Fort Lee, Va.   –   FORT LEE, Va. (July 29, 2021) – Kenner Army Health Clinic has one out of 16 Soldiers competing in the U.S. Army Medical Command 2021 Best Leader Competition July 25-30, held on the Island of Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii.
 
Spc. Bricen Bolson is a KAHC Soldier from Radiology and was selected to represent Regional Health Command-Atlantic in this year’s competition.
 
“Spc. Bolson is an outstanding Soldier and represents the Core Values of the Army!” said Sgt. Kelsie Bischoff, radiology supervisor. “As an x-ray tech he has exemplified hard work and proven be dedicated Soldier. Bolson has taken on any tasks given and completed his National Registry and is prepping now for the Interservice Physician Assistant Program. For him to compete at the Army Medical Command Best Leader Competition, he is demonstrating what hard work and dedication can lead to and the opportunities that become available when a Soldier puts in hard work. We are proud to have him here in Radiology and at Kenner.”
 
In preparation for the competition, Bolson trained within Kenner’s Soldiers on multiple occasions, anything from physical training, to chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear, and explosive training and medical lane training. He was trained by another senior enlisted medic on Tactical Combat Casualty Care to better prepare him for the competition. We have full faith in his abilities to perform his best out in Hawaii and wish him the best of luck!”
 
The Best Leader Competition is originated to promote “esprit de corps” throughout the Army while recognizing Soldiers and noncommissioned officers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values and embody the Warrior Ethos. The competition recognizes those Soldiers demonstrating superb military bearing and communication skills, knowledge of various military subjects and the ability to perform a variety of Soldier/Warrior skills above their peers.
 
To earn the right to compete in the annual MEDCOM competition, the Soldiers first competed and won at the unit and Regional Health Command levels in Ft. Stewart, Ga. This challenge consisted of warrior skills such as water survival, a tough obstacle course, and day land navigation, combat casualty medical care under pressure, a written test, oral board, tactical CBRN lane, ruck march and a “stress shoot.” There was also a “mystery event” which was detainee operations.
 
“The competition is in Hawaii and will be much harder as SPC Bolson will be going up against all of the Regional Health Command winners,” said Medical Company Commander Capt. Javier Colon, who also was one of the participants in the original Regional Health Command levels competition.
 
“Spc. Bolson will do an outstanding job and has what it takes to bring home first place. He is hungry to win and has what it takes,” Colon added.
 
The competitors represent the Army’s four regional medical commands: RHC-Pacific, RHC-Atlantic, RHC-Central, and RHC-Europe.
 
The MEDCOM Soldier and NCO of the Year will be announced in an award ceremony at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii on July 30, 2021. Keep up with the competition on social media at: www.facebook/OfficialArmyMedicine and @ArmyMedicine on Twitter.
 
All images and video from the competition can be found at this link: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/ArmyMedicineBestLeaderCompetition