SFC Kenneth Weichert was awarded his tenth Army Commendation Medal for creating the Warrior Fit Camp program for the Tennessee Army National Guard Suicide Prevention Task Force, helping thousands of Armed Service Members turn stress into strength and obstacles into opportunities through physical and emotional resiliency coaching and leadership training. He created the Operation Family Fit video series and family fitness kits for the Air National Guard. SFC Weichert was awarded three Army Commendation Medals for service during combat.
Soldier of the Year explained: The Soldier of the Year competition is divided into different levels. Each progressive level is a full competition. The Army and The Army National Guard have slightly different levels. The Army starts with the Company contest and moves up through Battalion, Brigade, Division, and ends with an Army-wide Championship within the chain of command. The Army National Guard competition starts with the Company contest and then moves to the Battalion, Brigade or Troop Command, State and finally the National Championship. Some states are broken down slightly differently.
Ken has participated in more than the competitions listed below. (He won first place at each of the competitions listed.) Those not listed were either at the company level or were during basic training or AIT. We have selected six of the seven competitions which were Brigade or Troop level or higher in the six-time Soldier of the Year designation.
First Battalion; 94th Brigade Fire Direction Center; U.S. Army | |
C Co; 94th Brigade Fire Direction Center; U.S. Army | |
1st Battalion, 94th Brigade Fire Direction Center; U.S. Army | |
1. | 94th Brigade Fire Direction Center, 94th Brigade Air Defense Artillery; U.S. Army |
2. | 32nd Air Defense Command Division; U.S. Army |
3. | U.S. Army, Europe |
205th Engineers; Louisiana Army National Guard | |
4. | Louisiana State Championships; Louisiana Army National Guard |
5. | 5th Army |
6. | 100th Troop Command; California Army National Guard |
7. | California State Championships; California Army National Guard |
“ I have known Ken Weichert for years and have nothing but positive things to say. Ken is a highly motivated, loyal, self-sufficient individual who has proven to be an exceptional motivator, instructor, and program creator. He has an enormous amount of talent and charisma. I can't imagine anyone being able to do a better job than him.- MAJ (retired) Elizabeth A. Collins