Every year, the Army hosts a competition to find the very best in its ranks, and it's happening right now. Within the 10th Mountain Division, it's about much more than just winning. 

Specialist Nicholas Pomeroy has already taken part in the early stages of the U.S. Army’s Soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year competition.

However, this qualifying round, the 10th Mountain Division’s soldier and NCO of the Quarter is some of the best of the best. The pressure is ramped up and everything has to be perfect.

“I’m a little nervous, but it’s nothing I haven’t gone through before,” Pomeroy said.

The nerves are to be expected, but in this competition, so is overcoming them.

“I’m sure once I get in there, my nerves will go away. It’s nothing to be scared of, you know?” Pomeroy said during a recent round of competition.

His most recent round at the time was the professional board.

Behind closed doors were a number of 10th Mountain Division leaders, conducting what amounts to 12 job interviews with oral test questions, judging six soldiers and six NCOs to determine the division’s fourth-quarter winners.

Pomeroy had put in the work and was ready for everything that awaited him, but due to several restrictions, we couldn’t follow him in.

However, we saw video of a previous professional board showing what soldiers are expected to know, and it’s everything from rules and regulations to weapon make up, family advocacy and more.

“You’ve just got to expect the unexpected, really,” Pomeroy added.

However, that board room is only part of this competition. On competition day, soldiers wake up and are immediately put to a physical test.

Soldiers took part in a weapons test and even had to write an essay on what being a part of their squad meant to them.

“You’ve got to, overall, just be a well-rounded soldier in order to win competitions like this,” Pomeroy added.

For him, a win would be amazing. It would validate all the work he’s put in to this point as he continues to reach his career goals, but in true Solider-of-the-Year spirit, it’s even more so about setting an example for those who want to follow in his footsteps.

“I want to set a big standard for my soldiers. I want to show them what I did, and I want them to go above and beyond that,” he added.

Pomeroy says it’s only then, when you can truly grow, not only up the ranks, but as a person who truly cares about those he or she leads.

The soldiers who advance from this stage of the competition, will move on to the division’s final this spring and from there, it’s Army-wide.