“Sergeant Manella is a member of the Reserve’s 445th Civil Affairs Battalion based in Mountain View. While serving in Afghanistan in 2012, Sergeant Manella had his convoy attacked. While it was attacked, it left him with a traumatic brain injury. Sergeant Manella’s story is one of hope and the power of resilience. As part of Sergeant Manella’s recovery, he focused on training for the Army’s Best Warrior Competition… Congratulations again to Sergeant Manella. Your strength, your determination, and your character is an inspiration to thousands of other wounded men and women of our armed services”, said Rep. Swalwell.
On December 4, 2013 Rep. Eric Swalwell of California asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for one minute regarding a rather extraordinary soldier serving today in the U.S. Army.1st Sgt Jason Manella – winner of the Non-commissioned Officer of the Year award.
“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Sergeant First Class Jason Manella, who recently won the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award last week during the Army’s best warrior competition. Jason is from my district in Fremont, California, and recently moved within my district to Hayward, California.”
“The Army’s best warrior competition is a 3-day event that tests the soldier’s physical and mental toughness. Sergeant Manella is the first ever reservist to win this prestigious Army-wide title”, he said.
“Sergeant Manella is a member of the Reserve’s 445th Civil Affairs Battalion based in Mountain View. While serving in Afghanistan in 2012, Sergeant Manella had his convoy attacked. While it was attacked, it left him with a traumatic brain injury. Sergeant Manella’s story is one of hope and the power of resilience. As part of Sergeant Manella’s recovery, he focused on training for the Army’s Best Warrior Competition”, said Rep. Swalwell (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
See related video: Sgt. 1st Class Jason Manella http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRruiIpAz5Y