Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan McCarthy, of Belgrade Lakes, Maine, was named U.S. Army Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year during an award luncheon at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition Oct. 9.
McCarthy joined Spc. Hazen Ham, of North Carolina, who was named Army Soldier of the Year.
McCarthy was selected last year to compete for the title and went through several increasing levels of competition leading up to the final week-long U.S. Army-wide Best Warrior Competition at Fort Hill in Virginia and in Washington, D.C., where he competed against 10 other competitors who had won their command competitions.
He was presented the awarded by Gen. James C. McConville, vice chief of staff of the Army, and Sgt. Maj. of teh Army Daniel Dailey. He also received the Army’s Meritorious Service Medal for winning.
Held annually since 2002, the competition tests soldiers both physically and mentally, in both the field and with written exams and other assessments. The selection board includes some of the Army’s highest-ranking officers, according to an article in The Guidon Times, Fort Leonard Wood’s newspaper.
McCarthy told The Guidon Times that he treated the combat and other tests as though it were real, and that was a key to his success.
His leadership skills were also tested during the competition. “They really evaluated you on your ability to adapt as a leader and your ability to thrive in chaos,” he said.
McCarthy is a 2008 graduate of Messalonskee High School in Oakland and enlisted in the Army immediately after graduating, according to his father, Ted McCarthy.
He is a combat engineer, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He was a staff sergeant at the time he was presented the award, but scheduled to be prompted to sergeant first class on Nov. 1. His new assignment will be to the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, at the end of November.
His other awards and decorations include Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab, Combat Action badge, Airborne, Air Assault, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement medal. He served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He is married to Emily McCarthy of Oakland, and they have a son, Lincoln.
