Photo By Master Sgt. Brian Hamilton | Army Reserve drill sergeant, Staff Sgt. Russell Vidler, 98th Training Division (IET),...... read more read more
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FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. - The 104th Training Division (LT) played host to the 2015 108th Training Command (IET) combined Best Warrior and Drill Sergeant of the Year competition held at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, March 24-28, 2015.
At the annual event, candidates from across the command were pushed to their limits in a grueling four-day competition that tested them both physically and mentally. Events included an obstacle course, small-arms qualification and a grueling 12-mile ruck march through the hot Arizona dessert.
Soldiers were also tested on their abilities to perform numerous Army warrior tasks at each station in a round-robin format. In addition, Drill Sergeant of the Year candidates were graded on their ability to pitch training modules, at times after completing an exhausting physical challenge.
Army Reserve drill sergeant, Staff Sgt. Russell Vidler, 98th Training Division (IET), competing for Drill Sergeant of the Year, has been a drill sergeant since 2010 and has only one goal for the competition.
“I want to be the best,” Vidler said.
Vidler, who also works as a firefighter in Ithaca, New York, was nothing short of confident and excelled at the competition. He took first place from the 98th Training Division (IET) and will move on to the TRADOC Drill Sergeant of the Year competition at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, later this summer.
“I will win,” Vidler exclaimed as he sat at the medic station with a bloodied thumb and a body covered in mud after completing the challenging obstacle course event.
Others at the competition weren’t as successful as Vidler, but it was definitely not for lack of trying.
One competitor, Staff Sgt. John Lueke, 98th Training Division (IET), competing in his fourth Best Warrior competition in as many years, struggled through event after event with numerous equipment failures and mishaps. At one point during the competition, the shoulder strap to Lueke’s weighted down ruck broke. He completed the last four miles of the march through the desert his ruck over one shoulder and a rifle in his other hand.
“Hey, I may not win but that’s okay. I am only out here competing against one person, and that’s myself!” Lueke said.
Somehow, Lueke managed to complete the march in under the qualifying time, broken equipment and all.
To finish the competition, competitors appeared at a military knowledge board in front of sergeants major and command sergeants major from across the command. Soldiers were grilled on numerous subjects from first-aid, to customs and courtesies, to current events.
“Well it’s over. Believe it or not, that was the worst part of the competition,” sighed Staff Sgt. David Calderon, 98th Training Division (IET), who re-emerged from the secluded room with a flustered look of relief on his face and dark blue hand prints on his Army Service Uniform trousers.
In all, four competitors were selected to represent the 108th at higher competitions.
Two of those, Spc. Gregory Girard, 104th Training Division (LT), and Staff Sgt. Chad Schoenfelder, 95th Training Division (IET), move on to the Army Reserve Best Warrior competition held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, May 4-8.
The others, Vidler, representing the 98th Training Division (IET), and Army Reserve drill sergeant, Staff Sgt. Mark Mercer, representing the 95th Training Division (IET), advance to the TRADOC Drill Sergeant of the Year competition in early September.
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.07.2015 08:57 |
| Story ID: | 162550 |
| Location: | FORT HUACHUCA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 133 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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