Sgt. Nicholas J. Johnson and Staff Sgt. Victor M. Trinidad were named the 8th Army’s soldier and noncommissioned officer of the year and will advance to an Army-wide contest.

The announcements were made at the Army’s birthday ball in Seoul late Friday night.

Johnson, who first won the 35th Air Defense Artillery’s soldier competition, earned the highest score among all 22 entrants. Johnson, of Cleveland, was a specialist when he entered the lower level competition and therefore was eligible for the soldier of the year title, 8th Army officials said.

Trinidad, a native of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, earned his staff sergeant’s stripes recently as well. Trinidad is an aircraft electrician by trade and is attached to the U.S. Army Troop Command.

Sgt. Ahn Yong-jae, also of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and a Seoul native, earned the 8th Army Korean Augmentee to the U.S. Army soldier of the year award.

The 8th Army contest began June 4 with a written test for all entrants. They competed for four days in land navigation, grappling, soldier tasks, physical fitness and board examinations.

Johnson and Trinidad will represent 8th Army at the Army-wide competition at Fort Lee, Va., from Oct. 2-6.

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