FORT RILEY -- After being named U.S. Army Forces Command Soldier of the Year this past summer, Henderson, of the 193rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, participated in a grueling competition Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 at Fort Lee, Va., to determine who would be named the 2009 Best Warrior.

The specialist went up against 11 other hopefuls in such activities like combatives, board interviews, physical fitness, written exams and urban warfare simulation.

On Monday at the AUSA convention in Washington, D.C., it was announced that Henderson was the recipient of the newly named Sergeant Major of the Army Jack Tilley Award, designating him the Soldier of the Year. Also winning the award in the noncommissioned officer division was Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Beckman of US Army, Europe.

Both winners walked away with an impressive prize package that included donated items like military gear, savings bonds, running shoes, a vacation and a laptop computer, but Henderson said that prizes weren’t on his mind when he entered the competition.

During the competition, Henderson set the PT test record, including a 10 minute, 26 second two-mile run time, something he attributed to just trying to do his best.

“To understand what ‘do your best’ is, you have to understand how I was raised. My parents have always encouraged me to put forth every effort I can into what I’m doing,” Henderson said. “In the Army, they emphasize PT a lot, so obviously that’s something I really get behind.”

Throughout the competition, Henderson said he simply did what he could.

“I don’t get down on myself when I fail at something,” he said. “I look at it as an opportunity to assess myself, see what I did wrong and get back at it. Throughout the competition, I had that same mentality. I do everything I can, and if I mess up, I figure out what I did wrong and go back at it. That’s what carried me through.”

Henderson has been in the service for two years and serves as an all source intelligence analyst.

His military awards and achievements include the Army Commendation Medal (2); Army Achievement Medal (4); National Defense Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; and Overseas Service Ribbon. Henderson attends the American Military University and is pursuing an associate’s degree in intelligence analysis and research. He is a native of Longmont, Colorado.