Van Kampen, Mastin Named Soldiers of the Year

Two Georgia Army National Guardsmen, out of a field of eight competitors, have been named the best among their fellow Soldiers to represent their state during a two-day competition held on the grounds of Macon’s Regional Training Institute (RTI) and at the Macon Police weapons qualification range.

Named Noncommissioned officer of the Year for 2007 is Sgt. Heather D. Van Kampen of Norcross. Chosen Soldier of the Year is Spc. Amie Mastin. The two found out they’d been chosen by their respective selection boards during an evening awards banquet held at RTI’s dinning facility.

According to board members, it’s the first time two female Soldiers have won both titles in the same year.

Van Kampen, 26, and three-year Guard veteran, is the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the intelligence section of Fulton County’s 265th Engineer Group. Mastin, 20, also with the Guard for three years, is a human intelligence collector with Ellenwood’s Company A, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Gillem.

Both will go on to the regional competition set for April at Tullahoma, Tenn., were they will compete against Soldiers from seven other states and two territories. Should one or both win at Tullahoma, they will compete for the national title of Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the year. The day and place for that competition has yet to be announced, said Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Russell, Georgia’s state command sergeant major.

At top left: Georgia Army National Guard Spc. Amie Mastin of the Company A, 221^st Military Intelligence Battalion, and the Army Guard’s Soldier of the Year for 2007, adjusts the front sight on her M-16 rifle during weapon qualifications for Soldier of the Year competition. (Georgia National Guard photo by Pfc. Adam Dean).

At bottom left: Georgia Army National Guard Sgt. Heather D. Van Kampen of the 265^th Engineer Group, and the Army Guard’s NCO of the Year for 2007, is presented the Georgia Meritorious Service Medal by Maj. Terry Nesbit, commander Georgia Army Guard. (Georgia National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Roy Henry).

| Back | GaDOD Home |

*Van Kampen, Mastin Named Soldiers of the Year* Two Georgia Army National Guardsmen, out of a field of eight competitors, have been named the best among their fellow Soldiers to represent their state during a two-day competition held on the grounds of Macon’s Regional Training Institute (RTI) and at the Macon Police weapons qualification range. Named Noncommissioned officer of the Year for 2007 is Sgt. Heather D. Van Kampen of Norcross. Chosen Soldier of the Year is Spc. Amie Mastin. The two found out they’d been chosen by their respective selection boards during an evening awards banquet held at RTI’s dinning facility. According to board members, it’s the first time two female Soldiers have won both titles in the same year. Van Kampen, 26, and three-year Guard veteran, is the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the intelligence section of Fulton County’s 265th Engineer Group. Mastin, 20, also with the Guard for three years, is a human intelligence collector with Ellenwood’s Company A, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Gillem. Both will go on to the regional competition set for April at Tullahoma, Tenn., were they will compete against Soldiers from seven other states and two territories. Should one or both win at Tullahoma, they will compete for the national title of Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the year. The day and place for that competition has yet to be announced, said Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Russell, Georgia’s state command sergeant major. At top left: Georgia Army National Guard Spc. Amie Mastin of the Company A, 221^st Military Intelligence Battalion, and the Army Guard’s Soldier of the Year for 2007, adjusts the front sight on her M-16 rifle during weapon qualifications for Soldier of the Year competition. (Georgia National Guard photo by Pfc. Adam Dean). At bottom left: Georgia Army National Guard Sgt. Heather D. Van Kampen of the 265^th Engineer Group, and the Army Guard’s NCO of the Year for 2007, is presented the Georgia Meritorious Service Medal by Maj. Terry Nesbit, commander Georgia Army Guard. (Georgia National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Roy Henry). \| Back \| GaDOD Home \|