Soldiers challenge themselves in the I Corps Best Warrior Competition

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Sinthia Rosario | Noncommissioned officers and Soldiers stand together after completing warrior task and drills during the 2016 I Corps Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., May 24. The competition was designed to test each individual on a variety of warrior skills, promote esprit de corps amongst each other, and select the best NCO and Soldier to compete in the U.S. Army Forces Command Best Warrior Competition. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sinthia Rosario, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

05.31.2016

Story by Sgt. Sinthia Rosario 

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

The competition was divided into two categories, NCO and enlisted. It was designed to test each individual on a variety of warrior skills, promote esprit de corps, and select the best to compete in the U.S. Army Forces Command Best Warrior Competition.
Soldiers challenged themselves with the Army Physical Fitness Test, weapons qualification, a road march, an obstacle course, day and night land navigation, warrior task and drills, a board and more.
“It’s extremely important that we get after the basics even for the Soldiers and the sergeants who’ve been doing this for a long time,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Grinston, I Corps senior enlisted leader. “They’ll learn something out here. They’ll learn something about themselves. They’ll learn a little bit about their body, but they’re going to really come out a better Soldier.”
Spc. Joshua Diaz, a military police officer with 571st Military Police Company, 42nd Military Police Brigade, previously competed and won the Soldier of the Year for his brigade and competed in this event and building his way up for the next competition.
“I like to push myself and strive to be the best that I can be,” said Diaz. “I want to be able to lead and be the type of leader others can look up to.”
Diaz said he did well on the APFT, weapons qualification, and “the ruck march was a little trying, but I pushed through it. Now, I just got to work through the obstacle course.”
Senior leaders observed the NCO and Soldiers as they went through the different challenges.
“We have excellent Soldiers,” said Sgt. Maj. Jose R. Otero, I Corps provost marshal sergeant major. “They come out here all walks of life and they come out here and compete and they’re competitors, which is awesome. They go out here and give their best. I know it’s a cliché to say ‘Army Strong,’ but we have some strong Soldiers competing today, and they’re kicking butt today.”
The event helped competitors enhance their skill sets and build camaraderie.
“I think competitions like this are great,” Diaz said. “I think it’s the best way to show physical and mental resiliency. It’s motivating. This is fun to do, and this is what the Army is like.”

• Date Taken: 05.31.2016
• Date Posted: 05.31.2016 15:04
• Story ID: 199566
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US
• Hometown: HINESVILLE, GA, US
• Hometown: KINGSBURG, CA, US
• Hometown: REEDSPORT, OR, US
• Hometown: TRACY, CA, US
• Hometown: VANCOUVER, WA, US
• Hometown: VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, US