Photo By Michel Sauret | Spc. Gregory Doty, of Lake Peekskill, New York, with the 854th Engineer Battalion, won...... read more read more
FORT McCOY, Wis. – After four grueling days of competition, the two Army Reserve theater engineer commands announced the winners of their Combined Best Warrior Competition held at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, April 28 to May 1.
For the 416th Theater Engineer Command, Sgt. Juan Jackson, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, with the 493rd Military Police Company, headquartered in Lakewood, Washington, won first place in the noncommissioned officer category and Spc. Rahman Gholston, of Spanaway, Washington, with the 301st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, won first place in the junior enlisted category.
For the 412th TEC, Staff Sgt. James Thornton, of Inman, South Carolina, with the 323rd Engineer Company, won first place in the noncommissioned officer category and Spc. Gregory Doty, Lake Peekskill, New York, with the 854th Engineer Battalion, won first place in the junior enlisted category.
“All of these guys were crazy good. First of all, (throughout) the competition we had one guy in first place every single time, and I almost gave up hope, but I kept pushing because I wanted to have fun,” said Doty. “I kept my spirits up the whole time, and I kept acting like I was at a playground or something.”
The competition was hardly child’s play.
The Soldiers were tested in the areas of physical fitness, rifle and pistol marksmanship, land navigation, a timed 6-mile road march, urban orienteering, Army warrior tasks, a hand-to-hand combat tournament, board appearance, military knowledge and a written exam and essay.
Soldiers earned points in each of the events to add to their overall score. The Soldiers with the highest scores in the noncommissioned officer, and junior enlisted category from both TECs were given the title of Best Warrior and the chance to compete at the next level of the competition.
All four competitors will advance to the Army Reserve level for its Best Warrior Competition held at Fort Dix, New Jersey, in June.
“I strive off that next level,” said Jackson as he looks ahead to the Army Reserve level. “So when I think about (the U.S. Army Reserve Command), I think about that next level (and) how can I better myself. So I am excited.”
The competition began with 27 Soldiers representing six different brigades from the two commands. Most of the Soldiers who have made it to this level have already competed at the company, battalion or brigade levels to advance here.
After each event, streamers for the top three competitors were handed out for the top overall scorer. Thornton several times took the lead, but the streamers kept getting traded around as everyone fought harder and harder.
“It’s motivating. You know you get up there and you actually get a streamer and you feel great about yourself because you’re on the top, but you also know that you’ve got 20 other guys biting at your heels, so you just got to step it up even more,” said Thornton.
The 416thTEC, headquartered in Darien, Illinois, and the 412th TEC, headquartered in Vicksburg, Mississippi, are responsible for all of the engineer Soldiers in the Army Reserve, a total of 26,000 Soldiers of various job specialties across the continental U.S.
The Best Warrior Competition is designed to test individual Soldiers in various Army skill-related events. It also highlights the importance of Soldier training and readiness.
Last year, a Soldier from the 416th TEC won the Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition and placed second at the Army wide competition.
“No matter what comes in front of me, I’m willing to push forward and I’m always willing to drive on,” said Gholston.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2014 22:12 |
| Story ID: | 128480 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WI, US |
| Hometown: | INMAN, SC, US |
| Hometown: | LAKE PEEKSKILL, NY, US |
| Hometown: | RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, US |
| Hometown: | SPANAWAY, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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