Photo By Staff Sgt. Edward Siguenza | The California Army National Guard’s Spc. Aurora Pass of the 49th Personnel Support...... read more read more
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By STAFF SGT EDDIE SIGUENZA
California Army National Guard
CAMP SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Once again, the California Army National Guard’s top 1 percent of enlistees and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) underwent a mentally challenging and physically grueling test to determine the state’s best of the best in this year’s Best Warrior Competition.
Seven Soldiers and five noncommissioned officers competed in the 2017 Best Warrior Competition (BWC) Nov. 1-5. The annual event determines the California National Guard’s Soldier of the Year and NCO of the Year. The two winners will represent California at the National Guard Bureau’s regional competition March 2017, which California will host.
“Competition raises the level of ability and competencies for all who participate,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Menard Jr., California Army National Guard command sergeant major. “This level of competition continues to raise the challenge bar for each competitor to reach the level as the best warrior within the California Army National Guard.”
Added Menard, “We have developed the competition to be mentally and physically challenging. Each competitor will perform both standard Army individual tasks and non-standard tasks that will require physical endurance, mental resilience and critical thinking skills.”
Competitors represented five California Guard brigades and one division. Earlier in the year they won their respective competitions that enabled them to participate in BWC.
“Anyone can be a Soldier,” said Spc. Aurora M. Pass, representing the 115th Regional Support Group. “But only a few can be a Warrior.”
There were a few changes to this year’s event. Organizers integrated fitness tests from the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT), a four-part test that evaluates a Soldier’s fitness level. The U.S. Army introduced the OPAT earlier this year, and California BWC leaders included parts of the test in one of dozens of events during the competition.
“Since we are testing and selecting the California Army National Guard best warrior to compete at the region and national levels, our competition is not that unique. While the competition we develop needs to reinforce performance in similar events that will be seen at the region and national levels, we add events that are not standard Army tasks,” Menard said.
The OPAT includes a standing long jump, seated power throw, strength deadlift and an interval aerobic run.
Another change was in the 11-mile ruck sack march, where competitors hauled a 35-pound ruck sack around Camp Roberts, California. Competitors boarded a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and landed at Camp Roberts at the march starting line.
Regular events consisted of a written exam, obstacle course challenge, drill and ceremony, in ranks inspection, land navigation and a taste of nerve gas in the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) chamber. Competitors paced themselves in an unknown distance run and later qualified with M-9 pistols and M-4/M-16 rifles. A mystery event—where each competitor had to crawl through a 50-meter tunnel, shoot at non-live targets and drag a 180-pound training prop uphill—proceeded a Public Affairs event that simulated a press conference with reporters and cameras.
“The purpose of (BWC) is to identify that one NCO and that one enlisted Soldier who stands out above all the rest,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Winch, operations noncommissioned officer of the California Guard’s 223rd Regional Training Institute, which hosted the event. “The best thing (for all competitors) is to take your time. I know time is a commodity, but really you want to take your time to make sure that you’re accurate. Sometimes it’s better to have better accuracy than it is to have a better time. (They) just have to stay focused at their task at hand, what they’re currently working on. Don’t overthink things.”
The competition concluded with a review board, where Soldiers and NCOs stood in dress uniform before senior noncommissioned officers. Competitors answered questions, earning points for correct responses.
“For some the competition with one's self becomes more important than competing against other Soldiers,” Menard said. “At the end, I want each competitor to go from this a better Soldier and leader than when they started. Compete against each other and against yourself, but also become part of the team of competitors striving to be something larger than just themselves.”
BWC winners will be announced late January 2017 at a ceremony in San Diego, Menard explained. That gives them ample preparation time for the March 2017 regionals.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2016 16:21 |
| Story ID: | 214069 |
| Location: | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 247 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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