Photo By Brian Godette | Army Staff Sgt. Micah Bowman, assigned to the 430th Ordnance Company (EOD), receives...... read more read more
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RALEIGH, N.C. – Soldiers arrived at the Claude T. Bower Military Center here Jan. 10, 2015, with high spirits and expectations, ready to represent their individual units during the 60th Troop Command’s Best Warrior Competition.
“At the brigade level, we sent out notice to the different units letting them know that we would need two representatives from each unit to compete in the brigade level Best Warrior Competition,” said Master Sgt. David Jones, BWC non-commissioned officer in-charge assigned to the 60th Troop Command. “The battalions and units held their own competitions and internal selection process before sending up their finalist to the brigade level competition, which we are conducting.”
The two-day competition started with a morning physical fitness test, which mirrored the physical fitness test Soldiers are required to take annually. The test included a push-up evaluation, sit-up evaluation and a 2-mile run, which the competitors endured through in the seasonable 29-degree weather.
“It’s a great honor, and it gives you a sense of pride and purpose (competing in the BWC),” said Sgt. Jimmy Nguyen, competitor representing the North Carolina National Guard’s Medical Detachment. “You want to represent. It gives you visibility and a chance to shine.”
For some Soldiers competing, this was their first experience of a brigade level BWC. Whether it was their first year or not, sponsors from the competitor’s unit were on hand, side by side with the participants, guiding them and encouraging them through every step.
“This is my second year doing this,” said Nguyen. “I have my sponsor here walking me through everything, keeping me calm and it gives you the feeling like you aren’t just thrown into it.”
The event following the PFT was the beam hit, where Soldiers competitively displayed their shooting capabilities with a laser-rigged M16 rifle, which registered the accuracy of the competitor’s marksmanship ability digitally.
Although the competitors came to do just that, compete, camaraderie and exchanges of best practices were a common sight during break periods.
“Everyone here have been really helpful and encouraging,” said Pfc. Angela Solis, a competitor representing the NCNG’s Medical Detachment.
The second day of the competition was culminated with an Army board review, which the Soldiers dressed in their Army Service Uniforms, presented themselves before a board brigade senior noncommissioned officers. The competitors had to respond to a series of questions that tested their knowledge on leadership, standard operating procedures, tactics and techniques and the Army values.
“I can definitely say this has been a different experience for me, and I can use this, especially the board review, as experience as I move up and become a noncommissioned officer,” said Solis. “As far as the board goes, I feel it’s my strongest event. I like to study and feel comfortable with that.”
The 60th TC’s competition highlighted another year of Soldiers coming out to represent their units and grow as Soldiers.
“From a unit stand point, you have Soldiers go through this process and they are better Soldiers and more knowledgeable by the end of it, whether they move on to the next level or not,” said Jones. “ Just by the experience they gain, they become an asset to their unit.”
Representing the 60th TC at the state-level competition in the noncommissioned officer category is Staff Sgt. Anthony Stobbe, from the North Carolina Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, and in the Soldier category is Spc. Lisa Vines, from the 382nd Public Affairs Detachment.
| Date Taken: | 01.11.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2015 14:59 |
| Story ID: | 151974 |
| Location: | RALEIGH, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 297 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Compete to represent: 60th TC holds BWC, by Brian Godette, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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