(photo by Horace Blankenship) Spc. Sandeer Singh (left) and Staff Sgt. Ephraim Rogers were named the Installation Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter, respectively, in Fort Myer’s Building 59.

The Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Quarter are warriors tested in all areas of their military knowledge by a group of seasoned leaders who have all at one point in their careers been exactly where the competitors are.

The winners were named Monday in the command conference room of Fort Myer’s Bldg. 59.

When the battlefield was cleared, Staff Sgt. Ephraim Rogers, representing the National Guard Bureau, was victorious as NCO of the Quarter for FMMC.

‘‘The competition was tough and for everyone to make it this far says something about them as Soldiers and NCOs,” Rogers said.

The warrior who took the honor of Soldier of the Quarter is Spc. Sandeer Singh, from the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). The demeanor he exhibited at the ceremony itself spoke volumes about this warrior.

‘‘I could not have made it this far without my chain of command supporting me,” Singh said.

Both Soldiers explained how much they had to study to achieve their goals and how their families were the key support element that helped them. Both are married and said their wives know as much about Army regulations and the information in study guides as they do. And if their wives didn’t know the answer, they knew where to look it up.

Some of the subjects the Soldiers had to study include military history, code of conduct, military justice, other common warrior tasks needed to survive on the battlefield and training and development of subordinate Soldiers.

In addition to common military knowledge, the Soldiers must meet height and weight standards prescribed by military regulation, have received no Uniform Code of Military Justice actions (or suspensions of favorable actions within the past 12 months), passed an Army physical fitness test within the past six months and have their first line supervisor or appropriate representative attend the board.

Rogers was accompanied to the board by Master Sgt. Lisa Birkhead.

‘‘This is quite an accomplishment, and I know that this is not going to be the last board for Staff Sgt. Rogers,” Birkhead said.

Singh’s supervisor is Sgt. Andrew West.

‘‘He is a good troop and definitely has the potential of becoming an NCO and maybe even an officer,” said West. ‘‘It’s things like this that make him stand out.”

Both warriors plan on putting themselves before other boards in the future, to include NCO and Soldier of the Year and the vaunted Sgt. Audie Murphy board.

The two winners received time off from their unit, Army Achievement Medals and the Command Sergeant Major Coin of Excellence.

Soldiers interested in competing in one of these prestigious boards are encouraged to get with their chain of command and start the process.