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Palooji P. Palooji. He was deleted earlier. Colonel Mendez, right? Apparently. And it's Calderon. Oh, Calderon. Okay. Kind of like it. It's a I was hoping you were going to check it while you're I was waiting on the text like kick it out. See me in my office. You're Ladies and gentlemen, the ceremony will begin in two minutes. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the 2026 US Army Medical Center of Excellence Drill Sergeant of the Year Competition Ceremony hosted by Major General Anthony El McQueen,
Commanding General, US Army Medical Center of Excellence, and Command Sergeant Major Jesus H. Gonzalez, Command Sergeant Major, US Army Medical Center of Excellence. We would like to welcome our special guests. Colonel Mendez, 32nd Medical Brigade Commander. Command Sergeant Major Bowie, 32nd Medical Brigade Command Sergeant Major. Command Sergeant Major retired Victor Lair Gion representing the Medsoe Association and Black Squadron Airsoft. Miss Terry Chi from the Texas Daughters Association American Revolution State Office.
Mr. Dan Mishket, senior military affairs representative for United Services Automobile Association, USAA. Representing First Command Lieutenant Colonel retired Bran Calvetti and previous medical center of excellence drill sergeants of the year 2022 to 2023 Sergeant First Class Patrick Vela 2024 to 2025 Staff Sergeant Michael Navaro and the current MED COE drill sergeant of the year Sergeant First Class Zachary Babin. Brigade and Battalion Command teams, directors, soldiers, and civilians of the Medical Center of Excellence. We are honored by your presence.
Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the arrival of the official party and remain standing for the invocation by Sergeant Firstclass Megan Paluji, followed by the plane of the national anthem by Staff Sergeant Charles Mills. Good morning. Let us pray. Almighty God, your word says to us to be strong and courageous, not to be frightened and not to be downcast. Lord, you said that you are with us wherever we go. Today, we thank you, oh God, for these drill sergeants who have competed to be the best drill sergeant of the year. We are grateful for the heart that each of them has to not only turn civilians into disciplined warriors, but to compete amongst the most disciplined and brightest drill
sergeants in the United States Army. continue to bless each of these drill sergeants as they pour their time and talents into the newest soldiers in the United States Army. Be with each of their families and loved ones as they put others needs before their own. Help them always to look to you, oh God, in moments of challenge and remind them of your constant support. Bless every person attending this ceremony. And lastly, bless those who will never have the chance to compete or serve again. May all we do this day and every day bring glory, honor, and praise to your mighty name. Amen.
Oh, say can you see by the dawn early light what so proudly we held at the twilight last gleaming. Whose bright stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. Or the ramp parts we watched were so gallently streaming. And the rock is regular. The bumps bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave for the land of the free and the home of the brave. Please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today to recognize our drill sergeant of the year competitors and to announce the medical center of excellence 2026 drill sergeant of the year.
Each competitor participated in a grueling 48 hours of continuous operations designed to measure their knowledge, technical and tactical skills, physical endurance, mental toughness, overall combat readiness, and competence as a US Army drill sergeant. This year's drill sergeant of the year competition consisted of a recorded decision brief, rifle qualification, drill sergeant pitches, physical readiness training assessments, warrior tasks and battle drill assessments, a mystery event requiring competitors to pitch an army fitness test, unknown distance ruck march, day and night land navigation, an army fitness test, a written test, and finished with an oral This year's drill sergeant of the year
has proven to be the top performing drill sergeant in the medical center of excellence and has mastered all tasks necessary to teach, train, and lead soldiers, ensuring that they are fully prepared to enhance the Army's lethality and effectiveness. Ladies and gentlemen, this year's drill sergeant competitors are from the 188th Medical Battalion, Drill Sergeant Ruben Calone, Drill Sergeant Jennifer Cortez, Drill Sergeant Ronald D'vorski, Drill Sergeant Serenity Suanabong from the 232nd Medical Battalion, Drill Sergeant Matthew Belitis, Drill Sergeant Male Bird, Drill Sergeant Nancy Chagoya, and Drill Sergeant Andrew Powell. from the 264th Medical Battalion. Drill Sergeant Gala Arana, Drill Sergeant Heath How,
Drill Sergeant Brian Jackson, Drill Sergeant Chantasia Johnson, Drill Sergeant Jesse Krauss, and Drill Sergeant Francisco Pile. Please join me in a round of applause. In a moment, we will announce Medoe's 2026 drill sergeant of the year winner and this year's runner-ups. Today's drill sergeant of the year winner will go on to compete at the USC drill sergeant of the year competition this fall. The runner up will conduct training alongside this year's winner and will at times be responsible for
conducting the drill sergeant of the year responsibilities in their absence. But first, please enjoy this short recapping video. So what they're doing is they're finishing up the first part of their volunteers and once they come through and pick they have to memorize this entire sheet of paper right verbatim for every word they get wrong and or skip that's going to be a point deduction from their overall score. Bring your arms towards What happened? instruct personnel on the sequence, equipment, execution procedures, and no criteria. empty.
