ALEXANDRIA, Va. (USTCNS) --- Two soldiers assigned to Army units in the Pacific Ocean have been selected as the Military Traffic Management Command's top soldiers of 2000.

Sgt. Kory Buckhout, of the 835th Transportation Battalion, Okinawa, Japan, has been selected as the non-commissioned officer of the year. Pfc. Demetrius Baker, of the 837th Transportation Battalion, Pusan, Korea, has been selected as the soldier of the year.

Both units are elements of MTMC's 599th Transportation Group, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.

Buckhout is a personal property noncommissioned officer. Baker is a chemical operations specialist.

The soldiers were selected in MTMC-wide competition at Fort Eustis, Va., in early August.

They competed with representative MTMC soldiers stationed worldwide. The competition included a series of rigorous physical and military examinations. In addition, candidates appeared before the selection board to give a briefing and to answer questions.

"One of the great pleasures I have as the command sergeant major for MTMC is recognizing outstanding soldiers," said Command Sgt. Maj. James Kirtland, who headed the selection board.

"Sergeant Buckhout and Private First Class Baker are truly deserving of this recognition and well represent the professionalism of the command."

The two soldiers will be officially awarded their titles in special ceremonies this October at MTMC headquarters. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).