Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Junell | Spc. Dustin Wilmoth, a recruiter with the North Carolina National Guard’s Recruiting...... read more read more
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RALEIGH, N.C. – Army Cpl. Dustin Wilmoth, a member of the North Carolina National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, is scheduled to compete for the title of best warrior during the National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, July 21-24, at the Professional Education Center in North Little Rock, Ark.
Wilmoth, who came in second while representing North Carolina in the junior enlisted category of the Region III Best Warrior Competition, was not expecting to continue to the next level.
However, in a strange twist of fate, the soldier who beat Wilmoth by one point at regionals dropped out of the competition to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School.
The soldier’s decision meant Wilmoth would now represent Region III at the national level.
“I didn’t think I would get another chance but I’m excited to compete,” Wilmoth said. “I love the competition and have continued to train as hard as I can physically, so that I will be in excellent shape for it.”
Starting the competition as an enlisted soldier allows Wilmoth to continue in that category, even though he has since been promoted to corporal, a rank that falls into the noncommissioned officer category.
Wilmoth said he was excited and shocked when he found out he would be going to represent Region III in Arkansas.
He said he has been running, biking and doing strength training exercises to stay strong but still gets nervous about the Army Physical Fitness Test and ruck march events.
“I know I will do well in both, but they still get me nervous,” said Wilmoth, who attempts to score a 300 on his APFT every time; the highest score a Soldier can earn. “Also, anything off the ground makes me nervous. At regionals, there was a rope course and that made me nervous. I am not a fan of heights.”
Master Sgt. Reggie Hooker, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Best Warrior Competition for North Carolina, is confident in Wilmoth’s abilities.
“North Carolina has a good competitor in Corporal Wilmoth,” Hooker said. “I think we have a chance of winning nationals.”
Hooker also said that Wilmoth’s motivation and dedication is a good reflection of the caliber of service members in the North Carolina National Guard.
“He has set the standard for others to follow,” Hooker said. “With the motivation he has had throughout train-up, the state competition, regionals and now going to the national level, it shows he has a will power of steel and a heart of gold. He is going to do a great job of representing North Carolina.”
Representing his state is an honor Wilmoth has gladly accepted.
“I look forward to showing everyone what North Carolina has to bring to the table and why we should be a respected force in the National Guard,” he said. “I am honored to represent my state and my region and couldn’t be happier.”
Win or lose, Wilmoth said he is proud of how far he has come in the competition.
“I am blessed to even be going and I will give this everything I have,” Wilmoth said. “No matter the outcome, I will refuse to hang my head.
“I have, with the grace of God, good friends and colleagues, family and my wife, Allie, made it this far. Not many can say they have. It is because of this that I will leave it all out there in the Arkansas heat.”
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2013 15:03 |
| Story ID: | 110547 |
| Location: | RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 127 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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