No, we got At this time, please welcome Command Sergeant Major Jesus Gonzalez, Command Sergeant Major, US Army Medical Center of Excellence. All right. Thank you. Yeah, we'll get to the winners. You got to listen to me for a few minutes. All right. Uh, first of all, St. Sar Mills, thank you for that great rendition. Uh, thank you to the G3 team, Star Major Carson, Star Major Bowie and her team. Uh, former senior drill Bernett, Messar Bernett, and Doy. Uh, sorry, first class Babin for putting this thing together. And thank you all for being here today.
Got to get my readers on. All right. Again, good morning, distinguished guests, leaders, family members, cadray, and most importantly, our drill sergeants. Let me begin by thanking everyone of you who competed in this year's competition. Nobody told you that you had to compete. You all volunteered to challenge yourselves, test yourselves, and measure yourselves against the very best. And that alone speaks volumes about your character. Let's give our competitors another round of applause. Every one of you should be proud of what you accomplished because competitions like this aren't about being the beating the person to your left or right. It's about beating
complacency, beating self-doubt, beating fatigue, and beating that inner voice that says good enough. Pushing past that requires relentless discipline, the kind that de demands consistency, presence, and holding yourself in the highest standard long before you enforce it on someone else. That discipline is what separates good leaders from great ones. It's what allows you to build soldiers who are confident, capable, and grounded in what matters most, fundamentals. Because when everything else breaks down on the battlefield, it's the fundamentals that hold the line, every rep, every drill, every skill builds the muscle memory that carry soldiers through the hardest moments. Because in
combat, there is no time to think, only time to execute. and fundamentals make that execution flawless. And you, our drill sergeants, are the ones who build that foundation. You are the standard bearsers. The first leader in the new soldier ever knows. Discipline. You turn fundamental into discipline. Discipline into habits and habits into standards that never bend. Not your standards, not my standards, the army standards. and you enforce it the right way, firm, fair, consistent, and professional. Standards keep our profession strong. Discipline keeps soldiers alive. And when I look back to my own training here, I still remember the impact my drill sergeants had on me. They allowed me to feel prepared when I arrived at my
first duty station as a young battery medic at the first 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Bragg and later as an evacuation NCO and later again as an aid station NCIC and then as a platoon sergeant with the 16 infantry in Baghdad. Those early lessons stayed with me. When the missions were long and the pressure was real, I fell back on what my drill sergeants instilled in me. I always remember their standards, their expectations, and the confidence they helped build that I didn't know I had. That is what helped me lead soldiers through some of the hardest moments in my career. That's why this competition matters. Because right now, somewhere there's a young soldier who will look up to you
for that same confidence. And years from today, when the moment is real and the stakes are high, they will rely on what you taught them here. That is the legacy of a drill sergeant. That's your impact. Long after a soldier leaves your company, the lessons you've instilled continue to shape their character, their confidence, and their performance. And that's exactly what we saw throughout this year's competition. Outstanding performance across the board. Every competitor represented Medco with pride. But as with every competition, one person rose to the top, and soon we'll find out who the 2026 Medco Drill of the Year is. This rec recognition reflects
discipline, professionalism, mastery of the fundamentals, and a commitment to excellence. And with this title comes responsibility because others will now look to you as the example. To all competitors, thank you for what you do every day. Thank you for your discipline. Thank you for your professionalism. Thank you for upholding the standards that make our army unstoppable. You train the next generation of soldiers. You shape the future of Army medicine. And you carry a legacy that will that will outlast every award, every competition, and every formation. And that is the true measure of a drill sergeant. It's not about the days in the field or the miles on the trail. It's about the lives you've shaped, the
soldiers you've trained, and the leaders you've made. In this schoolhouse, our army and our soldiers are better because of you. Thank you. Conserve the fighting strength. This will defend. At this point, the Medical Center of Excellence Commanding General and the Command Sergeant Major will present the award to the 2026 Medical Center of Excellence Drill Sergeant of the Year winner and runners up. We ask that you please remain seated during the presentation of awards and the publishing of the orders.
The third place competitor for the mede drill sergeant of the year is drill sergeant Jesse Krauss from the Bravo Company 264th Medical Battalion. Got to give him a little DNC. At this time, Lieutenant Colonel, retired Bran Calvetti is presenting drill sergeant Krauss a $50 gift card and a coin. Compliments of First Command Financial. Lastly, Mr. Dan Mishket is presenting drill sergeant Krauss a $50 gift card in acrylic and a coin compliments of USAA. Let's give one more round of applause for drill sergeant Jesse Krauss.
