Reno NCO named Soldier of the Year

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.

Spc. Leon Ferran of Reno has been named the Soldier of the Year for the Nevada Army Guard for 2003. He received his award from Brig. Gen. Randall Sayre, the commander of the Nevada Army National Guard, at a ceremony in Carson City.

Ferran, 31, is assigned to the Joint Forces Headquarters in Carson City and has assisted with security at a Northern Nevada military site in conjunction with Operation Noble Eagle since November 2002. He is also a full-time student at Truckee Meadows Community College with the goal of attaining a bachelor's degree in business.

Ferran, a 1991 graduate of Hug High School in Reno, joined the Nevada Army National Guard in 2002 following a three-year active duty Army stint. He graduated from the Army's Platoon Leadership Development Course in 2003.

"My active duty knowledge and the information I learned at the leadership course were fresh in my mind, and it helped out tremendously at the board," Ferran said. "This is the best honor I've earned in the National Guard. I just tried to do my best. I wasn't expecting the award."

Ferran excelled at the Soldier of the Year board that included representatives from each Army battalion in Nevada. The board included a series of military questions concerning soldiering skills, Army values and current affairs.

Finalists were also evaluated on appearance, military bearing, self-confidence and conversational skills.

Ferran now advances to the Fifth Army Soldier of the Year board in March as Nevada's representative.

Sergeants finish NCO courses

Fourteen Southern Nevada soldiers recently completed the Nevada Army National Guard's Regional Training Institute in non-commissioned officer courses.

The courses, conducted in Reno, focus on military leadership as well as the technical and tactical skills and attributes needed to lead a squad- or platoon-size unit. The courses serve as necessary preparation for soldiers set for promotion to staff sergeant and sergeant first class.

The graduates of the advanced course from units in the Las Vegas area are Staff Sgts. Dennis Basilo, Donald Coffield, Gary Giddens, Alan Hennig, Steven Kovacs, Heidi Merrill-Hernandez, Michael Nelson, Ulises Pierluissi, Kyle Stucki and Kim Tanner.

The Las Vegas-area graduates of the basic course are Sgt. Ryan Baker, Staff Sgt. Anthony Mendoza, Sgt. William Pulsipher and Sgt. Jason Shipp.

The 421st Regional Training Institute located in Reno conducts training for the Army National Guard and the Army Reserves and is accredited to train active-duty soldiers residing in Reno and Las Vegas. In addition to non-commissioned officer courses, the RTI also conducts officer training and military occupation specialty courses.

In brief

During the six weeks of training, the three new airmen studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.