Fort Bliss Monitor

Oklahoma duo claim top spots in DSOY competition

Sgt. 1st Class
Reginald P. Rogers
Army News Service

FORT MONROE, Va. — Two noncommissioned officers from Oklahoma-based units were named the Army’s 2004 Active Component and Reserve Component Drill Sergeants of the Year.

Staff Sgt. Jason W. Maynard and, Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer R. Fowler, were both named as 2004 Army Drill Sergeants of the Year in an early-morning ceremony at Fort Monroe, June 18.

Maynard and Fowler were selected from a field of 22 active and Reserve competitors.

Both said they were surprised when they heard their names announced as the winners.

“‘Did they just say my name?’ That was the first thing I thought,” Fowler said. “Right now, it’s just surreal. It feels wonderful. It has not sunken in yet.”

Maynard said although he was surprised, he was confident with his performance, which began with an overall score of 335 on the Army Physical Fitness Test. A 300 score on the APFT is the maximum amount of points that can be officially recorded.

“For me, the PT test was when I was like, ‘OK,’” said Maynard, a field artillery Soldier whose actual Army military occupational specialty is 13B, cannon crewmember. “That for me was just outstanding. From right there, I went ‘OK, I’ve got a handle on this.’ Then I kinda got nervous during the surprise task and the hands-on and modules, because I wasn’t sure how everyone else did. I was pretty sure they were proficient in everything. But when I left the board, I was confident. I was very pleased with how I had done.”

Since they both reside in Oklahoma, Maynard and Fowler began studying together in March. After being introduced as their commands’ DSOYs, they began studying together to prepare for the Army competition and have become self-proclaimed “battle buddies.”

Maynard said that was the key to both competitors winning in their categories. He also sited teamwork and working with each other’s strengths and weaknesses as elements to their victories.

“We took my experiences and her experiences and put them together,” he said. “When I got to the board, all the questions mirrored the previous boards we had been on.”

To be declared the winner each competitor is required to successfully negotiate four major challenges which are a physical fitness test, a “surprise topic” essay; an appearance before a board comprised of five sergeants major and a teaching demonstration of Soldier common tasks like drill, ceremony and performing functions checks on their weapons. The competitor with the highest scores after all tasks is declared the winner.
The competition lasts four days.

Both Fowler and Maynard said winning the competition was special because of the fact that they won alongside their battle buddies.

“When they called her name, I was so happy,” said Maynard, a South Dakota native who’s been on the trail for 21 months. “I was like, ‘The training paid off.’”

“I was thinking, ‘Come on, come, on, come on,” said an excited Fowler, who hails from Wisconsin. “When they said staff sergeant, I was like, ‘OK?!’”

Fowler is a former active-duty drill sergeant who served at Fort Jackson. Maynard, who currently works as a drill sergeant at Fort Sill’s 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery Regiment, will return to Fort Monroe to fulfill his duties as the DSOY.

Maynard said he looks forward to fulfilling his duties as the Army’s top drill sergeant, despite having to fill boots that outgoing DSOY Sgt. 1st Class Billie Jo Miranda wore so well.

“I know how well she did and that everyone thinks so highly of her,” he said. “She really brought the drill sergeants together through communication channels.”

Maynard said he was looking forward to continuing those lines of communication among the Army training centers.

“Because what works in one place, say Fort Sill, may not work in Fort Jackson. I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

He said some of the issues he would like to see addressed concern combatives being taught to trainees and maximizing the time allowed for the drill sergeants’ trail break.

“I would like to see more combatives being done,” he said. “Especially since we’re an Army at war and we’re in urban areas where you’re pretty much hand-to-hand. All we’re giving them is a six-hour block of instruction, which I don’t feel is adequate.”

Fowler, who works as a drill sergeant leader at the 95th Division’s Drill Sergeant School based in Oklahoma City, will fulfill similar duties as she travels to the different Reserve units throughout the country.

For Reservists, Fowler said there are some issues that she feels also need to be addressed.

“I think our (basic rifle marksmanship) needs to change,” she said. “We’re not just fighting from foxholes anymore. We are standing, kneeling, shooting on the move, and we need to train our Soldiers accordingly.”
She added she would like to see all drill sergeant positions properly staffed to keep from overworking the current force.

Training and Doctrine Command’s commanding general, Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, spoke highly of all the competitors at Friday’s recognition ceremony at Fort Monroe’s Centennial Park.

“Drill sergeants do more than perform a very important task for the Army,” he said. “They epitomize the spirit of this great Army, and the drill sergeants standing on the field before you today are the very best of the talented team of great noncommissioned officers. Each of you is making a difference and, for that, our Army is grateful.”
Both drill sergeants will begin their tour as the 2004 Drill Sergeants of the Year in July.

