 major command competitors are on their way to Washington, D.C.

After attending the GEICO pasta dinner this evening, they will get to experience the Army 10-miler from the reviewing stands on Sunday...a welcome relief after being on their feet for most of this past week during the NCOY-SOY competition.

Monday is the big day when this year's NCO and Soldier "Best Warrior" winners will be announced during a luncheon hosted by Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual convention in Washington, D.C.

Gutierrez, Obray complete Mystery Event

Timothy L. Hale
Army Reserve Public Affairs
Staff Sgt. Francisco Gutierrez and Spec. David Obray completed the final event of the Army's "Best Warrior" competition...the Mystery Event.

The Army Reserve "Best Warriors" completed all the mini-events which made up the overall Mystery Event.

The mini-events included: a uniform PCC/PCI, Escalation of Force scenario, Humvee roll-over simulator, a Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) scenario and the long-time staple of the Mystery Event, a combatives tournament.

We are pleased to report that Spc. Obray won the Soldier side of the bracket and faced off against the NCO winner. Eventhough he did defeat the NCO, Spc. Obray was truly the "best of the best" on the combatives mat amongst the 12 Soldier competitors.

Gutierrez, Obray complete M4 night qualification

Timothy L. Hale
Army Reserve Public Affairs
The skies over the Fort Lee, Va. range complex were filled with parachute flares as Army Reserve "Best Warriors" Staff Sgt. Francisco Gutierrez and Spc. David Obray completed the M4 night qualification event.

As the flares soared into the night sky, Gutierrez, Obray and the other 22 competitors "scanned their sectors" and engaged their targets.

The next to the last event in the 2008 Dept. of the Army Non-Commissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year "Best Warrior" competition sets the stage for Friday's Mystery Event.

Gutierrez, Obray complete day M4 qual and stress fire qual events

Timothy L. Hale
Army Reserve Public Affairs

Thursday continued to be a busy day for the Army Reserve "Best Warriors", Staff Sgt. Francisco Gutierrez and Spc. David Obray.

In the afternoon, Gutierrez and Obray competed in two M4 qualification events - the daytime range and a stress fire range.

During the stress fire range, both competitors were required to evacuate a 200 lb. casualty manequin from a Humvee, drag the casualty to cover behind a brick wall and engage pop-up targets.

Then they moved the casualty behind a blown up car and engaged more pop-up targets in doors, behind walls.

All of this was done while the battle space was obscured with plenty of smoke on the lane.

After a brief bit of down time and a field-served meal, the Gutierrez and Obray will take on the always challenging night time M4 qualification range.

Gutierrez, Obray complete Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills

Timothy L. Hale
Army Reserve Public Affairs

After a few hours of shut eye, Army Reserve "Best Warriors" Staff Sgt. Francisco Gutierrez and Spc. David Obray set off on cold, dark and breezy morning at Fort Lee, Va. for the Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills.

The Warriors had to complete five stations consisting of: weapons assembly, medical, evacuation of a casualty, enemy POW handling and IED detection.

From there, the Warriors head out to the M4 qualification range for day and night fire.

The final phase of the five day competition will be the Mystery Event. None of the 24 competitors in this year's competition knows what that will be...even the start time is a mystery!

Gutierrez, Obray complete Urban Orienteering Course (Day & Night)

Timothy L. Hale
Army Reserve Public Affairs

Wednesday was a long day for Army Reserve "Best Warrior" Staff Sgt. Francisco Gutierrez and Spc. David Obray.

After completing the AFPT, the Written Exam and the Essay it was on to the field for the Urban Warfighting Orienteering Course conducted both during the day and later that evening.

During the daytime, the Warriors were required to navigate across Fort Lee, locating four points while also interacting with role-players at each location. The course covered approximately five miles across the post.

In the evening, the Warriors were required to find three pionts. After a few hours of sleep it was on to the Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills early, early Thursday morning.

Gutierrez, Obray complete AFPT

Timothy L. Hale
Army Reserve Public Affairs

Staff Sgt. Gutierrez and Spc. Obray completed the AFPT this morning well before sun-up.

Both Army Reserve Warriors looked good throughout, cranking out push-ups, sit-ups and the two mile run.

They are currently taking the Written Exam and the Written Essay portion of the overall competition.

This afternoon and later this evening, the Army Reserve Warriors will be participating in the Urban Warfighting Orienteering Course.

Gutierrez, Obray complete board appearance

Spc. David Obray, left, gets a last minute uniform inspection from his sponsor, Sgt. David Warren before the Command Sergeants Major board appearance on Monday, Sept. 29, 2008. Obray is representing the Army Reserve in the Dept. of the Army NCO and Soldier of the Year "Best Warrior" Competition at Fort Lee, Va., Sept. 28 - Oct. 3, 2008. (Timothy L. Hale, Army Reserve Public Affairs)

Staff Sgt. Francisco M. Gutierrez prepares to enter the board room during the Command Sergeants Major board at the Dept. of the Army NCO and Soldier of the Year "Best Warrior" Competition at Fort Lee, Va., on Monday, Sept. 28, 2008. Gutierrez is representing the Army Reserve. (Timothy L. Hale, Army Reserve Public Affairs)

Timothy L. Hale
Army Reserve Public Affairs

Staff Sgt. Gutierrez and Spc. Obray completed day one of the 2008 "Best Warrior" competition with their appearance before the Command Sergeants Major board at the Lee Club at Fort Lee, Va.

Both Gutierrez and Obray said they were glad to have this phase of the competition behind them and look forward to the more physical aspects of the competition starting on Wednesday, Oct. 1 beginning with the PT test.

Tomorrow will physically be a relatively easy day for our Army Reserve Warriors. In the early morning hours they will be issued their combat equipment that they will use for the rest of the week. In the afternoon, they are scheduled for interviews with their hometown media via a satellite uplink and also via telephone interviews. This will be an excellent opportunity to showcase our Warriors to the rest of the nation.

2008 Dept. of the Army NCO & Soldier of the Year "Best Warrior" Competition underway

(L-R) Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, Staff Sgt. Francisco Gutierrez, Spc. David Obray and Army Reserve Command Sgt. Major Leon Caffie. (Timothy L. Hale, Army Reserve Public Affairs)

Timothy L. Hale
Army Reserve Public Affairs

Staff Sgt. Francisco Gutierrez and Spc. David Obray, representing the Army Reserve, and 22 other competitors representing 11 major Army commands, were hosted by Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston at a welcome dinner at the Regimental Club at Fort Lee, Va. on Sunday, Sept. 28.

This was their last chance to relax before the competition begins in earnest on Monday, Sept. 29 when the 24 Warriors appear before the Command Sergeants Major board.

This mentally challenging event will test the Warriors' knowledge in all things Army as well as current events.

Staff Sgt. Gutierrez appears before the board on Monday morning while Spc. Obray has an afternoon session.

2008 U.S. Army Reserve Command NCO & Soldier of the Year

Sgt. Francisco M. Gutierrez and Spc. David R. Obray were named the 2008 U.S. Army Reserve Command NCO & Soldier of the Year. (Timothy L. Hale, Army Reserve Public Affairs)