Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Hernandez | Sgt. Christopher Ruff of the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade (left) and Command Sgt. Maj....... read more read more
CAMP BULLIS, Texas. — Ten Army Reserve Soldiers from various Civil Affairs brigades and battalions participated in the Best Warrior Competition (BWC) here on Feb. 10-12. The BWC is an annual event organized by the 350th Civil Affairs Command (CACOM) out of Pensacola, Fla.
The purpose of BWC is to recognize Soldiers in their performance and resolve throughout the entire competition.
“We’re trying to increase our readiness, cohesiveness, team building, put a special emphasis on physical fitness, Army pride, and [build] a warrior mindset,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Santiago, the senior enlisted advisor of the 350th CACOM. “We want to challenge our Soldiers and see what our Soldiers are made of.
“It’s a healthy competition, and we’re looking for that competitive spirit,” Santiago added.
During the BWC, participants test their individual fortitudes and proficiencies in an assortment of challenges.
“It starts with an Army Physical Fitness Test,” said Santiago. “It leads to a 10-km ruck march, weapons qualification, land navigation, and then followed by an appearance board.”
In spite of the competitive nature of this event, Santiago stated that the BWC promotes unit cohesion and camaraderie.
“It gives them the opportunity to meet and greet their brother and sister Soldiers from various battalions,” Santiago said. “It gives them a chance to self-assess and evaluate where they are, physically and mentally, and challenge them.”
As the event advanced toward its inevitable conclusion, only one Soldier harbored the distinction as the Best Warrior of the 350th CACOM.
“This tournament seeks to find the best prepared, best equipped Soldier,” said Sgt. Christopher Ruff, an information technology specialist from the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade out of Fort Sam Houston, Texas. “It’s basically a process of elimination to find out who the best warrior is.”
A native of Poteet, Texas, Ruff volunteered for the BWC for pursuit of entertainment and willingness to confront new challenges.
“I decided to participate [in BWC] because this is a lot of fun,” Ruff said. “I really enjoy being challenged, and being able to take advantage of that opportunity, I thought that it would be worth it.”
After successfully completing six distinct challenges, Ruff triumphed above all of his peers and won the competition.
Although he was pronounced the final victor of the event, Ruff acknowledged that it was a learning experience for his strengths and weaknesses.
“Of course, I learned never to underestimate anybody because [they] came out and put their best foot forward in the competition,” Ruff said. “I can definitely do more to prepare for this as far as I can, so that’s what I’m going to do from now on.”
For his accomplishments, Ruff was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in an awards ceremony the following day. This commemoration was accompanied with speeches from Ruff and senior leadership, along with the symbolic cutting of a cake.
In the future, Ruff looks forward to competing in the BWC with other fellow competitors.
“It is good training for us in the Army Reserve,” Ruff said. “I believe that it is something we should look forward to as Soldiers, to be able to get the training opportunities and the camaraderie built between us.
“It’s why I’ll come back, time and time again,” Ruff said.
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 02.16.2017 23:16 |
| Story ID: | 223909 |
| Location: | CAMP BULLIS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 215 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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