Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Junell | Staff Sgt. Eric Cogswell, a supply sergeant serving in HHC, 690th Brigade Support...... read more read more
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Soldiers throughout the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade competed in the unit’s Best Warrior Competition, here, Dec. 6-7, in hopes of representing the 130th at the state level event.
The Best Warrior Competition starts at the battalion level and then winning soldiers move on to compete for state consideration in various categories such as best enlisted soldier and best non-commissioned officer. These two individuals will be chosen to represent North Carolina at the regional competition.
Regional winners compete at a national competition and then are the face of the North Carolina Army National Guard and compete in the Army-wide event.
Six enlisted and six non-commissioned officers of the 130th MEB completed in several events designed to test their mental and physical strength including a 3-mile road march, Army Physical Fitness Test, completing a written essay and performing various warrior tasks common to all Soldiers.
Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Bates, the medical readiness NCO for the 130th MEB said the various events help the Soldiers who compete to be more well-rounded.
“It’s not just one area we’re grading them on,” said Bates, who was also the NCO in charge of the competition. “We are grading them on their fitness; we test their military knowledge and their mental strength.”
Staff Sgt. Joel Goheen, who represented the 105th Military Police Battalion, said the experience helps you become a better Soldier.
“Even if you don’t win it, at least shows you where you can improve,” he said. “I think these type of events help Soldiers to brush-up on their warrior tasks and physical training. It also encourages us to compete with each other and push ourselves farther than we normally would.”
Although the weekend’s events are competitive, several soldiers involved, including Staff Sgt. Chris Gloyd, a military police officer from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 130th MEB, view this level of the competition as a way to build relationships and unite the brigade.
“I feel it’s important that we do this to build camaraderie between the units in our brigade,” said Gloyd, an evaluator for the competition and one of the Soldiers who helped coordinate the event.
The 130th has units scattered across North Carolina and Goheen feels the competition makes the Brigade more of a team because the unit ultimately supports the Soldier who has the ability and skills to represent them at the state’s Best Warrior Competition.
“You start to get to know the people you’re in competition with and you’re rooting for them, even if you don’t win,” Goheen said.
Bates said the competition acts as a way to build morale within the brigade.
“Best Warrior recognizes your top Soldiers,” Bates said. “It gives them something to strive for; to work towards. It seems like they’re all prepared and they put extra work and time into getting ready for the competition.”
The 10 Soldiers who did not win were rewarded for their effort with the North Carolina Achievement Medal at a ceremony held after the competition, Dec. 8.
Staff Sgt. Eric Cogswell, a supply sergeant with HHC, 690th Brigade Support Battalion, 130th MEB and Spc. Elexster Benston, HHC, 130th MEB did not receive awards because they will represent the Engineer Battalion at the state-level of the Competition scheduled for March 2014.
Cogswell placed first in the NCO category with a score of 218.25 out 250 points and Benston placed first in the enlisted category with a score of 203.5 out of 250 points.
The top two top competitors now have about three months to prepare for the state Best Warrior Competition; a more challenging competition against other top Guardsmen from across the state.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2013 22:47 |
| Story ID: | 118166 |
| Location: | CHARLOTTE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 152 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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