The captains, lieutenants and cadets of the fighting 508th Military Police Battalion gathered for the first ever Guardian Officer of the Year Competition (OOY). Fourteen personnel faced off in a contest that tested the mental, physical and spiritual resiliency of the individuals. For three straight days they battled neck and neck, fighting to see who would be named champion.

The company grade officers started July 22 with a 50-question exam, followed by a chemical attack scenario, Pre-Ranger Land Navigation Course, perform preventative maintenance checks and services on a M1151 HMMWV and obstacle course.  The competitions were hard fought.

"This just shows how perishable some of these basic tasks are," stated Lt. Col. Robert Davel, 508th MP BN (I/R) battalion commander.

The second day events included a dead hang, carrying water jugs, transporting a wounded soldier to a landing zone and calling in a nine-line MEDEVAC request followed by a 3.5 mile trail run.  The day ended with both an Officer of the Year Board in Army Service Uniform, where they were verbally drilled down by SGM Ronald Hussung and four senior Non-Commissioned Officers from across the battalion, and an urban land navigation with 30 locations and two hours.

The third and final day consisted of a 10.5 mile ruck march which include assembling and disassembling various weapons, a call for fire simulation and the Combat Pistol Course with the M9 pistol.  The day concluded with a 60-question multiple choice test on the Medal of Honor, Army history, physical readiness training, drill and ceremonies and various branch trivia.

The competition ended with the following results: 1st place: 1st Lt. Ala Jamal; 2nd Cadet Michael Hoffman; and 3rd place 1st Lt. Drew Domina.