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FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. - Soldiers come from all around to compete in the Best Warrior of the year competition; a competition that shows the world the best the military has to offer. Although a lot of Soldiers do not compete and are very good Soldiers, the ones who do volunteer experience one of the most thrilling moments of their career.
Spc. Doupis, from Chicago Illinois, representing 1st Battalion, 334th Regiment, 1st brigade, 104th Training Division (LT), is one of those Soldiers.
Doupis wanted to participate in this year’s competition because she felt that Reserve Soldiers don’t get to train in Soldier tasks on battle drill weekends. This competition lets her get back to doing things she enjoyed in basic training like land navigation and rifle marksmanship.
“I am so excited, I really wanted to compete because being a Reserve Soldier I don’t get a lot of time to do Soldier stuff besides what we do on drill weekends and usually it’s not basic Soldier training” Doupis said.
When she’s not working in the military, Spc. Doupis attends college where she graduate this May with a bachelors in exercise sports science. Doupis is looking to possibly work as a strength and conditioning coach for athletic teams after gaining her certifications or be instructing cross fit, which is something she also enjoys doing.
She has already found a sponsor from an active duty run company to help her get certifications and make apparel.
A young, Soldier Doupis believes winning this competition will give her more confidence and assurance to continue on her military journey. Doupis didn’t know what her next step in life was going to be.
She went to college, not because she wanted to but because it was the next step in life and seemed like the right thing to do, but the military seems like the right path and she is definitely enjoying it.
“The best warrior competition is great because this is the reason why I joined. This is the good stuff, a chance to go out and do Soldier training again and get refreshed,” she said.
Training for the competition started off slow for Doupis because she had to focus on school, but once her sponsor was assigned she buckled down and got into hardcore training.
Doupis said having a sponsor should be mandatory. Sponsors should also have requirements such as mentorship because that is what they do. Sponsors help you from reviewing to motivation.
“When you can change someone’s life that is a great motivator and that’s my number one goal; to motivate and inspire people. If I could do one thing, it would be awesome,” Doupis added.
Doupis also works with a group called Team RWB [Red, White, Blue] helping bring veterans together through physical and social activity. Working with those veterans, especially the ones that are disabled, helps motivate her to not give up and continue to give 100 percent.
When she’s not competing for Soldier of the Year, being a Reserve Soldier, doing cross fit, or studying for school Doupis loves to eat and work out to pass the time.
To be the best warrior a Soldier needs to have the total package; knowledge, physical strength, and possess all the Army values-everything that Doupis has and shows every day even when no one is watching. That is a true warrior!
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2015 03:29 |
| Story ID: | 158451 |
| Location: | FORT HUACHUCA, AZ, US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 243 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldier spotlight: Spc. Mary Doupis, by SFC Deidra Knight, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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