(Editor’s note: Sgt. 1st Class Reginald P. Rogers writes for TRADOC News Service.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	July 1, 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Oklahoma duo claim top spots in DSOY competition Sgt. 1st Class Reginald P. Rogers Army News Service FORT MONROE, Va. — Two noncommissioned officers from Oklahoma-based units were named the Army’s 2004 Active Component and Reserve Component Drill Sergeants of the Year. Staff Sgt. Jason W. Maynard and, Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer R. Fowler, were both named as 2004 Army Drill Sergeants of the Year in an early-morning ceremony at Fort Monroe, June 18. Maynard and Fowler were selected from a field of 22 active and Reserve competitors. Both said they were surprised when they heard their names announced as the winners. “‘Did they just say my name?’ That was the first thing I thought,” Fowler said. “Right now, it’s just surreal. It feels wonderful. It has not sunken in yet.” Maynard said although he was surprised, he was confident with his performance, which began with an overall score of 335 on the Army Physical Fitness Test. A 300 score on the APFT is the maximum amount of points that can be officially recorded. “For me, the PT test was when I was like, ‘OK,’” said Maynard, a field artillery Soldier whose actual Army military occupational specialty is 13B, cannon crewmember. “That for me was just outstanding. From right there, I went ‘OK, I’ve got a handle on this.’ Then I kinda got nervous during the surprise task and the hands-on and modules, because I wasn’t sure how everyone else did. I was pretty sure they were proficient in everything. But when I left the board, I was confident. I was very pleased with how I had done.” Since they both reside in Oklahoma, Maynard and Fowler began studying together in March. After being introduced as their commands’ DSOYs, they began studying together to prepare for the Army competition and have become self-proclaimed “battle buddies.” Maynard said that was the key to both competitors winning in their categories. He also sited teamwork and working with each other’s strengths and weaknesses as elements to their victories. “We took my experiences and her experiences and put them together,” he said. “When I got to the board, all the questions mirrored the previous boards we had been on.” To be declared the winner each competitor is required to successfully negotiate four major challenges which are a physical fitness test, a “surprise topic” essay; an appearance before a board comprised of five sergeants major and a teaching demonstration of Soldier common tasks like drill, ceremony and performing functions checks on their weapons. The competitor with the highest scores after all tasks is declared the winner. The competition lasts four days. Both Fowler and Maynard said winning the competition was special because of the fact that they won alongside their battle buddies. “When they called her name, I was so happy,” said Maynard, a South Dakota native who’s been on the trail for 21 months. “I was like, ‘The training paid off.’” “I was thinking, ‘Come on, come, on, come on,” said an excited Fowler, who hails from Wisconsin. “When they said staff sergeant, I was like, ‘OK?!’” Fowler is a former active-duty drill sergeant who served at Fort Jackson. Maynard, who currently works as a drill sergeant at Fort Sill’s 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery Regiment, will return to Fort Monroe to fulfill his duties as the DSOY. Maynard said he looks forward to fulfilling his duties as the Army’s top drill sergeant, despite having to fill boots that outgoing DSOY Sgt. 1st Class Billie Jo Miranda wore so well. “I know how well she did and that everyone thinks so highly of her,” he said. “She really brought the drill sergeants together through communication channels.” Maynard said he was looking forward to continuing those lines of communication among the Army training centers. “Because what works in one place, say Fort Sill, may not work in Fort Jackson. I’m looking forward to it,” he said. He said some of the issues he would like to see addressed concern combatives being taught to trainees and maximizing the time allowed for the drill sergeants’ trail break. “I would like to see more combatives being done,” he said. “Especially since we’re an Army at war and we’re in urban areas where you’re pretty much hand-to-hand. All we’re giving them is a six-hour block of instruction, which I don’t feel is adequate.” Fowler, who works as a drill sergeant leader at the 95th Division’s Drill Sergeant School based in Oklahoma City, will fulfill similar duties as she travels to the different Reserve units throughout the country. For Reservists, Fowler said there are some issues that she feels also need to be addressed. “I think our (basic rifle marksmanship) needs to change,” she said. “We’re not just fighting from foxholes anymore. We are standing, kneeling, shooting on the move, and we need to train our Soldiers accordingly.” She added she would like to see all drill sergeant positions properly staffed to keep from overworking the current force. Training and Doctrine Command’s commanding general, Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, spoke highly of all the competitors at Friday’s recognition ceremony at Fort Monroe’s Centennial Park. “Drill sergeants do more than perform a very important task for the Army,” he said. “They epitomize the spirit of this great Army, and the drill sergeants standing on the field before you today are the very best of the talented team of great noncommissioned officers. Each of you is making a difference and, for that, our Army is grateful.” Both drill sergeants will begin their tour as the 2004 Drill Sergeants of the Year in July. (Editor’s note: Sgt. 1st Class Reginald P. Rogers writes for TRADOC News Service.