FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- One Soldier and one noncommissioned officer distinguished themselves after a four-day competition to identify the U.S. Army South Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter.

Spc. Carlos Morales, U.S. Army Air Ambulance Detachment, 1-228th Aviation Regiment, out of Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, was named Soldier of the Quarter while Staff Sgt. John Edgar Murphy, 193rd Military Police Company, 525th Military Police Battalion, U.S. Army South, was named NCO of the Quarter.

The competition included an Army physical fitness test, land navigation exercise, weapons qualification, the successful completion of various Warrior tasks, a written examination and face-to-face time with a formal military board.

Specialist Morales will compete for the 2010 U.S. Army South Soldier of the Year title and Murphy will compete for the 2010 NCO of the Year title during the annual competitions to be conducted later in the year.