Sgt. Cooper Hall, left, and Spc. Rahjee Hajj earned U.S. Army Alaska NCO of the Year and Soldier of the Year titles in USARAK's Best Warrior Competition, April 28 through May 1 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. (U.S. Army photo)

Sergeant Cooper Hall, a White Springs resident and 2012 Suwannee High School graduate, won the 2014 USARAK Soldier of the Year competition, according to a recent press release.

The release stated that soldiers from 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Arctic Wolves” competed in the 2015 U.S. Army Alaska Best Warrior Competition held April 27-May 1. The grueling five-day event tested the mettle and knowledge of every soldier with events ranging from rifle marksmanship to an administration board.

The USARAK competition pitted 12 non-commissioned officers against one another, as well as 13 junior- enlisted soldiers to see who would have the opportunity to be chosen to represent USARAK at the U.S. Army Pacific Best Warrior Competition slated for June of this year, the release stated. 

Events included a full layout of the required gear, a PT test, ranges (that included a qualification and a stress shoot), skill level one and two hands-on testing, a written test, combatives, an obstacle course, a land navigation course and an administration board.

Soldiers and NCOs from 1st SBCT steam-rolled the competition with personnel taking four of the five top spots in both the junior-enlisted and NCO competitions.

Sgt. Hall, originally from White Springs, is a soldier with B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment and he won the 2014 USARAK Soldier of the Year competition as a specialist. Hall again was selected to represent USARAK at this year’s USARPAC event. He said his prior knowledge of the events and his preparedness for the board gave him a leg up on the competition. Even with the added advantage, Cooper said the administrative board was still the hardest part of the competition.

Chosen to represent the junior-enlisted at USARPAC was Spc. Rahjee Hajj, a Soldier with Avalanche Troop, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment and originally from Fullerton, Calif. He was selected ahead of his peers because of his dedication to work by always volunteering for everything, having the highest PT score and because he won the last Soldier of the Month board.

Following the trend with Sgt. Hall, Spc. Hajj’s hardest event was the board as well. His advice was to prepare and study as much as you can when you know that you are going to this event.

Should something unforeseeable happen to the selected soldiers, Sgt. Joshua Rojo, a soldier with 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, and Spc. Drake McAninch, also from 1-5 IN, will represent USARAK at the USARPAC competition.