FORT BLISS, Texas - Staff Sgt. James Ferrone, a cavalry

FORT BLISS, Texas - Staff Sgt. James Ferrone, a cavalry scout assigned to 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division and native of Naperville, Illinois, completes a 12-mile ruck march during the 1AD Best Warrior Competition, May 15. Junior Soldiers and Noncommissioned Officers from across 1AD participate in a series of trials and evaluations, including a 12-mile ruck march, the Army Combat Fitness Test, an obstacle course and an interview with the division operations sergeant major, in order to determine the division's top Soldier of the year and NCO of the year. This year's competition was won by Ferrone and Spc. Gage Paraschos, a native of Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania and cavalry scout assigned to Troop C, 2-13 CAV, who won the titles of NCO of the Year and Soldier of the Year, respectively, demonstrating their excellence and dedication as Iron Soldiers. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Matthew Marcellus)