FORT IRWIN, Calif.  –   Weed Army Community Hospital proudly announces its 2025 Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: SPC Larry Johnson and SGT Richard White,

NCO of the Year: SGT Richard White
 
For SGT White, the toughest part of the competition arrived long before sunrise.
 
“The ruck march was the most challenging,” he said. “To me, it felt like an unknown distance. If this was school, rucking is by far my weakest subject. But I told myself, ‘I’ve been in worse situations than a simple 0300 ruck march,’ and that finishing anywhere lower than first wasn’t an option.”
 
White’s background as an infantryman as a team leader, and later as a squad leader with the 2/327th Infantry Battalion, proved invaluable throughout the competition. During the urban operations lane, his past training came roaring back like muscle memory.
 
“I knew I’d have to lean on basic battle drills like room clearing and squad movement,” he said. “I was fortunate to have that experience and the ability to apply it second natured during the event.”
 
But White is quick to emphasize that this achievement wasn’t his alone. His partnership with Spc. Johnson, strengthened through daily work in logistics and camaraderie outside the uniform, became a cornerstone of their success.
 
“Working together, we’ve built strong chemistry, whether it’s in the gym, at holiday dinners, or talking about life,” White said. “As an NCO, it’s imperative to form a real relationship with your Soldiers. When you have a Soldier willing to push themselves past their comfort zone, it inspires you to do the same.”
 
Reflecting on the competition, White says the experience sharpened his focus on accountability, adaptability, and leading from the front. These values he plans to carry forward as he prepares for greater leadership opportunities.
 
“It reminded me of my infantry days,” he added. “Even when I’m cold, wet, or tired, there are millions of people in worse situations than me. Some people would do anything to only worry about finishing a ruck or swimming in a pool, laughing, and competing with friends. For that, I am grateful. I will remain confident in myself and continue to stay resilient.”
 
 
Soldier of the Year: SPC Larry Johnson
 
For SPC Johnson, the biggest hurdle and biggest triumph came during land navigation.
 
“As a 68J, land nav isn’t something I get to practice as often,” he said. “I had to approach every training opportunity with greater focus and intent. Being that I’m a 68J, land navigation hasn’t been something I get to practice as often as other MOS’s may be able to. This required me to approach every training opportunity with greater focus and intent. Accurate point plotting and strict adherence to my training enabled me to locate each of my points.”
 
Completing the event, he said, “reinforced the importance of discipline and relying on my training.”
 
During the competition’s culminating urban operations exercise, Johnson stepped into a leadership role, applying the same deliberate and thoughtful approach he uses in his daily duties.
 
“I focused on the core mission objectives and the welfare and effective utilization of my team,” he said.
 
He credits his work at WACH for shaping strong habits—attention to detail, sequencing tasks correctly, and maintaining a steady operational mindset. Those skills translated directly to success on the lanes.
 
“This experience motivated me to challenge myself, even in demanding situations,” Johnson said. “It reinforced that with proper preparation and training; any objective is achievable. And it gave me experiences I can share with other Soldiers to inspire similar growth.”