Oregon Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition winners announced

Photo By Staff Sgt. Cory Grogan | Oregon soldiers compete in the new Army Combat Readiness Training Assessment, during the “Mystery Event” at the Best Warrior Competition at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Ore., March 17. The participants ran a 400-meter race in full uniform, carrying their weapons.  

WARRENTON, OR, UNITED STATES

03.18.2012

Story by Spc. Cory Grogan 

Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office

WARRENTON, Ore. – The Oregon Army National Guard held their annual “Best Warrior Competition,” March 16-18 at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Ore.

The annual event featured multiple events including rappelling, rifle marksmanship, physical fitness testing, obstacle course, stress testing, combatives tournament and a soldier knowledge evaluation board.

During the three-day event, Oregon Army National Guard soldiers from around the state competed against each other for the titles of Soldier of the Year and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. Winners of this competition will advance to a regional competition later this year.

The Soldier of the Year includes the ranks of private through specialist (E1-E4), and Non-Commissioned Officer of The Year includes the ranks of corporal (E4) and above.

First Place Non-Commissioned Officer of The Year: Staff Sgt. Joseph Austin of Lake Oswego, Ore., is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard's 3rd battalion, 116th Cavalry.

First Place Soldier of the Year: Pfc. Ryan Johnson of Brookings, Ore., is a member of the Oregon Army National Guard’s Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry.

Other winners in the Non-Commissioned Officer of The Year are; Staff Sgt. Justin Harmer of Corvallis, Ore., a member of the 249 Regional Training Institute, who took second place, and Sgt. Jon-Paul Hanson of Beaverton, Ore., a member of Headquarters-Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, who took third.

Rounding out the competition for Soldier of the Year are; Spc. Esteven Diaz of Lebanon, Ore., a member of Alpha Troop, 1 Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, who took second place, and Spc. Matthew Christensen of Aurora, Ore., a member of Bravo Company, 41st Special Troops Battalion, who took third place.

The goal of the Best Warrior Competition is to have as many events as possible in one location to make it easier for commanders and senior non-commissioned officers to observe their troops and to celebrate their successes, said Oregon National Guard State Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk Conley.

In conjunction with the event, the Oregon National Guard inducted the Honorable Darlene Hooley into the Oregon National Guard “Order of the Minuteman,” during a ceremony at Warrior Hall, March 17.

Hooley has been a supporter of Oregon Guard members throughout her tenure as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Oregon who represented the state's 5th congressional district.

• Date Taken: 03.18.2012
• Date Posted: 03.30.2012 13:35
• Story ID: 86025
• Location: WARRENTON, OR, US