Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Junell | Spc. Dustin Wilmoth, a recruiter with the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, 60th...... read more read more
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CAMP MCCRADY TRAINING CENTER, EASTOVER S.C. – Spc. Dustin Wilmoth and Sgt. Nkosi Campbell, both North Carolina National Guard recruiters form the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, 60th Troop Command, competed in the Region III Best Warrior Competition at Camp McCrady Training Center, Eastover, S.C., April 29 through May 2.
Soldiers had to complete several tasks during the four-day grueling competition, including an Army physical fitness test, six-mile road march, obstacle course, land navigation course and appearing before a board, where they were asked questions to test their military knowledge and were judged on their appearance in uniform.
Both North Carolina Guardsmen competed at the battalion, brigade and state level and won before moving on to the regional competition.
After winning the battalion competition the soldiers were assigned sponsors to help train and assist them during the competition. One of their sponsors, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Wheeler, also with the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, said Wilmoth and Campbell have been doing everything they could to prepare for the event.
“They have been training extremely hard,” Wheeler said. “We took them to Camp Butner, N.C. for six days and basically put them through everything they will see here at the regional competition.”
“We tried to mimic everything they are going to do here and possibly at the next level. We’ve been physically challenging them with land navigation, an obstacle course, doing stress shoots and qualifying their weapons,” Wheeler said.
The stress shoot assesses a soldier’s ability to fire their weapon while running, going through obstacles and reacting to simulated explosions and enemy fire. It’s one of several tasks in the competition that North Carolina soldiers train to perform so they are ready for combat it needed.
Wilmoth, who served as a medic before becoming a recruiter, said the competition gives soldiers an opportunity to show off their skills to their units and the community.
“It is a great way to show others what our soldiers do and how they stay in shape,” Wilmoth said.
Campbell also said the competition shows that National Guard is always ready for whatever challenges they are faced with.
“A lot of the active-duty, reserve-components and civilian [personnel] don’t realize how hard National Guard soldiers work,” said Campbell, who served on active duty before joining the North Carolina National Guard. “At these types of competitions you have every [military specialty], from supply personnel to infantry and we all compete together.”
“Regardless of what your job is you are trained on the same basic skills and you are tested on the exact same thing. A medical or supply clerk could beat everybody. It’s all about who knows what they’re doing,” Campbell said.
The winners were announced on the last day of the competition. Campbell took home the trophy for Region III Best Warrior of the Year in the non-commissioned officer category, while Wilmoth won an award for the highest Army physical fitness test score and first runner up for Best Warrior in the enlisted category.
Wilmoth said he was just glad to have the opportunity to participate and better himself as a soldier.
“I’m just enjoying being here, giving it everything I’ve got,” Wilmoth said.
| Date Taken: | 05.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.03.2013 17:35 |
| Story ID: | 106322 |
| Location: | EASTOVER, SC, US |
| Hometown: | BUTNER, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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