The second place competitor for the mede drill sergeant of the year is drill sergeant Andrew Powell from Charlie Company 232nd Medical Battalion. Drill Sergeant Powell is being presented an Army Achievement Medal. Attention to orders. The Army Achievement Medal is being presented to Staff Sergeant Andrew Powell for outstanding achievement as runner up for the 2026 US Army Medical Center of Excellence Drill Sergeant of the Year. His professionalism, excellence, and dedication are in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army Medical Center of Excellence, and
the United States Army signed Anthony L. McQueen, Major General Commanding. Now, we invite Command Sergeant Major, retired Victor Larion, representing the Medoe Association, and Black Squadron Airsoft to the stage. Command Sergeant Major retired Victor Larion is presenting drill sergeant Powell a ticket for two to Operation Black Divide, a bottle of whiskey and a hat courtesy of Black Squadron Airsoft. Next, Lieutenant Colonel, retired Bran Calvetti is presenting drill sergeant Powell a $50 gift card and a coin compliments of First Command Financial.
Next, Mr. Dan Mishket is presented a $50 gift card, an acrylic, and a coin compliment of USAA. Drill Sergeant Powell has also received a shirt, water bottle, and challenge coin courtesy of the Wounded Warrior Project. Let's give one more round of applause for drill sergeant Powell. And now, the 2026 Med COE drill sergeant of the year is drill sergeant Heath Howell from Alpha Company, 264th Medical Battalion. Drill Sergeant How is being presented with an Army Combination Medal. Attention to orders. The Army Combination Medal is presented to Staff Sergeant Heath How for outstanding meritorious achievement as the Medical Center of Excellence 2026 Drill Sergeant
of the Year. His professionalism, motivation, physical fitness, and mental stamina resulted in his selection above his peers. Staff Sergeant How's professional excellence and dedication are in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army Medical Center of Excellence, and the United States Army signed Anthony El McQueen, Major General Commanding. He is also receiving the drill sergeant of the year pistol belt and a drill sergeant statue from the medical center of excellence.
The wearing of the pistol belt as a badge of rank and status can be traced back to 1944 during World War II when the Army began issuing pistol belts to general officers. Drill sergeants have been intermittently wearing the pistol belt since program's inception in 1964 as an organizational standard to represent the hardened disciplined professional. In 1999, the drill sergeant academy adopted this custom and over time drill sergeant leaders became known as the belted ones. The pistol belt is only worn by a select few. The only drill sergeant at the US Army Medical Center of Excellence to wear this belt is the drill sergeant of the year. It signifies exemplary behavior, knowledge, mentorship, and professionalism.
All right. Now we invite command sergeant major retired Victor Larion back to the stage. Command Sergeant Major retired Lear Gion is presenting the drill sergeant of the year with a medoe association commemorative plaque courtesy of the Medsoe Association. Command Sergeant Major retired Larair Gion is also presenting the drill sergeant of the year, a ticket for two to Operation Black Divide, a bottle of whiskey and a hat courtesy of Black Squadron Airsoft. Now we invite Miss Terry Chiji, state regent for Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution to the stage. Miss Chigi is presenting the drill sergeant of the year with a $200 check and an engraved name plate that will be
added to the drill sergeant of the year plaque displayed in the Medzoe headquarters foyer. We now ask Mr. Dan Mishk back to the stage. He will be presenting the drill sergeant of the year with a $100 Visa gift card, a medallion, and a USAA challenge coin. The drill sergeant of the year also received a shirt, water bottle, and challenge coin courtesy of the Wounded Warrior Project. The drill sergeant of the year also received four box tickets for a game of their choosing for the San
Antonio Spurs, courtesy of Frontline Heroes Outdoors. Kelvetti, we now ask that um Lieutenant Colonel retired Kelvetti please come back to the stage. Please join us in a round of applause as we thank all of the 2026 Mede Drill Sergeants of the Year competition sponsors. Yes. Let's give one last round of applause to Drill Sergeant How, 2026 Drill Sergeant of the Year. Ladies and gentlemen, to conclude our ceremony, we ask that you please stand and join along as we sing the Army song. At the completion of the Army song, the
competitors will be standing by at the stage, and we welcome you to come congratulate them all. Thank you for attending today's ceremony. March along, sing our song with the army of the free. Count the brave, count the true who have fought to victory. We're the army and proud of our name. We're the army and proudly proclaim to fight for the right and to build the nation's might and the army goes rolling along.
Proud of all we have done. Fighting till the battle's won. And the army goes along. It's high. Hey, the army's on it way. Count off the cadence loud and strong. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's ceremony. Thank you for your attendance.
