Staff Sergeant Ronald “Chad” White – a 2003 graduate of East Union High School – is the U.S. Army Stuttgart, Germany garrison’s non-commissioned officer (NCO) of the year.
Presentation of his award took place earlier this month at his current duty station in Stuttgart, during the Army’s year-long celebration of The Year of the NCO.
Sgt. White – an Army military policeman (MP) – has served two combat tours in Iraq as a gunner and as a driver.  Both his nineteenth and twenty-first birthdays were spent in Iraq.  In addition to the NCO of the Year honors he also received the 2008 Geico Military Service Award for his MP duties.
White is the youngest soldier to ever receive the Geico award for his work in traffic safety and accident prevention – the only one to have seen combat in the history of the award.  
For that award Sgt. White was cited for “working tirelessly” in assisting and informing the civilian community near his base regarding traffic safety.
The Crash Dummy Checkpoints Program he developed and implemented at random high traffic area check points around his duty station saw White wearing a crash dummy suit emphasizing traffic safety and reminding motorist to buckle up – watch their speed – and never drink and drive.
White was home on leave in December to visit his parents Ronald “Chuck” and Tammy White and to marry Amy Haack of Stockton.  
Stationed with the Headquarters, Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, Germany, Sgt. White said it was an “incredible honor” for him winning his garrison’s top NCO status as well as for the Military Police Corps.  He serves as a traffic investigator with the USAG Stuttgart Provost Marshal’s Office.
Two noncommissioned officers were nominated and competed for the title with a physical fitness test, qualified with their weapons, and completed a written exam along with competing in challenging day and nighttime land navigation courses – the first of the three days of the competition.  
During the second day White and one other NCO went on a 20-kilometer road march with a 20-pound rucksack.  Over the length of the course they executed various warrior tasks – including the medical evaluation of a “wounded” soldier found along the trail.
White’s overall knowledge of warrior tasks and land navigation skills reportedly put him in a comfortable lead over his competitor into the third day of competition – facing the garrison command sergeant major’s lengthy review board.
Sgt. Major Mark Barbary said he felt Sgt. White will now do well in his next level of competition in the IMCOM-E trials against other top U.S. Army soldiers in all of Europe.
White said the upcoming 12-mile rucksack march will be his biggest challenge.  Prior to his rucksack march that was part of his garrison’s competition he had made a ruckmarch every week for a month.  “I pushed myself, gave everything I had, and didn’t leave anything,” he said.
He crossed the finish line first with a time of two hours, 29 minutes and 57 seconds.