'Dragons' burn up the competition at Paralegal of the Year Board

Story by: SGT Richard Colletta
4IBCT PAO

FORT RILEY, Kan. - Two Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters

Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, swept

the Big Red One's 2011 paralegal boards, taking home the prestigious

title of Paralegals of the Year.

Spc. Liane Darrow and Sgt. Joshua Starr competed and earned the honor

after previously winning at the Paralegal of the Quarter boards.

Starr, who is a native of LaGrange, Ga., said he did a lot of studying

for the Paralegal of the Year board and also did several practice boards

before competing in the real one.

"It was a great honor and it was definitely exciting being able to

compete for it," Starr said.

Darrow, who hails from Redmond, Ore., attributed her success to her

knowledge of the Army regulations and her previous experience as a

civilian paralegal.

"You have to know your job," she said.

"Either the answer comes to you, you ask someone or you look it up in

the regulation," Darrow said.

Staff Sgt. Sonja Perrault, the paralegal noncommissioned officer in

charge for the 4th IBCT, said she wasn't surprised both of her Soldiers

won the board.

"Both Soldiers are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to legal

affairs, and I'm very proud of their performance at the board," she

said.

Darrow said the Paralegal of the Year board was one of the most

challenging boards she has ever competed in.

"It's such a big event," she said.

"It's not like a Soldier of the Month board. You only get to compete for

it once a year," Darrow said.

The board is over now and it's back to work for these Soldiers, but they

still have goals to accomplish.

Darrow, who is currently taking college courses in criminal justice,

said her first goal is to get promoted.

"After that, I want to finish my bachelor's degree in criminal justice

and go to law school," she said.

Starr said he wants to train his other Soldiers so they can compete at

the same level.

"It's all about training hard, maintaining your skills, keeping the

total Soldier mindset and striving to be the best," Starr said.

Last Updated: 2/4/2011 1:33:25 PM