JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
U.S. Army Spc. Sergio Castello of the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary was named the XVIII Airborne Corps Human Resources Specialist (42A) Soldier of the Year in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Sept. 27, 2016.
In the specialty based competition board, Soldiers like Castello were evaluated on their confidence, how they presented themselves and their ability to answer job related, Army knowledge and Soldier skills questions.
Leading up to the Soldier of the Year competition, Castello said he knew he had the ability to do well in a quarterly board, but didn’t consider applying because he was new to his unit.
“The board is a privilege and as a new Soldier I felt like I hadn’t earned that privilege” said Castello.
While new, Castello said his leadership gave him the confidence to compete. They pushed him to go to the board as soon as he got to the unit, and in May he won the 7th TB(X) Soldier of the month board.
“A lot of Soldiers stop competing after a Soldier of the month board and go on to the promotion board instead. They use the Soldier of the month board as a way of preparing for the promotion board,” said Master Sgt. Melvin Farris 7th TB(X) personnel section NCO in charge. “I felt Castello’s first win was just the beginning for Castello. I believed he had the potential to continue winning.”
Along his journey, Castello had to win three different boards in order to compete in the Soldier of the Year board, with each board being more difficult than the previous.
The brigade board qualified him to compete and win the 3rd Quarter Division Soldier of the month board at Fort Bragg. After this board, things suddenly took a turn for Castello. He realized the road ahead would be tougher and he would have to work harder if he were to win again.
“The stress level is the hardest part, a lot of the stuff you know by studying and doing your job everyday so you know the answers, but the stress is the hardest part.” said Castello.
His journey was not full wins. He took his first loss in the 3rd Quarter XVIII Airborne Corps Soldier of the month board, but this didn’t stop him.
“I knew to compete at that level would require a lot of studying,” said Castello. “So I did and I came back determined to win.”
Castello won the Corps’ 4th quarter board qualifying him for the XVIII Airborne Corps Soldier of the year board.
The level of difficulty combined with the stress of competing made the Soldier of the Year board Castello’s most challenging competition to date, but the previous boards and his leadership helped prepare him.
"We study together a lot,” said Sgt. Freddie Douglas, 7th TB(X) actions NCO. “We studied before work, during lunch and sometimes after work. We also quizzed each other just before our turn at the board.”
Castello was not alone and had Sgt. Preaunica Canady, his direct supervisor and 7th TB(X) essential personnel service, with him every step of the way.
“I was there for him since day one,” said Canady. “I studied with him, I took him to all the boards and I knew he would do well.”
With his leadership’s mentorship and help, Castello came out a winner who now aims to push other new Soldiers to compete as well.
“Just do it, don’t be scared or be nervous to sit in front of senior leaders. You are not expected to know every single answer,” said Castello. “Just push yourself in the situation more and more and you will start feeling more comfortable and it will start to build you more as a Soldier and a leader as well.”