Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tom Wade | The 63rd RSC Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Smith poses the command’s Best Warrior NCO of...... read more read more
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. – Braving the cold, heat, fog and rain, 25 soldiers, from multiple commands, met here to determine if they had what it takes to be crowned Best Warrior; thus moving one step forward to competing at the United States Army Reserve Command competition held July 2012.
The 63rd Regional Support Command (RSC) played executive agent to this event, which features contestants from the Joint and Special Troops Support Command, 11th Military Police Brigade, 79th Sustainment Support Command and the winners of the 63rd RSC Internal Best Warrior Competition (BWC).
“My methods of preparation for this event included going over my notes from March’s competition; and also using flash cards to memorize Army Regulations for the board questions; but I lightened up on the physical training,” said Spc. Ahlam Gutierrez, Bandsman, 300th Army Band, Bell, Calif.
Gutierrez smiled while reminiscing about this competition held here in March.
“I think I would represent the 63rd RSC well at the USARC competition, using the results at this contest to booster my momentum,” Gutierrez added.
Soldiers were tested physically in events ranging from the Army Physical Fitness Test, to combatives, and the 10K Road March. It was a race against time in Land Navigation and the Mystery Event’s One and Two, which were assembling four weapons and doing a function check to donning night vision goggles, loading and clearing crew served weapons , all in seven minutes. Mentally, soldiers were challenged from their marksmanship at the Range, to their knowledge of Army events and regulations at the General Exam, to their composure at their Board Interview, hosted by various Command Sergeant Majors.
“Participating in this contest in March helped me be better prepared this time around,” said Staff Sgt. Alice Park, Bandsman, 300thArmy Band, Bell, Calif.
Plums of confidence sprung from this smiling non-commissioned officer.
“I was highly impressed with the camaraderie shown among the competitors, to the support given by Soldiers of all commands,” Park added.
The same feelings were reiterated by JSTSC NCO of the Year Sgt. Max Steiner. Finishing third in the overall point totals at the internal BWC, held here in March, Steiner dug deeper this time to finish with the highest overall point totals, far surpassing his previous scores.
“Having a couple months of preparation and first hand knowledge of what to expect really helped me mentally prepare for this event,” said Sgt. Max Steiner, Infantryman, 152nd Theater Information Operations Group, Camp Parks, Calif.
“I am feeling confident that I will do well at the USARC event, thus making my command proud,” Steiner added.
Hoping to do the same is Sgt. Gustavo Negrete, Unit Supply Specialists, Headquarters Company 79th Sustainment Command. The reigning 2011 Modern Army Combative (MAC) USARC Champion, Negrete made quick work of his competitors in this external event and looks forward to improving on his overall point standings in this year’s USARC BWC.
“There was no doubt I could beat my next opponent,” said Sgt. Gustavo Negrete, Headquarters, Headquarters Company 79th Sustainment Command.
Beating his challenger Cpl. Michael May, Unit Supply Specialist, 11th Military Police Brigade, whom was five inches taller and thirty pounds heavier in the championship, brought nothing less than big smiles from this non-commissioned officer.
Winning the MAC event here “established a solid foundation of confidence,” Negrete added.
This was the final preparation many of these soldiers will have before the USARC competition. Some will need time to heal from the bumps and bruises experienced in the multiple round robin events. Others will rest on their laurels, feeling confident that the preparation and training they have done will be enough to advance them past the USARC level.
After competing at USARC Best Warrior Competition, the champions will go on to compete against their Active Duty counterparts at the Department of the Army Best Warrior Contest, held later on in the year, thus finally answering the question of who’s truly the Best Warrior.
Sgt. Scott Akanewich of 79th Sustainment Support Command contributed to this story.
| Date Taken: | 04.22.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2012 18:03 |
| Story ID: | 87933 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 113 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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