By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
Apr 18, 2013, 17:28
A recent competition at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan named one Prince George native the 2013 Warrior of the Year for Kandahar.
Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Webb, who is currently stationed in Kandahar with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, beat out seven other noncommissioned officers during the three-day competition, in which he was awarded the title of Best Non Commissioned Officer Warrior of the Year for the 311th ESC Division.
The competition involved 17 different skills tests, including the Army physical fitness test, an eight-mile land navigation course, firing and putting together weapons, as well as an oral exam before a board of officials.
Ashby Webb III, Andrew’s brother, explained that his brothers’ skills helped him to take part in the competition.
“You get nominated by your commanding officer to participate based on your exceptional skills,” Ashby said.
Andrew joined the Army in February 2007, and since has participated in two tours in Iraq, one 15 months and one 12 months, and is now on his third tour in Afghanistan, which will last nine months. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant in less than six years.
Currently, Andrew works as the 1st Squad Leader of the personal security detail for the 3rd Sustainment Brigades Commander. He is also the Vehicle Commander for the medical truck.
Military life isn’t foreign to this family.
“Military definitely runs deep in our family,” Ashby said. “There’s a long line of military involvement, and we couldn’t be more proud of him.”
According to Ashby, the military history in his family can be traced all the way back to the Civil War, and Andrew’s service just continues this tradition.
While his achievements in the military make his family proud, Andrew stays humble about his feats, giving credit out to others as well.
“Winning the 2013 Warrior of the Year for Kandahar was a great honor for me,” Andrew said. “However none of it would have been possible without the support and training assistance of my platoon, the Misfits.”
The Warrior competition has several levels of competing, the next being in Kuwait. Unfortunately, Andrew will not be able to attend this part of the competition.
“I tore my ACL during the combatives portion of the last competition, due to no fault of anyone,” Andrew said. “I obviously pushed on and finished but I will not be 100% healed in time so I have left it to my battle buddy that came in second to take my place.”
The competition eventually will include soldiers stationed worldwide with the final competition held at Fort Lee each year.
