Army Reserve Sgt. Erin Bridges of Benicia has been named the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for the 311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), a spokesperson said this week.

The Best Warrior Competition at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton March 6-8 was part of an Army-wide, multi-event challenge that tests a soldier’s basic skills, physical fitness and military knowledge, said Jennifer Donegan, a spokesperson with Encompass Digital Media Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System.

In receiving her award, Bridges will represent her unit at the next level of competition, Donegan said, and if she continues to succeed she will be eligible to compete for the U.S. Army’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Bridges currently is a transportation management coordinator with the 711th Transportation Company (SPOC), 483rd Transportation Battalion, out of Vallejo.

The 311th Sustainment Command also named Army Reserve Spc. Ethan Berton the Enlisted Soldier of the Year.

After learning of her honor, Bridges said she enjoyed the challenge and that she is honored to be part of the Best Warrior Competition.

She said competing gave her a sense of personal pride.

Bridges also was the 311th ESC Best Warrior in 2014 in the Enlisted Soldier category, when she was a specialist.

Though she had that experience on her side, “the hills don’t get less steep and the run doesn’t get any shorter,” she said.

“But I knew what to expect, and I worked really hard to come back and show that I could maintain.”

Bridges said she shared her past experiences with other soldiers, to help them prepare. “All the competitors are winners in my book,” she said.

Berton, of American Canyon, is a signal support specialist with the 483rd Transportation Battalion, 650th Regional Support Group, in Vallejo.

He said he was speechless when he learned he was a winner. He said he had a moment of joy before realizing the next level of competition is just a few months away.

“I really enjoyed competing with soldiers who want to be here and who have a sense of pride in the military,” Berton said. “That’s what the competition is all about.”

The two will compete in May in the 79th Sustainment Support Command Best Warrior Competition 2015.