Photo By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Zapata, Arizona Army National Guard, is awarded NCO of the...... read more read more
Subscribe
HAWAII – Sixteen U.S. Army National Guardsmen competed for advancement during the Region VII Best Warrior Competition from May 4-7.
This year’s BWC took place on two different islands at training locations including: the Keaukaha Military Reservation, Kawailoa Training Area, Pohakuloa Training Area, and Marine Corps Training Area Bellows.
Competitors from Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Hawaii competed during events including; a fitness test, road march, appearance board, written exam, land navigation, call for fire, and weapons qualification events.
Guardsmen also had to complete a mystery event that had soldiers react to fire, administer medical aid to simulated casualties, and carry a weighted litter across jungle terrain.
U.S. Army Sgt. Stefanie T. Puro, Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 65th Field Artillery Brigade, Utah Army National Guard, said that competing alongside other Guard units was a good opportunity.
“This experience is really great because you get to have a whole week of participating in these kinds of events with the highest caliber of soldiers,” Puro said. “Even though all of our states have different missions we’re still soldiers when it comes down to it.”
U.S. Army Spc. Cruser Barnes, 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment, HIARNG, said that the competition during the Region VII BWC was a lot more intense than the previous challenges of the 2015 Hawaii Army National Guard and Reserve BWC.
“I found competition definitely in Spc. Joshua Fernandez from Cali,” Barnes said. “He has been one of my toughest competitors throughout the whole thing. He did really well on each event. On the ruck march we kind of stayed together and we said, ‘you know what, towards the end we’re just going to shake hands and whoever wins, wins.’ The competition was definitely at the next level.”
The final day began with a road march and was the last event where competitors could receive a score. After all points were tallied the winners of each category were announced during an award ceremony.
Soldier of the Year for the USARNG Region VII was awarded to Barnes and the title of NCO of the Year was awarded to Staff Sgt. Robert Zapata, Arizona Army National Guard. Barnes and Zapata will represent Region VII at the Army National Guard BWC to be held later this year.
U.S. Army Sgt. Shaun Gomes, 277th Brigade Engineer Battalion, represented the HIARNG in the NCO category and although he didn’t progress to the next level he still plans to support Barnes.
“I most definitely will be extending out my hand to him,” Gomes said. “I really do hope that he wins, that way he can compete against the active-duty and Reserve components and bring home that victory for the National Guard. He is just a tremendous Soldier all the way around.”
The BWC is meant to promote camaraderie and distinguishes Soldiers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values, embody the Warrior Ethos and represent the Force of the Future.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2015 16:20 |
| Story ID: | 162743 |
| Location: | HI, US |
| Web Views: | 215 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, USARNG soldiers compete during Region VII Best Warrior Competition, by TSgt Christopher Hubenthal, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT