WASHINGTON, D.C. – Staff Sgt. Andrew Fink, a native of Cook, endured a host of physical and mental challenges to emerge as the Army’s noncommissioned officer, or NCO of the Year.

The announcement was made during the 2015 Best Warrior Competition Awards Ceremony at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army in Washington, D.C., on Monday. The Best Warrior Competition has been described as the “Super Bowl” of Army competitions.

“It’s truly an honor to be the best NCO of the year among all those top competitors,” said the 31-year-old Fink, who competed with 12 other NCOs from across the Army for the title. “I was just lucky enough to come out on top.”

Also recognized during the ceremony was Spc. Jared R. Tansley, assigned to the U.S. Army Europe, who has named Soldier of the Year.

“It’s a great day to be a soldier,” Daniel Dailey, sergeant major of the Army, said. “Thank God we have soldiers like the ones that are going to be recognized here today.”

Dailey said he was referring to all 26 competitors —13 NCOs and 13 soldiers — from 13 commands across the Army who started competing a week ago at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia for the titles of best NCO and best Soldier.

Soldiers were watched and graded on each event. The final event was participation in the Army Ten-Miler at the Pentagon on Oct. 11.

Fink said the most difficult event was the 12-mile march carrying a 45-pound rucksack.

“I’m a little bit shorter and it’s tough for me to keep up with those taller boys,” said Fink. “But you just kind of grit your teeth and go on and do your best.”

The Best Warrior competition encompasses the total solider, Fink said, noting that it includes mental as well as physical challenges.

“There is a written exam, essay questions and an oral board where high-ranking officials ask you questions on Army policies and procedures,” said Fink. “And then, obiviously, there are skills tests.” Those skills tests include being able to use a map and compass to move from one point to another in the woods, shooting tests, and treatment of combat injuries.

“It’s really physical and mental all the way around,” Fink said. “But they’re all basic soldier tasks — something that every soldier should be able to do.”

Dailey concurred.

“Everything you do in the Army should reinforce what a soldier needs to be able to achieve on the battlefield in order to win, even in competition,” Dailey said at the ceremony’s luncheon. “So the focus on shooting, moving and communicating, and soldier skills, the intent of it is to find the best soldier.”

This year’s competition also put more emphasis on physical fitness.

“If you want physical fitness to be important, you have to make it important,” said Dailey. “Not just say it, but you have to do it, and then you have to do it every day, and the leaders have to do it.”

Fink said during the competition, he had no idea where he stood. Competitors complete most of their tasks independently and are not provided with any scores during the event.

At one point, he thought he was out of the running after he struggled with an exercise that required competitors to react to a gas attack by putting on a protective mask.

“I thought I might be going home, but fortunately that wasn’t the case,” he said.

Fink serves as a special operations combat medic platoon sergeant with the 409th Area Support Medical Company. He has deployed twice to Afghanistan while on active duty. Later, he joined the Reserves. His unit is based in Madison, Wis.

A 2002 graduate of Cook High School and son of Tom and Karen Fink, Fink holds a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota. He said he plans to make the Army a career.

Fink prepared for the Best Warrior competition for almost a year, working his way from the brigade and division levels before earning a spot at the all-Army event.

“Preparing for Best Warrior was a team effort,” he said, crediting his girlfriend, Leah Grabert, his chain of command and his battle buddies for their help.

Fink said he was motivated to enter the Best Warrior competition by a desire to inspire his soldiers.

“I wanted to show them that commitment to excellence,” he said. “Being in the Reserves, you don’t get a lot of opportunities to do this but there are opportunities. And when they do come along, you’ve got to do your best. Make a plan and stick with it.”

Fink credited his own experiences in active duty as a Ranger and “that never quit attitude” as crucial to his own success.

“I wanted to show my soldiers that they could do that, as well,” said Fink. “A Reserve soldier can go through the ranks and win this competition. Hopefully, I’ve inspired some to try next year.”

That message was reinforced by Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, who served as keynote speaker at the awards ceremony.

Allyn said that future operations will be more complex than any in the past and said it’s important for Best Warrior competitors and all soldiers to keep in mind the lessons learned throughout the last 14 years of warfare and to pass that knowledge on to the new generation of soldiers coming in.

“Soldiers and NCOs make our Army the greatest land force in history,” Allyn summed up. “The competition recognizes soldiers who demonstrate commitment to our Army values, embody the Warrior Ethos and represent the force of our future.”