HAMPTON -- After a week-long competition, the Army Training and Doctrine Command named its 2009 Drill Sergeants of the Year.

In ceremonies Friday at Fort Monroe, the active duty winner is Staff Sergeant Michael F. Johnston of Fort Benning, Georgia was the active duty winner; Staff Sergeant Joshua J. Marshall, who drills at Fort Knox, KY and is part of the 95th Division in Oklahoma City, was the reserves winner.

They were among seven soldiers -- five from the active ranks and two from the reserves – who tested their skills in marksmanship, physical fitness, hand-to-hand combatives and weapons cleaning.

The soldiers also were tested on how well they taught tasks to new trainees.

Video: Army names top drill sergeants

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The Army says drill sergeants are “top quality, professional noncommissioned officers from virtually all branches of the Army.”  Their role is to turn citizens into soldiers.

There are currently 2,300 Army drill sergeants in the active ranks and 3,000 in the Army Reserve.

The selection process concluded with each candidate appearing before a board of senior command sergeants-major to answer questions on leadership and training.

Drill sergeants are stationed at five TRADOC installations: Fort Benning, Ga.; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Knox, Ky.; and Fort Jackson, S.C. Reserve component drill sergeants represent training divisions located across the United States.       

Each year, TRADOC trains over 400,000 soldiers.